PETITION TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT
September 20, 2010
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We, as Cambodian-Americans, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities, write to you today to express our deepest concern over the rapidly declining state of democracy in Cambodia. We seek your support and intervention to end the Cambodian government's policies and practices of forced land evictions in the name of development. Land-grabbing by the government is increasingly widespread throughout the country. It has caused enormous pain and suffering, with unimaginable long term consequences to the lives of many poor, defenseless people.
Secondly, the country's defamation law places severe restrictions on fundamental human freedoms. It is a legal tool designed to effectively silence any critics of the Cambodian government, corrupt officials and their relatives. The Cambodian government and its corrupt officials regularly use the court system, controlled by the ruling party, to convict journalists, victims of land disputes, political activists, and even the people’s elected representatives. For example, on November 16, 2009, the National Assembly voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Mr. Sam Rainsy, leader of the official opposition party. This was done without any regard for his elected rights or those of the people who chose him to be their representative.
Mr. Sam Rainsy is currently exiled in France, continuing to speak out to Cambodians and the world about the government's abuses. For his publicly spoken opinions, the Cambodian government is currently pursuing an 18 year prison sentence. Given the track record of the Cambodian court system, Mr. Sam Rainsy will be found guilty for sure.
There is a planned US-ASEAN summit during the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2010. I implore you to take issue directly with the Cambodian government over this oppressive act.
We seek your support to end the on-going erosion of civil liberties and systematic human rights violations in Cambodia, by putting the Cambodian government on notice that such abuses can no longer be tolerated. We request you to help Mr. Sam Rainsy to return so he can resume his parliamentary activity and continue to promote democracy in Cambodia.
Petition:
As Cambodian-Americans, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities, we invite the United Statess to persuade the Cambodian government to:
Secondly, the country's defamation law places severe restrictions on fundamental human freedoms. It is a legal tool designed to effectively silence any critics of the Cambodian government, corrupt officials and their relatives. The Cambodian government and its corrupt officials regularly use the court system, controlled by the ruling party, to convict journalists, victims of land disputes, political activists, and even the people’s elected representatives. For example, on November 16, 2009, the National Assembly voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Mr. Sam Rainsy, leader of the official opposition party. This was done without any regard for his elected rights or those of the people who chose him to be their representative.
Mr. Sam Rainsy is currently exiled in France, continuing to speak out to Cambodians and the world about the government's abuses. For his publicly spoken opinions, the Cambodian government is currently pursuing an 18 year prison sentence. Given the track record of the Cambodian court system, Mr. Sam Rainsy will be found guilty for sure.
There is a planned US-ASEAN summit during the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2010. I implore you to take issue directly with the Cambodian government over this oppressive act.
We seek your support to end the on-going erosion of civil liberties and systematic human rights violations in Cambodia, by putting the Cambodian government on notice that such abuses can no longer be tolerated. We request you to help Mr. Sam Rainsy to return so he can resume his parliamentary activity and continue to promote democracy in Cambodia.
Petition:
As Cambodian-Americans, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities, we invite the United Statess to persuade the Cambodian government to:
- Defend the human rights of the Cambodian population from government abuses
- Steadfastly restore and guarantee the freedom of speech and freedom of expression
- Guarantee freedom for the protesters and human rights defenders
- Release all villagers jailed for protesting to defend their farm land
- Withdraw the arrest warrant for MP Sam Rainsy
- Restore immunity for MP Sam Rainsy
Thank you for your precious time and your utmost consideration to this matter.
Respectfully Yours,
Undersigned, Cambodian/American Community
Cambodia and other nationalities adhering to this petition
Respectfully Yours,
Undersigned, Cambodian/American Community
Cambodia and other nationalities adhering to this petition
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