"Please Help Us Put Pressure on Hun Sen to Release the Seven MPs of CNRP and Political Activist."

The Issue

Subject: Petition to Immediately Release Seven Members of Parliament of CNRP and political activist

Mu Sochua; Real Khemarin; Keo Phyrum; Ho Van; Long Ry; Men Sothavarin; Nuth Romdual; Oeur Narith

The Honorable Mr. President Barack Obama; Mr. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State; and Mr. Ed Royce, U.S. Representative,

Threatened by lawsuits and jail time made against innocent citizens, Buddhist monks, political activists, journalists, and Members of Parliament from the opposition party, these people are targeted daily by Hun Sen.

The past three general elections have given us clear and convincing evidence of how Hun Sen has been able to orchestrate and systematically stage violence against innocent citizens and dissidents to fulfill his delusional goal of being the “Czar of the Cambodia.” He and a handful of his high-ranking officials have been able to suppress the people’s freedom of speech, expression, assembly, press, and association. There were also scores of leading democratic proponents, political activists, and journalists that were jailed, forced to seek refuge in exile, and physically harassed or killed.

In recent weeks, Hun Sen, once again, had carried out a monstrous political assault against innocent citizens, the opposition and its supporters. Hun Sen had conspired with the judicial system and the military police to create, what has now become publicly known as the “Third-Hand Unit” or “Thugs-for-Hire.” Equipped with protective gears - helmets, metal and wooden sticks, and batons in hands, Hun Sen has deliberately unleashed these “Thugs-for-Hire” to attack innocent citizens, the opposition and its supporters who were matching in a peaceful demonstration, demanding to “Free the Freedom Park.” Freedom Park is a symbolic democracy park where concerned citizens may go to voice their opinions when they are unhappy with the government’s decisions or policies, which Hun Sen had ordered to close down indefinitely. The clashes have resulted in scored injuries of both sides; seven of the prominent MPs from the Cambodia National Rescue Party and one other political activist have been arrested and jailed without due process. In addition, the justice department has received marching order from Hun Sen to subpoena His Excellency Kem Sokha, Vice President of the CNRP to appear in court. Up until now, Hun Sen has continuing to express his irrational rage and ordered his military police to raid and make more arrest of political activists and other opposition supporters.

Hun Sen and his high-ranking officials are continuing to make threats to the general public, and the basic fundamental rights of the people are being violated and suppressed. In the recent months, Hun Sen has made a direct threat against the opposition leaders, “If I died, the opposition leaders will also die.” In his own admission, Hun Sen stated, “No one else, except me, has the authority to give any order.” Hun Sen has continuing to utilize his military police to intimidate, arrest, and jail any innocent citizen, who would dare criticize him or his regime.

America was built on the principles of democracy and this country, is a fearless advocate for democratic principles and protecting human rights around the world. As a survivor of the “Killing Fields,” a freedom-loving Cambodian-American citizen, and as one of your constituents, it pains me to learn that Hun Sen, a former hardcore Khmer Rouge commander, continues with his heinous acts against innocent citizens. The Honorable Mr. President Barack Obama, Mr. John Kerry, and Mr. Ed Royce, I stand with my fellow Cambodian-Americans and Americans alike, petitioning to respectfully urge you to call upon Hun Sen to immediately release the seven Members of Parliament of the CNRP and one other political activist without condition. In order to ensure democratic progress in Cambodia, I call upon you, the Honorable Mr. President Barack Obama, Mr. John Kerry, and Mr. Ed Royce, to raise this grave matter in Congress to call for congressional action to ensure that Hun Sen abides by the rule of law, to end Hun Sen and his regime’s practices of silencing the voices of the people, and to put an end to the oppression of the people’s fundamental rights to freedom of speech, expression, press, assembly, and association. I appeal to our United States government to put a stop on the Hun Sen’s raids and any other abuse or threats, directly or indirectly made upon the Cambodian people and to be made accountable for him and his regime’s action.

Respectfully yours,