By Greg Mellen,
Staff Writer
LONG BEACH - In the wake of an apparent resolution to the latest flap that threatened the Cambodian New Year Parade, the stage is set for the fourth annual event to proceed without hindrance Sunday.
This year, a furor arose when an invitation was extended to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to participate in the annual parade.
News of the invitation brought an emotional response by community members who oppose the government of Hun Sen, which has been linked to a variety of human rights abuses.
Opponents launched a petition asking that the invitation be rescinded and claimed to have gathered more than 1,100 signatures.
Peter Long, president of the Cambodian Coordinating Council, which organizes the parade, released an announcement saying his organization had been told the Cambodian official will not participate.
"We hope this settles any misunderstanding," the statement read. "The Cambodian New Year Parade and El Dorado Park festivities are intended to be enjoyed by participants, spectators and the community. We hope you will join us this year."
Anthony Ly, editor of Angkor Borei News, who helped lead the protest, said he had received permits for his group to protest should Sok An decide to attend.
Ly said there is speculation Sok An is visiting Southern California and he plans to be prepared.
If Sok An does not attend, "We'll just enjoy the parade and celebration," Ly said.
"I think since (Sok An's) not showing up, I hope people will put their belief in us and learn what this is all about," Long said.
Before there was a Cambodian New Year Parade there was controversy. The date of the first parade had to be changed after there was uproar when the inaugural event was scheduled to be staged on April 17, 2005, the 30th anniversary of the date the Khmer Rouge rose to power and began their bloody reign that left 1.7 million Cambodians dead.
On Sunday, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. with an interfaith blessing. It will proceed west along Anaheim Street from Junipero Avenue to Warren Avenue at MacArthur Park.
In conjunction with the parade, the Mark Twain Library will be open for residents to peruse some of the more than 1,000 Khmer-language books and materials acquired on a January book-purchasing trip to Cambodia.
As of Tuesday, the parade had 72 community, cultural and performing groups entered with several more expected.
This year's parade theme is "Cambodia Town For Diversity," in honor of the city's official designation of the Cambodian area of Long Beach.
The parade will be followed by cultural presentations and entertainment at MacArthur Park. In addition to the standard post-event music and entertainment, Long said there would be a presentation of a traditional Cambodian play on the outdoor stage at MacArthur Park.
Cambodian New Year is typically a three-day celebration that falls in mid-April. This year will be the Year of the Rat.
The Long Beach festivities will continue the following weekend with the annual Cambodian New Year Celebration at El Dorado Regional Park on April 12.
On the heels of what organizers say was their best-ever year in 2007, they hope to receive even more visitors this year.
The all-day event at the park is more traditionally Cambodian and features religious ceremonies, New Year games, cultural performances and music by well-known Khmer singers.
Admission tickets are sold to cars parking at El Dorado for $20 per vehicle if purchased in advance. Tickets will be available at a number of Cambodian businesses throughout Long Beach.
Information about both events is available by calling the Cambodian Coordinating Council at 562-833-6128 or online at www.cam-cc.org.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
LONG BEACH - In the wake of an apparent resolution to the latest flap that threatened the Cambodian New Year Parade, the stage is set for the fourth annual event to proceed without hindrance Sunday.
This year, a furor arose when an invitation was extended to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to participate in the annual parade.
News of the invitation brought an emotional response by community members who oppose the government of Hun Sen, which has been linked to a variety of human rights abuses.
Opponents launched a petition asking that the invitation be rescinded and claimed to have gathered more than 1,100 signatures.
Peter Long, president of the Cambodian Coordinating Council, which organizes the parade, released an announcement saying his organization had been told the Cambodian official will not participate.
"We hope this settles any misunderstanding," the statement read. "The Cambodian New Year Parade and El Dorado Park festivities are intended to be enjoyed by participants, spectators and the community. We hope you will join us this year."
Anthony Ly, editor of Angkor Borei News, who helped lead the protest, said he had received permits for his group to protest should Sok An decide to attend.
Ly said there is speculation Sok An is visiting Southern California and he plans to be prepared.
If Sok An does not attend, "We'll just enjoy the parade and celebration," Ly said.
"I think since (Sok An's) not showing up, I hope people will put their belief in us and learn what this is all about," Long said.
Before there was a Cambodian New Year Parade there was controversy. The date of the first parade had to be changed after there was uproar when the inaugural event was scheduled to be staged on April 17, 2005, the 30th anniversary of the date the Khmer Rouge rose to power and began their bloody reign that left 1.7 million Cambodians dead.
On Sunday, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. with an interfaith blessing. It will proceed west along Anaheim Street from Junipero Avenue to Warren Avenue at MacArthur Park.
In conjunction with the parade, the Mark Twain Library will be open for residents to peruse some of the more than 1,000 Khmer-language books and materials acquired on a January book-purchasing trip to Cambodia.
As of Tuesday, the parade had 72 community, cultural and performing groups entered with several more expected.
This year's parade theme is "Cambodia Town For Diversity," in honor of the city's official designation of the Cambodian area of Long Beach.
The parade will be followed by cultural presentations and entertainment at MacArthur Park. In addition to the standard post-event music and entertainment, Long said there would be a presentation of a traditional Cambodian play on the outdoor stage at MacArthur Park.
Cambodian New Year is typically a three-day celebration that falls in mid-April. This year will be the Year of the Rat.
The Long Beach festivities will continue the following weekend with the annual Cambodian New Year Celebration at El Dorado Regional Park on April 12.
On the heels of what organizers say was their best-ever year in 2007, they hope to receive even more visitors this year.
The all-day event at the park is more traditionally Cambodian and features religious ceremonies, New Year games, cultural performances and music by well-known Khmer singers.
Admission tickets are sold to cars parking at El Dorado for $20 per vehicle if purchased in advance. Tickets will be available at a number of Cambodian businesses throughout Long Beach.
Information about both events is available by calling the Cambodian Coordinating Council at 562-833-6128 or online at www.cam-cc.org.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
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