By Steve Huffman
The Dispatch
Published: Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sam Rainsy (pictured middle), a member of Cambodia's parliament, brought a message from his native land to Davidson County Saturday night.
Unless you spoke Cambodian, it was impossible to understand what Rainsy was saying, but he drew the rapt attention of about 200 Davidson County residents who are of Cambodian descent. Rainsy spoke at the Lexington Buddhist Temple off Pinelodge Road.
In a brief interview where he spoke English, Rainsy, 63, said he had been forced into exile from Cambodia, but still travels frequently to the country. He remains a member of the country's parliament, Rainsy said. "It's not the first time," he said of his forced exile. "I'm used to it."
Rainsy was accompanied by his wife, Tioulong Saumura. Like her husband, she's a member of the Cambodian parliament, but living in exile. Saumura said the couple lives in Paris. She said the last time they returned to Cambodia was about a month ago.
Officially, the country is a constitutional monarchy, but Saumura said its rule is a dictatorship. "When we go to Cambodia, we don't sleep well at night," Saumura said. She said there have been recent assassination attempts against other Cambodian political leaders. Saumura said she and her husband flew Saturday to Greensboro from New York City where she had been addressing members of the United Nations concerning problems in Cambodia. She is,
Saumura said, head of international relations for the Sam Rainsy Party. The party, Saumura said, was formerly the Khmer Nation Party, but members changed the name due to harassment by the Cambodian government The Sam Rainsy Party is Cambodia's second-most popular, having garnered 1.3 million votes in the 2008 national election, the nation's most recent. The Cambodian People's Party is the nation's most popular, garnering 3.5 million votes in that same election. Of the 123 members of the nation's parliament, 26 are from the Sam Rainsy Party while 90 are from the Cambodian People's Party. Parliament's remaining members come from smaller parties.
Judging by reaction to Rainsy's appearance in Davidson County, he is wildly popular among Cambodians. He was treated with the type reverence Americans typically reserve for professional athletes or rock stars.
Many flocked to have their pictures taken with him Saturday night. The show of respect transcended cultures. Sam Bour served as an interpreter for Rainsy on occasions Saturday. He said Rainsy spoke about border wars between Cambodia and Vietnam, and warned that Vietnam is trying to swallow Cambodia. Saumura said the respect the people of Cambodian descent showed her husband Saturday is indicative of that he attracts when he speaks at any number of locations around the world. Native Cambodians, she said, continue to worry about and seek information about their homeland, regardless of their years of separation. "They have found a new motherland here," Saumura said, motioning to those who waited to speak to her husband. "They still care for their (native) country."
Rainsy's Saturday night address was interrupted often by shouts and applause. Rainsy was born in Phnom Penh in 1949. His father [Sam Sary] was a member of the Cambodian government in the 1950s. Rainsy was the nation's minister of finance in the early 1990s. He founded the Khmer Nation Party in 1995 and has served as president of the Sam Rainsy Party since 1998. Rainsy's political fortunes have in recent years alternated between exile and a desire expressed by many Cambodians that he return and lead the nation through its problems.
According to Rainsy's own website, "Sam Rainsy is the architect and founder of the Sam Rainsy Party. He leads the party through many elections. No doubt, Sam Rainsy is the second-largest party in the country. Sam Rainsy used to enjoy financial support from within the country and abroad. But 13 years in opposition is a long time. Some have even started to predict the next election will be the last for Sam Rainsy, if there is no dramatic change in the current structure." Rainsy's most recent exile stems from an incident in October 2009 where he led residents at the Cambodia/Vietnam border in a protest against alleged Vietnamese encroachment on Cambodian territory. Rainsy is alleged to have encouraged villagers to uproot border markings that he claimed were illegally placed by Vietnam. Rainsy was charged with racial incitement and destruction of property, charges he said are politically motivated.
Cambodia is best known for the genocide of 1975-1979 that took place under the Khmer Rouge regime. It's estimated that of the nation's 8 million inhabitants, as many as 2.5 million died.
The Dispatch
Published: Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sam Rainsy (pictured middle), a member of Cambodia's parliament, brought a message from his native land to Davidson County Saturday night.
Unless you spoke Cambodian, it was impossible to understand what Rainsy was saying, but he drew the rapt attention of about 200 Davidson County residents who are of Cambodian descent. Rainsy spoke at the Lexington Buddhist Temple off Pinelodge Road.
In a brief interview where he spoke English, Rainsy, 63, said he had been forced into exile from Cambodia, but still travels frequently to the country. He remains a member of the country's parliament, Rainsy said. "It's not the first time," he said of his forced exile. "I'm used to it."
Rainsy was accompanied by his wife, Tioulong Saumura. Like her husband, she's a member of the Cambodian parliament, but living in exile. Saumura said the couple lives in Paris. She said the last time they returned to Cambodia was about a month ago.
Officially, the country is a constitutional monarchy, but Saumura said its rule is a dictatorship. "When we go to Cambodia, we don't sleep well at night," Saumura said. She said there have been recent assassination attempts against other Cambodian political leaders. Saumura said she and her husband flew Saturday to Greensboro from New York City where she had been addressing members of the United Nations concerning problems in Cambodia. She is,
Saumura said, head of international relations for the Sam Rainsy Party. The party, Saumura said, was formerly the Khmer Nation Party, but members changed the name due to harassment by the Cambodian government The Sam Rainsy Party is Cambodia's second-most popular, having garnered 1.3 million votes in the 2008 national election, the nation's most recent. The Cambodian People's Party is the nation's most popular, garnering 3.5 million votes in that same election. Of the 123 members of the nation's parliament, 26 are from the Sam Rainsy Party while 90 are from the Cambodian People's Party. Parliament's remaining members come from smaller parties.
Judging by reaction to Rainsy's appearance in Davidson County, he is wildly popular among Cambodians. He was treated with the type reverence Americans typically reserve for professional athletes or rock stars.
Many flocked to have their pictures taken with him Saturday night. The show of respect transcended cultures. Sam Bour served as an interpreter for Rainsy on occasions Saturday. He said Rainsy spoke about border wars between Cambodia and Vietnam, and warned that Vietnam is trying to swallow Cambodia. Saumura said the respect the people of Cambodian descent showed her husband Saturday is indicative of that he attracts when he speaks at any number of locations around the world. Native Cambodians, she said, continue to worry about and seek information about their homeland, regardless of their years of separation. "They have found a new motherland here," Saumura said, motioning to those who waited to speak to her husband. "They still care for their (native) country."
Rainsy's Saturday night address was interrupted often by shouts and applause. Rainsy was born in Phnom Penh in 1949. His father [Sam Sary] was a member of the Cambodian government in the 1950s. Rainsy was the nation's minister of finance in the early 1990s. He founded the Khmer Nation Party in 1995 and has served as president of the Sam Rainsy Party since 1998. Rainsy's political fortunes have in recent years alternated between exile and a desire expressed by many Cambodians that he return and lead the nation through its problems.
According to Rainsy's own website, "Sam Rainsy is the architect and founder of the Sam Rainsy Party. He leads the party through many elections. No doubt, Sam Rainsy is the second-largest party in the country. Sam Rainsy used to enjoy financial support from within the country and abroad. But 13 years in opposition is a long time. Some have even started to predict the next election will be the last for Sam Rainsy, if there is no dramatic change in the current structure." Rainsy's most recent exile stems from an incident in October 2009 where he led residents at the Cambodia/Vietnam border in a protest against alleged Vietnamese encroachment on Cambodian territory. Rainsy is alleged to have encouraged villagers to uproot border markings that he claimed were illegally placed by Vietnam. Rainsy was charged with racial incitement and destruction of property, charges he said are politically motivated.
Cambodia is best known for the genocide of 1975-1979 that took place under the Khmer Rouge regime. It's estimated that of the nation's 8 million inhabitants, as many as 2.5 million died.
2 comments:
Vous avez le droit de critiquer les hommes politiques , ça c'est votre droit !
Moi , quand , j'étais jeune à l'école primaire en 1960 , j'ai écouté la Radio Nationale de P.Penh , Le Roi Sihanouk traiter le père de Sam rainsy ( SAM SARY ), et les autres ( CHAU BOREI , DAB CHHOURN ...) comme Khmers Serei .Il y en avait même un qui était fusillé en direct , avec les photos publiées dans le journal à l'époque :( PREAB IN) .
A l'époque , on nous fait comprendre , ces personnes étaient des traites , ils étaient pro-impérialiste américain ect...
Il y avait jamais des jugements . On avait dit toujours CIA..Impérialiste, colonialiste ,
Chakrâporth , mais on ne savait jamais la réalité .Puisque c'est Samdech euv qui avait dit.
Le roi Sihanouk n'avait jamais aimé les occidentaux , encore moins les américains , sauf La France , car celle-ci l'avait mis sur le Trône. Je me souvenais , lors de chaque meeting , le Roi hurle contre les journaux occidentaux qui le critiquait.
C'est dans le sang des dirigeants khmers , ils n'aiment pas les critiques . Ceux qui critiquent sont des traites , des yourns , des siems , des impérialistes , des communistes...
Dans votre commentaire , vous avez dit SAM sary : traitre , probablement ce n'est pas vrai .
Peab In , qui était fusillé à l'époque , peut-être , c'est injuste.
Mais tout le pays écoutait seulement une personne , c'est Preah BEIDA Cheat.
Maintenant le temps change , il faut voir l'histoire autrement .
Sam rainsy , il avait le droit de réagir comme parti opposition .C'est tout à fait normal , si on veut vivre dans un système démocratique , il faut accepter les critiques .Ca va dans le bon sens pour le peuple et pour l'intérêt du pays .Dans les pays non démocratiques , le dirigeant dictateur n'aime pas qu'on le critique , n'accepte pas l'existance d'autres partis .
Dans leur tête :
TOUT CE QUI EST CONTRE MOI ! C'EST
L'ENNEMI à ABATTRE .
Restons donc juste , si vous voulez vivre dans la liberté .
Il faut pas être '' A LI HEUV '' .
Rainsy he has no leadershipe skile Sumora she does, rainsy was supported by srp or Sumara money, thise girly never work in his life, how he man enought to run the nation, he just a son of a traitor, he only know how to speak, criticise and anger, and cheating you and me. he follow his father Sam sary foot print, gave him a slape he will wake up and learn how to do something to lives, he never help khmer, some idoit said he is khmer compatriote, they are absolutly wrong, pol pot kill khmer rainsy never call on un or franch for help, wasn't it right? but after 1993 he came to cambodia and run ministry of finance, it just his business, stope believe this idiot rainsy. if you are smart you can clearly see idiot rainsy have nothing superior for you to believed in, if he cheat you, and you accepted it, then all of you are completly madness man, do YOU HEAR me KMHERIZATION, IF YOU SPEND YOUR ENERGY AND TIMEs TO HELP KHMER TO EDUCATE, UP TO NOW MILLION OF PEOPLE THEY KNOW YOU AND ALL THANK TO YOU, AND YOU MAY BE MY HERO TOO, BUT YOUR WISDOME ARE LESS THAN AN ORDINARY PEOPLE, IDOIT RAINSY COULD CHEAT YOU EASILY, WHAT YOU GOT, MAY BE An air promise, how could you blindly do business like that or may be you are belong to the cheater team too, I think most of you and Ki just stupid tools for Rainsy. you See I am not kind to any one, I need real man the man who IS well prepare for success the man who do somethings day in day out, the man who refuse to stope fighting for success on an importance work in his hands, a man who could see result in month a head, not useless man like you Khmerization and KI that are good in separeting and spreading ignorance hatreat and anger in Khmer community. let me ask you if Rainsy in power you thinks all poor rainsy team will not corrupt, and rainsy be able to claim land back from vietnam, or he strong enought to dealt with thai. will Rainsy capable of command those Hun sen general, and will rainsy not fled to france when we have war. say the truth all about Rainsy power and become millioniar himself then he retire in franch isn't right?. technicaly I shall never insult some one to convince them specialy educated people like all of you but you make a bige mistake and you use to talk low class than what I mention above, but if I did not show you this way you don't know yourself as one of those ignorance scumback, may be you are worsh than them becouse you did spread hatred and devide my people for many years and some hundreds of ignorance like you believed your fall preaching.Mike
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