Ksaem Ksan Association's Statement -- Denouncing Chum Mey's demonstration against deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha

Unofficial translation

Ksaem Ksan Association's statement

The executive committee of the Association of Victims of Democratic Kampuchea has held a meeting on Saturday June 8, 2013 with the participation of the undersigned.

The executive committee has discussed about the action of Mr. Chum Mey who is organizing a demonstration against Mr. Kem Sokha on the grounds Mr. Kem Sokha has declared that the Khmer Rouge torture center s-21 is a myth, which Mr. Kem Sokha has insistently denied.

The executive committee members have received expression of concern from fellow members regarding the perceived deviation from the principle of neutrality of the association, because of this action of Mr. Chum Mey who is known as the Association President and one of the s-21 survivors.

The executive committee of Ksaemksan Association with required quorum wishes to inform the public that our Association does not take part in the planning, the organization and the control of this demonstration initiated by Mr. Chum Mey.

The reasons behind our standpoint are:

1-      This action of Mr. Chum Mey runs counter the spirit of the association whose aims are to seek justice for the victims via the courts of law, to alleviate their sufferings, to unite the motherland and to oppose any attempts to divide the country.

2-      By its statutes approved by the Ministry of Interior, Ksaem Ksan is under the obligations to avoid engaging in politics and to stay in all circumstances neutral.

3-      Ksaem Ksan Association does not support any individual who uses his victim’s status to seek any gain of any nature.

Therefore, the executive committee of Ksemksan asks Mr. Chum Mey to please reconsider his position for the sake of keeping alive the fraternity that until now bounds all Ksemksan members.

The executive committee commends with respect its Vice-President Mr. Bou Meng who has declared his neutrality, his willingness to work for the national reconciliation, his opposition to the incitement to divide the nation and to the use one’s victim status to seek any gain.

At the next General Assembly, the executive committee will propose the election of the member who is faithful to the spirit of Association and who is neutral to be its president.

Phnom Penh, June8, 2013

Victims Association of Democratic Kampuchea "Ksaem Ksan"

"United in the quest of Justice, Social Harmony, Culture of Peace and Spiritual Healing"

www.ksaemksan.info / contact@ksaemksan.info