#72-74, Street 598
Sangkat BoeungKok II
Phnom Penh
11 December 2013
Open Letter from CCHR expressing grave concern over discriminatory language reportedly used by the CNRP
Dear Cambodian National Rescue Party leadership,
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) would like to express grave concern over remarks reportedly made by Cambodian National Rescue Party (“CNRP”) leader Sam Rainsy, which are both derogatory and discriminatory, against women and people of Vietnamese origin, during a rally in Siem Reap on 10 December 2013. Read the definition of the word "Yuon" here.
As reported by the Cambodia Daily on 11 December 2013, during the rally, Sam Rainsy discussed Vietnamese immigration to Cambodia, referring to the Vietnamese as “yuon,” a term often considered pejorative. Following some progress in reducing anti-Vietnamese rhetoric in the lead up to the 2013 National Elections, CCHR is disappointed that the CNRP is once again using such harmful language, which can only encourage racism towards Cambodian citizens of Vietnamese origin, as well as Vietnamese people living in Cambodia.
Moreover, CCHR is disappointed by the remarks made describing Prime Minister Hun Sen as being “weaker than a woman.” In calling for Hun Sen to stand down as Prime Minister, Sam Rainsy seems to have made the following remarks: “I appeal to Prime Minister Hun Sen; I ask one thing: don’t be weaker than a female […] There is [a] female Prime Minister in Thailand named Yingluck Shinawatra. Please applaud Yingluck Shinawatra: People protested to demand her to step down and she agreed to hold a re-election […] Why is Hun Sen weaker than a female?” In the march that followed, CNRP supporters then emulated Sam Rainsy’s comments, reportedly shouting “Hun Sen: Weaker than a woman!”
If accurate, such derogatory comments, which suggest that women are less capable than men, are unacceptable. Gender inequality and damaging gender stereotypes persist in Cambodia and such comments only serve to reinforce gender inequality and stereotypes and hinder Cambodia’s equitable development. Following this year’s National Assembly elections, which saw the first decrease in female representation in parliament in Cambodia in twenty years, this is a crucial time for encouraging gender equality, in politics and in all other areas of society.
Furthermore, the aforementioned comments are contradictory to the endorsed statement released on 27 August 2013 by the CNRP, which clarified the party’s position on elections, democracy and human rights. Of note, the statement highlighted that the CNRP “opposes violence, racism, xenophobia and discrimination.” These comments were unfortunately pronounced as the world celebrates International Human Rights Day and the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights which upholds the universality of human rights, equally applicable to all, and the subsequent incompatibility of discrimination.
In light of the above information, we respectfully request that the CNRP clarifies its position and if the above derogatory statements were made, releases a public apology, acknowledging the discriminatory nature of these comments. We also urge all members of the CNRP to follow the principles set out in the endorsed statement in the future and to help eradicate discrimination in Cambodia.
Yours sincerely,
Ou Virak
President
Cambodian Center for Human Rights
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Courtesy of Khmer world ខ្មែរពិភពលោក ខ្ញុំសុំឱ្យលោក អ៊ូរ វីរៈ សុំទោសប្រជាជនខ្មែរវិញ.....
20 comments:
Ou Virak is still uneducated and not knowing the history.
Just because Ou Virak married to his Vietnamese wife, he tried to prevent himself married his Yuon/Vietnamese wife.
Ou Virak is seeking attention and publicity. Recently, he attacked Sam Rainsy and the CNRP for some "politically incorrect" statements.
The phrase Rainsy used to compare Hun Sen as "weaker than a woman" (Yingluck) has been in the Khmer vocabulary for centuries.
The word "Yuon" has been in the Khmer vocabulary since before the word "Vietnam" came into being, and has even been inscribed on the wall of Khmer temple since around the 9th- 10th century, so it's not a pejorative term. It's just a neutral term we Khmer used to described the Vietnamese the same as the Vietnamese used the word "Mien" to call Khmer and the Thai used the word "Kmen" to call Khmer, but we don't feel offended or has never asked them to apologize to us Khmers.
Not only Khmer used the word "Yuon" to call the Vietnamese people. The thai, the Laotian, the Burmese and the Cham and the ethnic Jarai people also used the word "Yuon" to call the Vietnamese. So should Ou Virak ask the Thai, the Laotian, the Burmese, the Cham and the Jarai to apologize to the Vietnamese too? Instead,Ou Virak should apologize to all Khmer for asking us to apologize to the Vietnamese by just speaking the correct Khmer term to refer to them.
For general khmer citizen it ok to use "Youn" word, but if you are the leader you should'n even that you think it right, it still be wrong if the group of thoses people think it wrong. This is called deplomacy, for example if Rainsy is leader and he want to negotiated with Vietnames government for return Koh trail to khmer, if the Viet don't like the word "Youn" Koh trail will never return to khmer. I know it is a weak example, but I just wanted to amke the point. So leader have a lot of responsibility, they have to set a good example for their folower, they have to get things done. If Rainsy canot clearn up his act, how can he lead the khmer nation for the better future.
well dont use the word "youn" from now on, but use the word "katorp"
do you satisfy now mr nice guy ou virak.
Fuck ah Ou Virak, we will continue to use the word "YOUN" as we please. No one can tell us what not to say.
Matter of fact, we should use it more often. The word YOUN fit well with a nation of thief. We should call ah Ou Virak YOUN also.
Mr. Sam Rainsy and all Khmer leaders, please continue to use the word "YOUN". Don't be soft with these idiots. We Khmer fell much stronger when you use this word. I would suggest that we added the word "Chor" in front of YOUN to be accurate.
Ou Vira is a turd.
Ou Virus is a dog eater.People who eats pet is Youn ...definitely he's on the CPP side .His title will be scraped when CNRP leads Power...
Sam raincy he is way way extraordinary people he be able to change human being to wild beasts. Yes it is true righ.? Mr. Rainsy is master of crook creator's. Right.? .Wasn't it true. ?. Mike
Cambodia will come to distinction, if we have more stupid man like Ou virak. You are a sick man and disgrace.
HOW ABOUT USE THE WORD "AJERNG" IF IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN "JORN" THE BOTTOM LINE IS, ONLY IF YOU ARE AJERNG, THAT IS WHY YOU TRY TO PROTECT PURK AJERNG.
Bloody Mike still alive until now. ..you should have been hung by now. .
You are so right about the word "Youn" and "weaker than women". Mr. Ou Virak is an absolute dump and very stupidity person. His brain is either dead or washed away by Hun Sen influence. Ou Virak only sees 'Position", "money', and "being empower on Hun Sen side". Ou Virak should be shame to himself about these words he spoke to the entire nation. Ou Virak not only betrays to the people of "Cambodia" but he betrays himself to the entire nation by leading all Khmers to respect Yuon which historically the enemy of our state of Cambodia. Shame to you, Ou Virak, give up your position, NOW! (USA)
Khmer are very strong and very powerful nation, but how come I see poor khmer, begge for food every day on the street.
Because their braind are to small to think about anything else beside making trouble for each other.
Sy samram be able to chang human to wild beasts. He is Amazing right.?
This guy to to make news out of nothing, and for nothing to Cambodia. He should save his energy to promote the rights of meaningful participation of grass-root as many people have been trying to do.
I question the intention of his statement. Maybe he has been sold already
OU Virak are you crazy?I am a former high school teacher in Cambodia for 9 years until 1981.My teachers in Chak Angre since 1951 told all students to call them YOUNS and myself as high school teacher since 1966 used YOUNS all the time or A SRO KEI YEU-coconut covered their heads attacking khmers floating in the river- with clear historical explanation to my students,.I am 73 living aversea.Bye,Youn collaborater.
ou vireak is a kind of khmer to protectch yuon he do evrything for hun sen,he is a hun sen dog
I would to warn to all Cambodians people.
Khmer marked their properties' border and country by pole .
But Vietnamese marked their border by where they live.
So push them out, if you believe they settled in Cambodia.
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