Post by Borng Pdey Oun.
CCHR PRESS RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 18 December 2013
CCHR issues clarification on its open letter to CNRP leadership on the subject of discrimination
On 12 December 2013, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) issued an open letter addressing discriminatory language used by Mr. Sam Rainsy – leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party – in a speech delivered to crowds of supporters in Siem Reap, on 10 December 2013 (International Human Rights Day). The letter states that “during the rally, Sam Rainsy discussed Vietnamese immigration to Cambodia, referring to the Vietnamese as “yuon”, a term often considered pejorative.” Following the publication of this letter, CCHR has received widespread criticism via email and social media, claiming that the term “yuon” is not pejorative.
CCHR would like to clarify that it is aware of the history of the word “yuon” but the context in which it was used on 10 December 2013 is in itself discriminatory towards Vietnamese people. The speech stated that the Vietnamese are taking Khmer jobs and land. This is not the first time that derogatory comments about Vietnamese people have been made in Cambodia for political gain. The historical conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam has long been harnessed to win popularity amongst the Khmer electorate. Whether or not the term“yuon” is derogatory in itself is secondary in light of the main issue at stake – the fact that political leaders publically [sic] single out and criticize Vietnamese people.
CCHR is a non-aligned human rights organization that works to promote and protect the human rights of all, not just Cambodian people. Using the Vietnamese as scapegoats and blaming them for social and economic issues facing Cambodia not only distracts from constructive dialogue on reform, but potentially jeopardizes the safety of Vietnamese people living in Cambodia. In addition, it is not just the rights of legal immigrants that must be protected, but also illegal immigrants — whether they are Cambodians in Thailand or Vietnamese in Cambodia. CCHR calls upon political leaders to assume their responsibility as public figures and role models, to recognize the universality of human rights and to discuss issues such as immigration without resorting to discrimination or racism.
CCHR President Ou Virak comments:
“I fully stand by CCHR’s open letter to the CNRP. Blaming Vietnamese people and Vietnam for the many problems facing Cambodia today is both dangerous and a waste of time. The CNRP has a very large support group and CNRP leaders could potentially bring about real, lasting improvements to the human rights situation in Cambodia. We are asking them to be principled in their approach and to commit to non-discrimination in their policies and strategies. All political parties and public figure have a responsibility to combat discrimination, rather than adding fuel to the fire. As an independent human rights organization CCHR must speak out about these issues and highlight human rights violations, both by the leading party and by the opposition.”
For more information please contact Ou Virak via telephone at +855 (0) 1240 4051 or email ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org or CCHR Consultant Orla Kelly via telephone at +855 (0) 6772 7025 or e-mail at orla.kelly@cchrcambodia.org.
Please find the Press Release attached in PDF format in both English and Khmer.
Kind regards,
CCHR
10 comments:
Ou Virak said that he is aware of the history of the word "yuon" but maintained that the context in which Rainsy had used the term is "pejorative". In Ou Virak's first letter he didn't say like this. He said the word "yuon" is pejorative. His entire letter was talking about the word "yuon", not about Rainsy's "anti-Vietnamese" speech. If Ou Virak's letter refered to Rainsy's "anti-Vietnamese" speech, many people would have reacted angrily but to tell Khmer people to stop speaking their own language - stop suing the word "yuon" - would be tantamount to committing a linguistic genocide. I think Ou Virak knew about the danger posed by the influx of the Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Cambodia but he wants to be politically correct or just want attention. Well, he got more attention than what he'd have anticipated - all the unwanted abuses and personal attacks. I don't want to explain more about the definition of the word "yuon" because many people had done enough already. But I want to tell Ou Virak that the Vietnamese didn't call Cambodians Khmers, they call us the pejorative term "Mien", which does not refer to Khmers but a word that describes the primitive/backward minority groups living in Vietnam. Is this not derogatory toward Khmers? Please answer Mr Ou Virak.
How about Vietnamese discriminate against Khmer Krom? A small minority of Cambodian went to Vietnam to look for some income and Vietnamese polices round up them and sent back to Cambodia like animal and Ou Virak never ever say a word about Human Right to Vietnamese government.
Every time Cambodian try to protect their land, their jobs Ou Virak said Cambodian discriminated against Vietnamese. Vietnamese come and go to Cambodia as they please; no country on earth that allow other people migrate to their country freely like Cambodia allowed Vietnamese to move and stay freely without face Cambodian migration law.
Even in Australia, USA, Europe were/are the country of human right but those countries put illegal immigrant indefinitely in jail for years without trial; like USA sent Khmer-American back to Cambodia.
ou vireak only barking to support devil hun sen for money,he is cchr director to pretending to the world support him for money too so his tactic can earn two ways,he is not human right he is also corruption in large in the region .
LET'S NOT WASTE OUR TIME WITH THIS STUPID CCHR PRESIDENT, OU VIRAK. AS LONG AS KHMER STANDING UP AND JOINING HANDS TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR INTEREST, WE CARELESS ABOUT THIS STUPID ISSUE.
WE DEMAND THAT OU VIRAK TO STEP DOWN AS A PRESIDENT OF CCHR.
HEY AH OU VIRAK, THERE ARE LOTS OF SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WE FACE HERE IN OUR COUNTRY, DO SOMETHING MORE PRODUCTIVE TO THE NATION INSTEAD OF SIDING WITH AH YOUN.
DICK HEAD
It appears that Ou Virak is digging himself in deeper. Who is he trying to fool? Vietnam has territory ambition toward Cambodia and is actively engaging in their effort to colonize Cambodia. Only an idiot would not know this. It simply shows what Mr. Ou Virak's stand on nationalism. He sounds more like a Vietnamese (Youn) then a Cambodian (Khmer.) CCHR is simply where Mr. Ou Virak draws his salary, obviously he has no principle. Where is Mr. Ou Virak when Khmer civilians were murdered or tortured by Phmon Penh security forces?
Virak ask ta OU, your grand father, first before you open your mouth about ah Yuon, ah skakey dong ah kon top.
អាប្អូននេះ បានលក់ឲ្យគេហើយ។ បើស្ថាប័ន CCHR ជាស្ថាប័ន មិនមែនរបស់បុគ្គលនេះទេ គណអភិបាល គួរតែដកគាត់គ្រវាត់ចោលទៅ កុំឲ្យខូចឈ្មោះតទៅទៀត ហើយកុំភ្លេចធ្វើការសុំទោសជាសាធារណៈផង។ បើមិនដូ្ចច្នោះទេ សូមដូរឈ្មោះស្ថាប័ននេះទៅជា YCHR វិញ ហើយកុំភ្លេចសូមប្តូរទីតាំងផង កុំនៅស្រុកខ្មែរតទៅទៀត យើងមិនស្វាគមន៍ទេ។
HI,Nguyen Van Virak.If you do not want KHMERS call youn YOUN you better move to HANOI.BYE TRAITOR
How much Hun xen pays u to said all that ah nguyen van virakshits?
OU VIRAK,are you related to KING CHEY CHETHA 2? Khmer nationalistS 100 percent call YOUN ah YounsyounYOUN.STOP ARGUING OR PREACHING .If you love youn keep your own words.You are blind not seeing the facts that almost 5millions youns swallowing economy,government,territory.
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