Hundreds protest as Cambodian leader visits Lowell

Hundreds protest as Cambodian leader visits Lowell

By Robert Mills, rmills@lowellsun.com

UPDATED:   04/18/2016 

"We want to make it clear that we don't want him to come here ever again," Pang said. "Thirty years of his corrupt regime is enough."

SENDING A MESSAGE: Hundreds of protesters line Middlesex Street at Pailin Plaza, in the heart of Lowell's Cambodian-American community, Sunday evening to protest a visit by Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. See video and slide show at lowellsun.com. SUN / Caley McGuane 

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

LOWELL -- As police stood guard to keep the peace and a state police helicopter hovered overhead, several hundred protesters greeted Hun Manet with speeches given through megaphones, signs alleging human-rights abuses and screams to get out of Lowell.

"America is a free country. We don't need any dictators here," a man shouted into a megaphone.

Manet, a lieutenant general in the Cambodian military and the son of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen, was in Lowell to give a speech at the Pailin City Restaurant Sunday Evening.

The appearance came less than three weeks after several hundred Cambodian-Americans convinced the City Council to denounce Manet's visit and reject a gift he planned to offer the city during a four-state American trip coinciding with the Cambodian New Year.

Protesters hold signs along Middlesex Street in Lowell on Sunday evening. Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, arrived later to speak at

Protesters hold signs along Middlesex Street in Lowell on Sunday evening. Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, arrived later to speak at the Pailin City Restaurant. SUN / CALEY MCGUANE 

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

It came one day after Manet told The Sun his trip has "not been a success" due to the protests against him in both Lowell and Long Beach, California.

Manet said on Saturday that he was "puzzled" by the opposition to his visit, which he described as an attempt to spread word of positive developments in Cambodia and to tout the country's fast-growing economy.

"When you strike, that's when you shut off ideas already," Manet said on Saturday, suggesting protesters are being closed-minded.

But along Middlesex Street Sunday, protesters described Manet as a wolf in sheep's clothing, who came here to spread propaganda even as the regime led by his father commits human-rights abuses.

Virak Jey, one of the protest's organizers, said Manet's claims about the reasons for his visit are nothing but a smokescreen.

"Manet isn't here to celebrate the new year or for solidarity," Jey said. "He's here to promote his party's agenda. His goal is to soften the image of the dictatorial regime."

Jey scoffed at Manet's claims that free speech is accepted in Cambodia as long as it's nonviolent, saying the regime often sends in "thugs" to cause violence at peaceful protests, and that the regime recently passed laws limiting freedom of expression.

VOICING RAGE: Lowell police stand by as hundreds demonstrate across from Pailin Plaza on Middlesex Street on Sunday evening. Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, arrived later to speak at the Pailin City Restaurant. See video and slide show at lowellsun.com. SUN / Caley McGuane 

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

Jey said protesters in Cambodia have been falsely accused of inciting violence and imprisoned for as long as 20 years despite a lack of evidence.

He pointed out a man on the roof of the Pailin City Restaurant who was videotaping and photographing protesters across the street.

Jey, Champa Pang, of Lowell, and several other protesters said pictures of protesters would be posted in the airport in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penn, and that anyone appearing in those pictures could face retaliation if they return to Cambodia.

"They will harass and try to intimidate us if we go to visit with our families," Jey said.

Protesters, some with megaphones, make their voices heard. SUN / CALEY MCGUANE 

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

Jey cited gains made by the opposition party in Cambodia during recent elections, but said there were numerous irregularities in those elections, and that the regime refused to let the people see the actual ballots that were cast.

Those were just a few of the human-rights abuses alleged by protesters, who said the regime also steals land, and imprisons or even kills those who speak against it.

"We'd get beat up if we did this in Cambodia," said one man who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals.

Not all Cambodians in Lowell denounced the visit, as evidenced by the crowd Manet spoke to Sunday evening.

Paul Ratha Yem, a former candidate for state representative, is among those who were willing to listen to Manet. He didn't attend Sunday's speech, but did sit on Manet's meeting The Sun.

Yem said he doesn't believe everything Manet says, but he wanted to hear what Manet had to say.

"I think it's an opportunity to listen to what he has to say, but not necessarily believe everything that he says," Yem said. "I'd rather hear from people than reject them outright."

A reporter who attempted to go into the gathering at Pailin City Sunday night was turned away at the door by a visibly shaken official who cited security concerns as protesters screamed across the street and several cars honked their horns.

Manet appeared at the gathering about 90 minutes later than scheduled, though it was unclear whether it was the protests that caused his delay.

Police Capt. Timothy Crowley said the protests went smoothly and reported no problems or arrests.

Many of the protesters said they lost family members during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, including a woman whose mother, daughter and son were killed.

Kosal Nou traveled from Lynn to take part in the protests because he had to speak out against what he called Manet's attempts to recruit people to the Cambodian People's Party, which rules the country.

Nou fled Cambodia when he was 20 years old after losing half of his family to the Khmer Rouge's killings.

"My wounds healed, though scars remain," Nou said. "But this visit reopens those wounds and pours salt into them."

Nou said he could never have spoken out in this way in Cambodia, and that he refuses to let Manet build a following in America that could threaten his ability to speak out here.

"If I go back (to Cambodia) I'll be arrested or set up," said Vannarith Po, who traveled from Fall River to take part in the protests.

Champa Pang, of Lowell, said she was protesting because she believes the real purpose of Manet's visit is to build support for his father's regime, which she blames for human-rights abuses.

While Manet has touted Cambodia's growing economy, Pang said the benefits of that growth have all gone to the rich and those who support the regime, while many ordinary citizens continue to live without health care and basic necessities.

"We want to make it clear that we don't want him to come here ever again," Pang said. "Thirty years of his corrupt regime is enough."

Ashley Touch, of Lowell, said she was protesting to send a message that Lowell's Cambodian community hopes Manet never returns.

"He called protesters closed-minded for not listening to his ideas, but we don't want to hear ideas from a corrupt politician like him," Touch said. "He needs to learn from America."