From left to right: US Congressmen Joseph Cao, Eni Faleomaveaga and Mike Honda. Mr. Eni Faleomavaega was the only US congressman who celebrated 07 January, the day of Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, with the CPP. The other two congressmen decided to pay a visit to the Choeung Ek killing field memorial instead. Mr. Faleomavaega claimed that he was only paying attention to the toppling of the Khmer Rouge regime. Could it be possible that the congressman from American Samoa be really simpleminded or was he ignorant on purpose to the fact that he was actually sharing the podium with former KR commanders? (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)
One US Congressman joins the 07 January celebration
07 January 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
One US congressman among three of them who concluded their short visit to Cambodia on 07 January, indicated that he decided to join the CPP’s commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the 07 January 1979 victory only to commemorate the toppling of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime only (sic!).
The KR regime has been blamed by both the national and international community for the killing of almost 2 million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979 through torture, forced labor and starvation.
On Thursday, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), one of the three congressmen who just concluded his visit to Cambodia, said at a press conference held at the Phnom Penh International airport that: “What I pay attention to on 07 January is the toppling of the Pol Pot regime, following the cruel killing and torture of almost 2 million people. This action should not take place again against innocent people.”
Ouch Borith, secretary of state of the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was also present during the press conference, said: “It was the 2nd birthday for all of us. All our people have clearly indicated that they join this celebration to welcome the toppling of the genocidal Pol Pot Khmer Rouge regime.”
The presence of the US congressman at the 31st anniversary of the 07 January victory of the CPP takes place also on a day that a number of people consider as a day of Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia.
US Congressmen Mike Honda and Joseph Cao did not join the CPP celebration and they went to pay a visit to the Cheoung Ek killing field memorial on Thursday instead.
SRP spokesman and MP Yim Sovann indicated in reaction that: “They commemorate past history, however, they should also review the current situation also.”
Yim Sovann said: “Human rights violation, curtailing the people’s freedom rights, killing of journalists, jailing of victimized farmers who lost their lands, these are experiences that we must remember. He [Eni Faleomavaega] should help provide advice so that the violations above would not take place anymore in the Cambodian society.”
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