January 10, 2010
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As a President who has expressed his strong determination to defend democracy and to promote peace throughout the world, we would like to call your attention to the case of a recent human right violation by the Phnom Penh government.
On December 19, 2009, the Phnom Penh government forcibly repatriated a group of 20 asylum seekers, members of China's Uighur community, back to China before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] had the chance to complete its refugee status determination.
As Cambodian-Americans, we are concerned with the well-being of all people, we would like to inform you that we strongly condemn the inhumane acts of the Phnom Penh government in arresting Uighur refugees and deporting them to China. We suggest that the United States government put serious pressure on the Phnom Penh government to stop such cruel actions and comply with the law of the United Nations(1951) and the Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia concerning human rights (23 October 1991). The deportation of Uighur refugees is a death sentence, indicative of the Phnom Penh goverment’s willingness to violate human rights for its own interest.
We refer to this governmental structure as the “Phnom Penh” government because its creation is not by the will of Cambodian people and does not represent the interest of Cambodians as a whole. The existing government in Phnom Penh assumed power by a bloody coup on 5-6 July 1997. Subsequent elections that have allowed them continual power have not been free and/or fair and are rejected by the Cambodian people.
The Phnom Penh government, having ruled the country now for almost three decades, has committed numerous human rights violations, such as restraining freedom of press, manipulating justice in their courts, and carrying out unlawful evictions for land-grabbing, leaving thousands of Cambodians homeless nation-wide. The inhumane acts of the Phnom Penh government against Uighur refugees, along with other human rights abuses against the Cambodian people are wholly unacceptable.
This government’s decision to repeatedly violate the basic rights of all people, as provided by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is indicative of its willingness to commit crimes against the United States and its allies by way of providing support (and possibly training grounds) for terrorism, the most dangerous threat to the international community.
We, therefore, would like Mr. President Barack Obama and the United States Government to stop this distrustful government from such inhumane acts in order to obtain real peace, freedom, and justice, the characteristics of a successful democracy. This is our hope for the people of Cambodia.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter.
Yours truly,
Sarun Chhin
P.O.B 131927
Houston, Texas, 77219-1927
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