Cambodian leader baffled by protests, city denunciation
By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.com
UPDATED: 04/16/2016
LOWELL -- Hun Manet, a lieutenant general in the Cambodian military, said Saturday he was "puzzled" by opposition to his visit to this country, but portrayed the criticism as coming from a vocal minority who closed themselves off to an exchange of ideas during his stop.
Manet's stop in Lowell comes at the end of a four-state American trip coinciding with the Cambodian New Year, a trip he said has "not been a success" due to Cambodian-Americans in Lowell and Long Beach, Calif., speaking out against him.
Many critics connect Manet, son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, to human-rights and corruption allegations that have long been made against the Cambodian government, as well as to the deadly Khmer Rouge regime that far precedes him but was the reason many sought refuge in the United States.
Manet, who is soft-spoken and well-polished as a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, repeatedly criticized that opposition as closed-minded and not representative of all Cambodians in the United States.
"When you strike, that's when you shut off ideas already," Manet said of protesters in an hourlong interview with The Sun Editorial Board.
Manet has been met with protests throughout his visit. In Long Beach, Cambodian-Americans were urged to not participate in a Cambodian New Year parade because Manet was scheduled to take part. He withdrew.
In Lowell, hundreds of the city's estimated 30,000 Cambodian-Americans filled City Hall to urge councilors to not officially recognize Manet's visit.
The City Council voted last month to "denounce" the visit, to not have officials meet with him at City Hall, and to reject a gift from the Cambodian government.
"I have no chance of defending myself," Manet said.
Manet appeared stung by the rejection, as well as confused that the city would not accept a statue of Jayavarmin VII, a king of the Khmer Empire centuries ago and a beloved figure in Cambodian culture.
Earlier this month, several experts on Cambodia told The Sun they were not surprised by the opposition to Manet's visit in Lowell and Long Beach, the two largest Cambodian communities in the United States. An author of a book on Cambodia under Hun Sun said the ruling party has been "engaging in a charm offensive" in Cambodian communities abroad in recent years.
But Manet said his trip was meant to spread word of strides Cambodia has made in recent years, specifically that it is among the fastest-growing economies in the world and among the fastest in eliminating poverty.
"We have moved from a poor country to a low middle-class country," he said.
Manet traveled with a delegation of a few dozen people, including top representatives in commerce, education, tourism and other areas where he hoped to make connections with Cambodians living in America. He appeared to anticipate questions about human rights and freedom of speech, even offering photos that he said showed how some government security officials had been injured at out-of-control protests.
Manet defended the imprisonment of a media director for the opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and of an opposition lawmaker. The lawmaker, Um San An, had incited potential violence by posting false maps of a sensitive subject in Cambodia: border disputes with Vietnam.
Protesting against the government is acceptable in Cambodia, Manet said, as long as it isn't violent.
Manet, who is in his late 30s, bridges two worlds. He has a Western education but is the oldest son of a prime minister who has been in office for 30 years and has been sharply criticized by human-rights watchdogs. He has been speculated by some to be his father's heir-apparent.
Asked whether he has a future as a potential prime minister, Manet said he hasn't thought about political office. Instead, he said he focuses on his obligations now as a lieutenant general.
"To handle that is a daunting task already," he said. He also deflected a question about whether he gives suggestions to his father.
"He has all the bright minds behind him," Manet said with a smile.
The interview often returned back to the protests at City Hall several weeks ago that, like those in Long Beach, have marred Manet's trip.
Manet lamented the latest turn in relations between Cambodia and its largest communities abroad. He said he would work to show Cambodians in the United States the good that Cambodia has done to even out what he called unbalanced news reaching Cambodians abroad.
"I give people the truth, from our perspective, what the government has done," he said. Referring to the Lowell protests, he added: "Two hundred people does not represent the opinion of the people."
By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.com
UPDATED: 04/16/2016
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Sun editorial board interview with Hun Manet, lieutenant general in the Royal Cambodian Air Force and son of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. (SUN/Julia Malakie) (Julia Malakie
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Protesting against the government is acceptable in Cambodia, Manet said, as long as it isn't violent.
LOWELL -- Hun Manet, a lieutenant general in the Cambodian military, said Saturday he was "puzzled" by opposition to his visit to this country, but portrayed the criticism as coming from a vocal minority who closed themselves off to an exchange of ideas during his stop.
Manet's stop in Lowell comes at the end of a four-state American trip coinciding with the Cambodian New Year, a trip he said has "not been a success" due to Cambodian-Americans in Lowell and Long Beach, Calif., speaking out against him.
Many critics connect Manet, son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, to human-rights and corruption allegations that have long been made against the Cambodian government, as well as to the deadly Khmer Rouge regime that far precedes him but was the reason many sought refuge in the United States.
Manet, who is soft-spoken and well-polished as a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, repeatedly criticized that opposition as closed-minded and not representative of all Cambodians in the United States.
"When you strike, that's when you shut off ideas already," Manet said of protesters in an hourlong interview with The Sun Editorial Board.
Manet has been met with protests throughout his visit. In Long Beach, Cambodian-Americans were urged to not participate in a Cambodian New Year parade because Manet was scheduled to take part. He withdrew.
In Lowell, hundreds of the city's estimated 30,000 Cambodian-Americans filled City Hall to urge councilors to not officially recognize Manet's visit.
The City Council voted last month to "denounce" the visit, to not have officials meet with him at City Hall, and to reject a gift from the Cambodian government.
"I have no chance of defending myself," Manet said.
Manet appeared stung by the rejection, as well as confused that the city would not accept a statue of Jayavarmin VII, a king of the Khmer Empire centuries ago and a beloved figure in Cambodian culture.
Earlier this month, several experts on Cambodia told The Sun they were not surprised by the opposition to Manet's visit in Lowell and Long Beach, the two largest Cambodian communities in the United States. An author of a book on Cambodia under Hun Sun said the ruling party has been "engaging in a charm offensive" in Cambodian communities abroad in recent years.
But Manet said his trip was meant to spread word of strides Cambodia has made in recent years, specifically that it is among the fastest-growing economies in the world and among the fastest in eliminating poverty.
"We have moved from a poor country to a low middle-class country," he said.
Manet traveled with a delegation of a few dozen people, including top representatives in commerce, education, tourism and other areas where he hoped to make connections with Cambodians living in America. He appeared to anticipate questions about human rights and freedom of speech, even offering photos that he said showed how some government security officials had been injured at out-of-control protests.
Manet defended the imprisonment of a media director for the opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and of an opposition lawmaker. The lawmaker, Um San An, had incited potential violence by posting false maps of a sensitive subject in Cambodia: border disputes with Vietnam.
Protesting against the government is acceptable in Cambodia, Manet said, as long as it isn't violent.
Manet, who is in his late 30s, bridges two worlds. He has a Western education but is the oldest son of a prime minister who has been in office for 30 years and has been sharply criticized by human-rights watchdogs. He has been speculated by some to be his father's heir-apparent.
Asked whether he has a future as a potential prime minister, Manet said he hasn't thought about political office. Instead, he said he focuses on his obligations now as a lieutenant general.
"To handle that is a daunting task already," he said. He also deflected a question about whether he gives suggestions to his father.
"He has all the bright minds behind him," Manet said with a smile.
The interview often returned back to the protests at City Hall several weeks ago that, like those in Long Beach, have marred Manet's trip.
Manet lamented the latest turn in relations between Cambodia and its largest communities abroad. He said he would work to show Cambodians in the United States the good that Cambodia has done to even out what he called unbalanced news reaching Cambodians abroad.
"I give people the truth, from our perspective, what the government has done," he said. Referring to the Lowell protests, he added: "Two hundred people does not represent the opinion of the people."
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