Protesters urge Japan to cut support for poll

Soth Koemsoeun | Publication date 04 June 2018 | 10:05 ICT

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Cambodian Americans protest in New York on Friday. facebook

About 100 Cambodian Americans and former CNRP activists across the US and Canada protested in front of the Japanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Friday, demanding the Japanese government withdraws recognition of the July 29 Cambodian national elections, and all support and aid.

Hing Soksan, a former youth leader of the court-dissolved CNRP, who is living in exile and participated in the protest, said a petition was delivered to the Japanese Permanent Mission to the UN.

He said the petition listed three demands – that Japan cease providing aid for the elections, that the East Asian country not recognise the results of the poll and it fulfils its obligations as a signatory of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement and urges the effective implementation of the treaty.

“Japan will be on the opposite side of the international community if it continues supporting the election in Cambodia. I believe Japan is the only democratic state offering support to Cambodia,” Hing Soksan said.

Former CNRP activist, Chhoam Chakra, claimed many protesters from other US states stood before the Japanese mission and lent support for the petition.

Chakra said that besides the many monks and Cambodian Americans, Cambodian Canadians also joined the protest.

Officials from the CNRP were present as well, including Nhoy Chamroeun – a lawmaker who was allegedly assaulted by Cambodian People’s Party supporters outside the National Assembly in 2015.

“We held a banner with slogans calling for intervention to free land activists and political prisoners who are being held in Cambodian jails.

“More importantly, the protesters asked the Japanese government to reconsider its support and funding of the National Election Committee and not recognise the election result because the biggest opposition party is not competing,” he said.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said it was the group’s right to protest, but it would prove ineffective as Japan is an independent country.

“For Cambodia, there is nothing to worry about because [the protesters] carry no influence and the Cambodian people are preparing to vote. Just because one party is absent there is no reason to shout that there is no democracy,” he said.

A representative for the Japan Permanent Mission to the UN could not be reached for comment on Sunday, but Soksan said the petition was handed over to a representative who said it would reach the Japanese government.