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Daughters of Jailed Cambodian Human Rights Activist Fight for Freedom of Expression

Beth Kanter · 22:48

Photos courtesy of Warren Anderson, UCIC

Kem Monovithya, 24, and Kem Samathida, 18, the daughters of imprisoned Human Rights activist Kem Sokha are in the US and working with Cambodian Americans to garner support for their father's release and to call attention to the crackdown on freedom of expression and democracy in Cambodia.

On December 31, 2005, Kem Sohka, Cambodian Center for Human Rights‘ director, and Yeng Virak, head of the Community Legal Education Center, were arrested for allegedly defaming the government in connection with a banner displayed on International Human Rights Day. So far, five individuals, either journalists, trade unionists, or prominent human rights activists have been arrested based on complaints filed by the government or its leaders. Most relate directly to opinions expressed about Prime Minister Hun Sen of the dominant Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), and criticisms over sensitive border issues with neighboring Vietnam.

Critics, including the United States, the United Nations, World Bank and international human rights groups , have condemned the government's actions and said they show Cambodia, under Hun Sen's rule, is becoming more authoritarian than democratic.

While their father was being taken to Prey Sar prison, Kem's daughters were en route by jet to the United States where they attend school. They did not know of the arrest until they arrived in Washington, DC where the younger daughter Samathida will begin classes on January 17th.

A Candlight Vigil was held in front of the White House last night organized by an umbrella organization, United Cambodian International Council (UCIC), made up of many Cambodian diaspora groups. Monovithya Kem was one of the featured speakers and updated the audience on her father's condition in prison. The United Cambodian International Council (UCIC) co-chairs, Suykry Path from Minnesota and the Venerable Monk Rithipol of Massachusetts, also made remarks.

“I am encouraged by these efforts made by Cambodians in America and around the world,” said Monovithya Kem. "I feel certain that my father and his fight for democracy in Cambodia is not and will not be forgotten.”

Today, Loving-Kindness Ceremonies ("Bon Psay Meta" in Cambodian) were held at major Buddhist Temples across America. I reached Kem Sokha's younger daughter, Samathida, by phone who told me that she was touched by support she and her sister are receiving from Cambodian Americans and others.

She went on to say that her father's arrest is very wrong. "Cambodian people have brains, they think and they want to be able to speak their minds. But, if the government doesn't like what you say, you are put in jail. We are voiceless in our own country." She urged those who care about freedom of expression to put pressure on the Cambodian government to release her father and all those who have been jailed. "Please do not abandon Cambodia."

The two daughters will meet with U.S. Representatives and Senators in Washington, D.C. tommorrow to make a personal appeal and deliver letters of support from the Cambodian NGOS, Cambodian Americans, and others.

Perhaps they will start a blog to continue to tell their story and plead for their father's release and demand freedom of expression in Cambodia. The recent actions by the government, however, have had a chilling effect on the Cambodian blogosphere. Bloggers in country are not expressing their views on the topic.

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From the Jordanian Blogosphere

Roba Al Assi · 14:11

Jordan: Exempting US citizens from extradition and trial
One of the issues in the Jordanian blogosphere is the Jordanian parliament's decision to ratify a bilateral agreement between Jordan and the US which exempts US citizens from extradition and trial under the auspices of the International Criminal Court. Khalaf of “What's Up in Jordan?” is feeling ambivalent, “I certainly agree that US attempts to exempt itself from international law are hypocritical and unfair. On the other hand, fairness has little to with anything…. Thus, to me the issue boils down to pros and cons. On the pro's side, we are no longer threatened with the cut of US aid. Personally, I don't think that this is a credible threat, since they are already getting their money's worth as it is now… On the con's side, we made Amnesty International unhappy…. Bigger on con's side, we missed a chance to put our finger in Bush's eye.” Natasha Tynes of Mental Mayhem agrees on the ambivalency, “Which is more important in this case? US aid or respecting international agreements? Is safeguarding our economy more important than satisfying human rights organizations? Frankly, I'm glad I was not in a position where I had to make this decision, as the simple reality is: Doomed if you do. Doomed if you don't!” Ameen Malhas of Banzeen adds, “Anyhow, lest we forget, Jordan’s economy would go to the toilet if we didn’t ratify, as most sources indicate that the US is threatening to cancel its potential aid in the face of countries who hesitate to take this step.”

In regards to other thoughts, Amjad has some thoughts on democracy, “Democracy is a failure (I think) because it has to be controlled by guidelines, and because the guidelines are different from one religion, tradition, or race to another.” Haitham Sabbah is appalled by “injustice toward females in the name of Islam” saying, “Some cases are individuals, other is driven by state system and the rest are terrorists in the name of Islam! Are we living in 2006 or 1006?” Naseem Tarawneh of The Black Iris poses questions about banned Islamic party “Hizb Il Tahrir” and he also expresses his disappointment with the recent embassy closures in the Jordanian capital Amman.
Ahmad Humeid reflects while in Dubai, “Is shopping the new religion?” Wael Attili takes us on a picturesque trip to Madaba, “The stones of Madaba are telling you much older memories, an ancient history and a religious dialogue between civilizations.”

A group of Jordanian bloggers have also taken the initiative to launch toot- “A new medium in which intelligent voices from and for Arabia are brought together and presented to a wider community; where passionate readers and writers can share and communicate without filtering.”

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The Moveable Feast: Eat the World in Ten Blogs

Melissa De Leòn Douglass · 10:22

#1
Have you ever wondered how the soldiers in Iraq spent the holiday season? This is the day when you will get the scoop, first hand by Chairbone Stranger, an American soldier deployed somewhere very dusty in Iraq. His Christmas eve dinner report will leave you speechless, well, at least for a while!

#2
"The tongs weighed heavy in his hands, and firm in his grip. He was a natural, a TONG-MASTER." Through braai politics - this is men's business, serious men's business , Mark's Digital Farm gives us a glimpse, a very unique account of the politics and posturing of men standing around a braai, the South African version of the American barbecue.

#3
One Whole Clove decided to play the part of the bored housewife and become all hot and bothered over a novel recipe that would make epicures and gastronomes alike roll their eyes and throw their hands up in despair. Visit her blog to get that scrumptious recipe to prepare Smoked Salmon Cheesecake now!

#4
Sailu's Food presents a very interesting post on the origins and health benefits of a sour leaf called "red sorrel." Hibiscus cannabinus, aka red sorrel leaves, roselle, gongura (telugu), pulicha keerai (Tamil), Ambad bhaji, ambada, ambadi (Hindi) are other names this popular sour green bears in the Southern State of Andhra Pradesh. For a majestic end, Sailu shares a delicious recipe to prepare authentic andhra pickles, a favorite to her mother Amma.

#5
From Vietnam, VietnameseGod offers the most delectable recipe to prepare Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls. As you might know by now, these spring roll beauties are one of the most popular appetizers in Vietnam, and since this recipe comes from the repertoire of a very charming restaurant "Seasons of Hanoi," is a keeper. Hope you like it!

#6
With only a couple of days left in Saigon, No Star Where crossed another item off his ‘to-do' list with a visit to Chanh Hung, the (strangely) little known night fish market near Cho Lon. This is one of the most vivid travels I have made with the help of a blog: a rainbow of colors brings to life his memoirs, just gorgeous! And now, from No Star Travels he documents a trip through seven countries in Asia, starting in Cambodia. Head over to his blog and follow this one in a lifetime adventure. Just the way I like it!

#7
BlueLotus from Japan shares her 01/07 Dinner: Nanakusa-gayu, a traditional seven herb rice porridge. In a delicious step by step recipe illustrated with bright colored photos, she instruct us on how to prepare o-kayu (rice porridge, much like Chinese congee) cooked with the seven herbs of spring. No doubt it is a scrumptious tradition.

#8
Marcela's blog, La Majuluta from Argentina, has become one of the most popular cyber spots to find incredibly delicious recipes and great photography from Argentina. This girl not only cooks beautiful food, she also loves physics, and I have found her blogging around in French, Spanish, Italian and English! Since I have sweet dulce de leche memories from the time I lived in Buenos Aires, I will suggest you pay special attention to Marcela's "Mousse de Dulce de Leche" (Dulce de Leche Mousse), which is a finger licking creation that is worth it's weight in gold!

#9
Saveurs Mexicaines: Les aventures culinaires d'une française au Mexique, is a blog about living in Mexico and the exotic culinary creations you will find there. This week, Laurange writes about nopales (Opuntia ficus indica) and shares a very good recipe to prepare "Ensalada de Nopales".

#10
If you are a "caipirinha virgin", I suggest you visit Grace's The Kitchen Journal to get the tastiest recipe to prepare caipirinha, which is a very popular Brazilian drink, very easy to prepare. The main ingredient for caipirinha is "CACHAÇA", which is a spirit distilled from sugar cane. Now, please take things easy and do not drink if you are driving :) Grace is originally from Philippines, but currently lives and writes from Luanda, Angola.

I will be back next week with more!

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News From Chinese Blogosphere

Frank Dai · 01:38

Blogger Movie: the first short DV movie that is produced and casted by Chinese bloggers is under way for public show, named “A Hard Day's Night”(Or Adventure Of XiaoQiang). The play was written by Wangxiaofeng, a.k.a Massage Milk, winner of Deutsche World for Best Chinese Journalist Blog. He wrote the original script(in ZH)for the short comedy piece and invited his friends in the blogosphere to take the job of shooting, producing and playing. Here is the trailer and here is some photos in the scene. They also have hold a premier ceremony sponsored by Bokee.com(here is some photos taken by Wang's friend on the occasion). However, as the some foreign media like Reuters noticed and reported on the movie, they interpreted the movie as a political satire while the people who shoot it only considered the movie to be just for fun, as Buchimfan explained(in ZH). In a public promotion article, Wangxiaofeng said (in partial translation):

There is no “main topic” in movie while it only want to tell a story in a narrative voice, which is quite “black humor” or absurd. Besides there is noting else….it has almost no aesthetic value. It is only a kind of entertainment, in which you can feel funny after watching the movie. We don't want to teach anything.

Podcast Analysis: Jack wrote an analysis of podcast in China based on data derived from Poodlook.com , the largest podcast directory website in China that he founded last year. The Chinese version of complete report can be downloaded here and China Web2.0 Review has translate part of the report. The conclusion is that Chinese podcast was developing very fast for last 3 months but it is still in the early stage.

Sohu Blog Award: The blog award held by Sohu.com, one of the three largest internet portal websites is closed. It offered reward worth of 2000-10000 RMB(about 300-1200 US Dollar) to the final winners. Here is the flash with popup window that showcase the contests' blog. Interestingly, it also has a section which aggregated news reports on the event from bloggers. In a previous high-level forum, Sohu also invited some bloggers to do journalist reporting.

Gang of four are all gone: Gang of four, a term coined by the government that refers to four high ranking officials who launched and lead the so-called Cultural Revolution, are all gone after the last surviving member, Yaowenyuan died recently. After the Cultural Revolution, they were all sentenced to prison in late 1970s for the damage they did to the country. Danwei has a roundup of reports in the official Chinese news agency and ESWN has translated a related article named “2006, 1976“

Other Posts:
The department of public security in Shenzhen released the comic internet police. For cartoon image here. It will hang on the websites in Shenzhen, reminding everyone of doing the “legal” thing on internet

BBC reviewed Roland Song of ESWN, in which Roland explained why and how he set up the blog which concentrate on Chinese media scenes and blogosphere and became the most valuable source of information concerned with China for his impartial viewpoint. The audio file can be downloaded here.

The official website for Chinese Government is online in Jan 1st, www.gov.cn. It has functions such as conference video casting. The traffic was rising at very high speed. However some bloggers (one example in ZH)questioned the welcoming remarks that it did not support any interaction.

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