Cambodian leader calls critics unfair - Prime minister's son baffled by protests

[geovalin]

LOWELL -- Hun Manet, son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, 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, a lieutenant general in the Cambodian military, 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. He said 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. Some speculate he is 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."

Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.

Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_29777810/cambodian-leader-calls-critics-unfair#ixzz468PQK6AY

[geovalin]

Turbulent US trip ends for Hun Manet

Mon, 18 April 2016

Shaun Turton

Hun Manet yesterday left for Canada after a week-long trip to the United States that saw his message of “unity” and “national reconciliation” marred by protests, a lawsuit and the alleged assault of a process server by his bodyguards.

The prime minister’s eldest son visited four states – California, Washington, Texas and Massachusetts – during his Khmer New Year tour, enduring protests at every stop along the way.

In Long Beach, California, where the lieutenant general had already been forced to pull out of a parade after an angry backlash from Cambodian-Americans opposed to his father’s regime, any hopes of a smooth trip were quickly dashed after a process server was roughed up by Manet’s bodyguards when he attempted to subpoena their boss on the night of April 9.

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/turbulent-us-trip-ends-hun-manet

[geisha]

Hun Sen, Hun Manet, family and the government should be ashamed of the state of their country ! Over 30 years have passed and nothing has been done to alleviate the misery of the Cambodian people. Where else do you see whole families reduced to begging to stay alive and living on the same pavements that tourists use to walk to the Palace , hotels and restaurants ? While the Hun Sen family bask in their beautiful mansions, the country is bleeding . It's easy to see that the attitude " Khmer Rouge" is alive and well in Cambodia !'