Open Letter to U.S. President Barack Obama - By Theary Seng

Letter by Theary Seng published by The Phnom Penh Post on 20 November 2011

Open Letter to U.S. President Barack Obama

18 November 2012, Phnom Penh

Dear President Obama:

Thank you for winning the re-election—for both the sakes of Americans and the peoples of the world—and proving once again the tenacity and strength of American democracy.

And welcome to Cambodia!  During your two-day visit in my birthplace as the first sitting U.S. president, it is imperative that you raise these matters with Prime Minister Hun Sen:

1. Human rights, democracy

I cannot understand the difficulty of the dilemma facing you in attempting to balance the strategic interests by curbing the influence of China and human rights issues which is a sea of violations that run deep here.

I cannot understand the dilemma in this regard: it’s a false dilemma.  The U.S. national interests in Cambodia are human rights and political pluralism.  They cannot be any other.  I am fully aware of how naïve I sound to some analysts who paint the world in broad strokes and in the process, erase pivotal unique traits of Cambodia.  But if you are to take into consideration the unique historical development of Cambodia vis-à-vis superpower politics, it is to U.S. strategic interests in the medium and long-term to side with human rights and democracy.  Especially now, in light of globalization and information communication technology.  If history is any teacher, the U.S. must not repeat its disastrous policies of the Cold War years by turning once again Southeast Asia into a political theatre.  As you know, the Cambodians bore the ultimate price in the Khmer Rouge genocide. 

Your visit can write a more admirable American narrative in Cambodia for the present and the future by making human rights and democracy the unwavering flagship of your strategy.

2. Public Apology for U.S. Illegal Bombings of Cambodia which Created the Conditions for the Khmer Rouge Genocide

Not only should you not repeat the failed U.S. geopolitics of the Cold War here in Cambodia, but you have the unique, grand opportunity to right the wrongs by publicly acknowledging the illegal U.S. bombings which took the lives of half a million Cambodians and created the conditions for the Khmer Rouge genocide.  The Cambodian victims demand a public apology.  If you have the moral courage to make this public acknowledgement, it will do more good for us victims than any high-priced hybrid court will ever be able to accomplish in terms of offering reconciliation and a sense of justice.

3. Push for ECCC Cases 003/4 as the firm condition for UN withdrawal

The Extraordinary Chambers (ECCC) is an irredeemable political sham, embedding impunity with international stamp of approval and legitimacy the longer it goes on.  The insidious political interference into Cases 003 and 004 is but one illustration.  The new co-investigating judge American Mark Harmon has yet to do much on these cases. 

The US must unequivocally support the basic principle of judicial independence and threaten to withdraw if Cases 003 and 004 do not move forward.  This strong US stance—threat backed by action—will set the tone for the rest of the international community and will put the government of Hun Sen on notice of the US seriousness in combating impunity and pursuing justice and reconciliation, not only for the Cambodian people, but the Americans as well.   

In sum, the Cambodian people, like the rest of the world, look to you for political leadership but more importantly moral leadership, which in this age of ICT and globalization, does translate into political capital. 

CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education is a partner of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights’ Speak Truth To Power project.  And as you have often quoted and believe in this truth of Robert F. Kennedy, so now may you be reminded when you meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen of how we the Cambodians deeply yearn to have you stand with us in tearing down the “walls of oppression and resistance”:  

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

With my highest regards,

Theary C. Seng
Founding president, CIVICUS:  Center for Cambodian Civic Education
Founding president, Association of Khmer Rouge Victims in Cambodia