SUPPORT FOR
STUDENTS’ MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY

Dear Compatriots,

Cambodian Americans for Human Rights and Democracy (CAHRAD) is please to inform that Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD) in Cambodia has a project called “Promote and Protect Democracy-Human Rights” (PPDH) to disseminate of Civil and Political Rights, Democracy and Political Rights, Democracy and Human Rights in Cambodia. The project costs $5,000.00 and will be conducted at High Schools, Second Schools and Universities in Phnom-Penh for one year.

The group was founded in 1998, following days of massive demonstrations staged by students, youths, monks and concerned citizens in Phnom-Penh against what they said were flawed national election results. They have conducted many activities such as advocacy, peaceful demonstration, training courses, issue statements- democracy, political rights and human rights education to the youth and students . They have made contributions in the initiative of youth participation in boosting up democracy, and have also gotten the youth involved in political rights respect. The project goal is to strengthen the respect for Democracy and Human Rights and political rights of the young Cambodian youth. Its objectives are:
. The youth will precisely understand what democracy and human rights is.
. Young Cambodian youths will actively join to strengthen democracy and respect human rights in Cambodia.
. The youth will precisely understand their role in democratic society.

Dear compatriots, CAHRAD would like to make an appeal to you to support such a noble project that will be conducted by a group of dedicated students and youths in Cambodia, who put their effort and spirit to serve and better the community, society and the country- Cambodia. Human rights and Democracy go hand in hand. They are the foundation of Freedom and Justice. Freedom is the most valuable thing in life.

Be a part of building Freedom and Justice in Cambodia by donating to Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD) in Cambodia by sending your donation to:
Cambodian Americans for Human Rights and Democracy (CAHRAD)
8516 Thames Street, Springfield, VA 22151

For further information, please contact:

. Mr. Hean Yuth 703-201-6248 Mr. Tung Yap 703-675-3997
. Mrs. Rany Lushinski 703-723-4273 Mr. Yan Yuth 703-967-9919
. Mr. Vibol Tan 703-881-8035. Mr. Mong Heng 703-256-3295
. Mrs. Sophorn Tet 703-728-1828 Dr. Borasmy Ung 561-386-0634

Successfully finishing the four weeks of the course on Democracy and a full day workshop on Art of Fundraising, Students’ Movement for Democracy SMD on July 08, 2007 opened its 13th Training course presided over by Mr. Mom Sonongdo, president of Radio FM 105. 20 students (15 women) from universities in Phnom Penh are selected

A student asks Mr. Mom Sonondo question Mr. Mom Sonondo answers participant’s question

This new course was broadcasted on Radio FM 105 on the same day. On the purpose of promoting democracy and human rights respect in Cambodia, SMD always invites the important figures from NGOs and lawmakers to present young Cambodian youth the process of implementing democracy and human rights respect in Cambodia. More importantly, we would like to encourage youth to actively participate in social work or social activities.

SMD activists’ participation in collecting petition

On July 9, 2007, Mr. Sorn Sarath, Secretary General of SMD led five SMD networks to participate in collecting petition to protest back- coming of Monk Tann Kongly.

Mr. Sorn Sarath is examining document SMS networks is collecting petition

A hundred of people who live in Boh Angkang village, Prek Eng commune, Kean Svay district, Kandal Province are led by Ms. Phon Sopheap to came in frond of Wat Khemarak Ram, called Wat Thmey (located above address) to conduct demonstration against monk Tann Kongly , who has planned to come back to be as pagoda officer after ousted last year.

Ms. Phon Sopheap is lobbying people. People come to have their sump printing

Monk Tann Kongly has been accused of intentional homicide, using illegal weapon and other wrong doing, but recently he is permitted to come back to stay in this pagoda by Oknha Ing Bunhov (this pagoda is built by Ing Bunhov) and monk officer, Tep Vong, people said.

They added that the weapon AK Nº1921610 with 67 bullets is provided by Oknha
Ing Bunhov’s gard name Yak.

On July 2, 2007, SMD led thirty students to do fundraising in markets and along the roads in Phnom Penh in order to collect money to help people who have been evacuated. The activity was lasted for two hours which was divided into three groups. While collecting, students were banned by authority; however, we are still continuing our job. Finally, we finished the job successfully with amount of
63,3200 Riel.

After successfully finishing collecting for two hours, all participants have planned to do again for the next time because they think that what they have received is just only the small amount and not enough. Students’ Movement for Democracy on the same day, decided to do fundraising every two months after finishing four-weed training course on Democracy.

Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD), one of the independent youth associations in Cambodia, has recently trained students on the art of fundraising after participation of Mr. Ken Sara, Vice president of SMD in workshop on Art of asking- fundraising prepared by Young Liberal and Democrats of Asia (YLDA) in Sreylanka.

On June 10, 2007, Mr. Hing Soksan, SMD program officer, presented students the strategy to do fundraising. More than 38 students from various universities in Phnom Penh were taught after their four weeks of training course on Democracy and Advocacy.

The aim of doing fundraising is to improve their knowledge and involve young Cambodian youth into social works or activities while they are in studying; especially they can contribute to develop country through helping people in their community

Students’ Movement for Democracy always holds training course on various topics to young Cambodian youth every month, especially to university students such as Arts of fundraising, Coordinator skill, leaderships and report writing after four weeks of the course on Democracy.

  

SMD United soccer team became one of 29 teams of NGOs, private companies and other state institutions in a new event called Keila Moha Chun “Adult People’s Sport” organized by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport under the theme Sport for All. 

This is a special chance for Student’s Movement for Democracy to assign her soccer team in Khmer national football so that it gets popularity and to make the public clearly known what Student’s Movement for Democracy has been doing in society. Please click: http://smdsport.wordpress.com/

On January 15, 2007, King Norodom Sihamony granted an audience to 25 youth/student NGOs so that they provided him their anxieties and other issues that Khmer young people have been confronting.

On the occasion, the representatives of youth/student NGOs told the king about activities that they got fruitful result relevant with various fields such as health, education, democracy, corruption, environment and network and advocacy…etc. 

The anxieties and issues, they told the king, focused on five major points:

1.      Education issue: – High rate of truants and scholarship supported by government is minor level…

2.      Employment issue: – Non-students and students have faced unemployment caused by corruption, nepotism, and non-quality of education…

3.      Health issue: – Some youth use drug because of unemployment and health service are not enough for poor people…

4.      Conscription law: – Royal armed forces are not neutral yet and our young people need to study in peaceful situation
Cambodia…

5.      Corruption and Land conflict: – Young people don’t have self-confidence and lose educated opportunities. Land conflicts have been happening cover the country… 

The reply back to 25 youth/student NGOs, the King Norodom Sihamony appreciated and supported with participation of the 25 in national development and asked them to go on their activities. 

The 25 youth/student NGOs submitted their recommendations to the royal government through H.E. Samdech Kong Sam Ol in order to effectively resolve. Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD) was one of 25 youth/student NGOs that SMD President Mao Veasna participated in the event.

 

Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD) sent its 120 members and activists who are SMD networks at various educational institutions in Phnom Penh to participate in event, the 58^th International Human Rights Day Dec 10, 2006. 

On Sunday (December 10), thousand of Cambodians from around the country, including community activists, trade unionists, students and NGO workers, gathered at Phnom Penh’s Olympic  Stadium to commemorate the 58^th International Human Rights Day.

Jointly organized by more than 70 organizations under the theme “We Are All Human Rights Defenders”, the day-long event aims to acknowledge and promote the valuable roles that Cambodians from all walks of life play in protecting human rights. It will celebrate the achievements  made in human rights in Cambodia, but also focus on critical issues still facing the country’s citizen—including the theft and exploitation of land and natural resources; restrictions to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly; and violations of labor rights.

The event will feature songs, dramas and exhibitions by participating organizations, and a keynote speech by Hina Jilani, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders. 

The occasion served to highlights the need for greater protection of human rights defenders in Cambodia, who in 2006 have continued to face threats, harassment, physical assaults, and arrest and imprisonment. In the first 10 months of the year, there were more than 47  recorded cases of persecution of human rights defenders, according to a briefing paper complied by the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) which is being issued to coincide with the December 10 event. 

The briefing paper, entitled Attacks and Threats Against Human Rights Defenders in Cambodia 2006, stated that community activists and trade unionists are increasingly being targeted for violations such as physical assault or unjustified arrest and imprisonment.

In particular, the briefing paper notes a growing trend of perpetrators filing malicious criminal complaints against rural villagers who represent their communities in land conflicts with powerful individuals. Many community representatives have been summonsed to court of imprisoned on criminal charges in 2006, in an attempt to frighten communities into giving up their land and punish those who try to defend them. 

To mark this year’s International Human Rights Day, a statement of support for Cambodian human rights defenders has been signed by 110 human rights defenders from 32 countries around the world. Signatories include anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa; Doan Viet Hoat, a democracy activist who spent 20 years in prison in Vietnam; Angkhana Neelapaichit, who assist victims of violence in southern Thailand and is the wife of lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit who has disappeared and is presumed murdered; and Ivory Coast journalist Freedom Neruda, who has twice been jailed for criminal defamation of the country’s president. 

Last year’s International Human Rights Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, which were also held at Olympic Stadium, led to the arrests and jailing of three prominent rights defenders—Kem Sokha, Pa Nguon Teang and Yeng Virak. The three, charged with defaming the government in connection with a banner displayed at the event, were eventually released on bail after international and domestic condemnation of their imprisonment.

International Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and has been celebrated all over the world since 1950. 

News media and the public are invited to attend the December 10 event at Olympic Stadium, which will begin at 7 am and finish around 4 pm.