Lexington Becomes the First U.S. City to Adopt Cambodian Proclamation
{Contributed Photo}
The City of Lexington is leading the nation in supporting Cambodians in the United States and calling for a revitalization of holding the Cambodian government responsible for the rights and freedom of its citizens.
Lexington became the first U.S. city to adopt a proclamation honoring the 34th anniversary of the Cambodia Paris Peace Accords. The proclamation officially recognizes Oct. 23 as Cambodian Paris Peace Accords Day.
Signed by 19 nations in 1991, the Paris Peace Accords promised the Cambodian people peace, democracy, human rights, and national reconciliation after decades of war and tyranny under the Khmer Rouge regime.
The Khmer Rouge was a radical communist group that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, and is infamous for the Cambodian genocide, resulting in the death of almost 2 million people.
The proclamation by the City of Lexington recognizes Cambodian American residents in North Carolina, many who are survivors of the Kamer Rouge genocide and refugees who resettled in this state “in search of freedom and safety...while continuing to advocate for peace, democracy and human rights in Cambodia”.
It honors the 34th anniversary of the Cambodia Paris Peace Accords and “recognized the sacrifices of the Cambodian people, honors the resilience of Cambodian Americans, and reaffirms North Carolina’s support for peace, human dignity, and universal human rights”.
But members of the Cambodian American community are concerned that the goal of the Paris Peace Accords remains largely unfulfilled.
They say Cambodia is currently facing a democratic crisis as national sovereignty is being threatened; independent voices are silenced, elections lack credibility, violation of human rights and institutions once meant to safeguard democracy now serve to consolidate authoritarian power.
Kimhun Thit, who has lived in Lexington since 1999, was joined by local members of the community asking for the proclamation in support of the Paris Peace Accord. She said it was important because many people have suffered, and continue to suffer, under its current government.
"This agreement promised democracy, free elections and human rights for the Cambodian people but today those promises have been broken,” said Thit. “Cambodia is still ruled by dictatorship. Political prisoners... remain behind bars. Illegal Chinese military bases are now paraded in our homeland.”
Mu Sochua, president of the Khmer Movement for Democracy and former Cambodian Minister of Women, thanked the mayor and city council for being the first city to declare Oct. 23 as the Paris Peace Accord for Cambodia Day.
“This Paris Peace Accord took over 10 years to finally be signed. It took a lot of our efforts, our blood, our lives to heal the genocide in Cambodia that took over 2 million lives including my parents and family,” said Sochua.
The Khmer Movement for Democracy believes that the 34th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords is a renewed call to action.
Their goal is to promote a Cambodia where all citizens can freely express their views and live without fear. Where justice is independent and accountable to the law and upholds the values of compassion, dignity, and national unity
Thit said although many Cambodians have fled the oppressive regime, they are still afraid of the governments’ reach inside the United States, but they will continue to fight for justice and freedom.
“Many of us live in fear, even fear in Lexington because we know we are being watched and intimidated by agents of the Cambodian regime,” said thit. “We may be far away from Cambodia, but we will never stop working for peace, freedom and justice both here and in our homeland.”
