Seeking Backup

Opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker Mu Sochua plans to leave for the US on Thursday bearing a petition for President Barack Obama, who she hopes will condemn the Cambodian government for using the courts as a tool to silence critics. She said Tuesday that she planned to submit the petition to “someone close” to Obama, though she declined to elaborate. Launched Thursday, the petition had collected about 1,300 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon, she said. “I think President Obama is a glorious man who protects human rights and justice,” she said. “Therefore, I will ask him to condemn individual politicians who use the courts as a political tool to silence members of the opposition parties.”