I love it when expats who live in Cambodia and enjoy the wonderful hospitality, the

beautiful scenic countryside, the cheap rents and the exciting night life spout off

about anything that threatens the Cambodian Government and thus their own comfort

level (Allen Myers's letter "Venezuela light on Cambodia?", Post, May 21,

2004).

 

Why not take the time to look at the work of IRI and NDI and see the thousands of

women and young poeple who have been trained to participate in their own

country's civil society for the first time ever. Or the thousands of political

party activists who have been taught how to become part of the political

system, dangerous as that still is. 

I don't know what happened in Venezuela but I know what's happening in Cambodia every

day as these institutes, funded by the United States, are providing opportunities

the Cambodian people would never receive if the CPP had a choice in the matter. 

I would also like to tell Mr Myers how it feels to stand next to a 12-year-old child

out for a peaceful Sunday rally on March 30, 1997 when his head was blown off

by grenade fragments. Those in charge of the Cambodian government then and now

don't like it when people exercise their right to free speech. I wonder why

Mr Myers doesn't like it.