Dear Friends:

You have read Bang Kiri's New Year message along with his letter to Ambassador Abramowitz, and WCC Work Program for 1998-99. You also know what is going on in Cambodia, with Hun Sen trying to consolidate his grip on power with support from the US Embassy, the Chinese military aid, the UN pressure on the exiles to return home, etc...

We knew that our strategy to check Hun Sen would only succeed if all players stick to the rules. When Raingsi broke rank with the UCD to go to work with Hun Sen and Ranariddh floated the idea to go back to face trial in Hun Sen's kangaroo court, it was the beginning of the end. Sure enough, the State Department and the UN put enormous pressure on other UCD members to surrender to the killer. So, we have a set back...

However, we loss a battle, but the war is not over yet until we win. We must pick up pieces and go forward again, but with greater strategy and clear goals. Bang Kiri and I have told you in many occasions that we will prepare another petition and should only send it if we get some 5,000 at least. The time has come for such action. Bang Kiri is preparing a draft to President Clinton, with copy to Senators and Congressmen. We would like to ask President Clinton to salvage democracy in Cambodia by ordering the State Department to work for it rather than against it as with Quinn. However, we also copy our Senators and Congressmen to keep the pressure on the Administration to act accordingly.

Therefore, I'd like to ask each of you to estimate the numbers of signatures that you can get from your contacts to enable me to see whether the 5,000 goals are achievable or not. Last August, we got more than 1,000 while congressional staff only expected 200-300. I am sure they know that we have expanded, and are expecting a sizable number.

Please discuss the idea with your contacts and come back to me this weekend for the tally.

Thanks and regards,
Pekthov Tan
President of WCC