October 20, 1998

The Honorable John E. Porter
Member of US Congress
Chairman of Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman;

On behalf of all the members, especially those in Rockland county, of World Cambodian Congress (WCC) - an association of Cambodian-Americans for the promotion of human rights and democracy and the rule of law in Cambodia - I would like to let you know how much we appreciated your leadership in successfully supporting and guiding House Resolution 533 to put dictator Hun Sen and his collaborators on the war criminal list, and to bring them to justice. We would like to also thank your staff for this historic and life-saving resolution.

We realized that without your conviction, commitment and continued efforts this crucial House resolution could not have been born and passed by the whole House due to a very hectic and busy schedule of the Congress toward the end of the year where so many important and competing issues are at stake.

We firmly believe that House Resolution 533 marks an important turning point in modern Cambodian history, as it rightly identifies Hun Sen for what he really is - that is he is a dictator and a cold-blooded murderer. This resolution also finally unmasks the true nature of the State Department inexplicable but consistently pro-Hun Sen policy which significantly contributed to the ongoing tragedy for the Cambodian people since the 1993 UNTAC-sponsored elections. We especially want to thank you for your remark on the floor on October 2, sending a strong message to Hun Sen that he will one day face justice for the crimes he has committed and continues to commit against Humanity, and your unfailing support for the Cambodian people in their struggle against Hun Senšs tyranny, when you said that;

"The people of Cambodia have consistently rejected violence and one man rule, and continue to raise their voices in favor of freedom, justice, democracy, and the rule of law. As a country which embodies these ideals, we do our utmost to support them. This means that we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the abuses of Hun Sen or send the Cambodian people the message that they have to settle for something less than real democracy, genuine freedom, and full human rights."

Finally, this resolution gives a tremendous boost to the hope to all Cambodian-Americans and especially to Cambodians living in Cambodia for the first time since 1975, that there is a real possibility for them to be on the road towards real and sustainable peace and freedom that they have been longing for during the past thirty years.

For that Mr. Chairman, we owe you a deep debt of gratitude. We wish success for your reelection and a very happy return to the 106th Congress. Once again, thank you Mr. Chairman for your historic contribution to save the Cambodian people from Hun Senšs tyranny and for giving the Cambodian people for the first time a glimpse of hope for real freedom and dignity.

Sincerely yours

Naranhkiri Tith, Ph.D.
Chairman, WCC Board of Directors,
and Professor of International Economics
at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University