After controversy, organizers of Long Beach Cambodian parade need help with funding

The 8th Annual Cambodian New Year Parade, along Anaheim Street, in 2014. (File photo.)

Press-Telegram| April 4, 2016

Long Beach Councilman Dee Andrews’ office announced Monday that he will attend this year’s Cambodian New Year Parade following the news that controversial Cambodian military figure Hun Manet will not attend the celebration.

“Dee is going to be attending, and he is encouraging others to attend as well,” said John Edmond, the councilman’s chief of staff.

Andrews is also asking for about $11,400 that could otherwise be spent on an infrastructure project within his district to help cover the costs of providing police and other security measures to the parade, which is scheduled for April 10.

The money would be transferred to the city’s Special Events and Filming Office. Edmond said the Cambodian Coordinating Council, the group that organizes the parade, would usually cover those expenses, but fundraising difficulties stemming from the recent controversy have left the organization short of funds.

Andrews is requesting the funding as a one-time measure to ensure this year’s parade can take place.

  

“Now that Dr. Manet is not attending the parade, peace has been restored to the Cambodian community, yet the funds are lacking to host this important community cultural parade,” reads a line from Andrews’ request for council action.

The council is scheduled to vote on Andrews’ request during its Tuesday meeting.

Andrews, who is seeking reelection to a third term as a write-in candidate, represents the Long Beach’s 6th Council District. The district includes part of the city’s Cambodia Town neighborhood, which is home to one of the largest concentrations of Cambodians outside of Cambodia itself.

Andrews, along with several City Council members and Mayor Robert Garcia, had previously said he would not attend the parade during a late March City Council meeting attended by some 200 people protesting Manet’s now-cancelled plans to attend the parade. Manet is a lieutenant general in the Cambodian military, was educated at U.S. Military Academy and is the son of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen.

The elder figure has been in charge of Cambodia’s government since 1985, according to a Human Rights Watch coverage that charges the man with leading through violence and corruption. A BBC profile of the prime minister reports the man joined the Communist Party in the 1960s before joining the Khmer Rouge.

The BBC further reported Hun Sen has said he only held low rank in Khmer Rouge and that the future prime minister eventually traveled to Vietnam to join forces opposing the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.

Protestors who attended the March council meeting said they opposed the potential visit by a man who they consider to be the son of a dictator. Some said they would have preferred cancellation of the parade that accept Hun Manet’s participation.

Cambodian Coordinating Council president Monorom Neth could not be reached for comment Monday. He previously said representatives of the Consulate General of Cambodia, which has offices in Long Beach, made the initial request for Hun Manet to attend the parade.

Edmond and Tasha Day, who manages Long Beach’s special events department, said on Monday that parade organizers have sent a written promise to City Hall affirming that Manet will not participate in the parade.

Consulate General representative Jonathan Kim also said Monday that he will not attend the parade.