Opposing the Sister City Between Lowell, Massachusetts, USA and Battambang, Cambodia
It has been brought to our attention by our Khmunity Campaign members residing in the Lowell, Massachusetts area, that Lowell City Mayor, Sokhary Chau has requested the City Manager and appropriate departments to begin the process (motion 11.10) of establishing a Sister-City Agreement between Lowell and the city of Battambang, Cambodia. This request has been introduced into the motions scheduled for the Tuesday April 25th, 2023, City Council meeting by the Mayor and Councilor Paul Ratha Yem.
Our Khmunity members in the Lowell area are very concerned with this motion as it further contributes to the legitimacy of the autocratic regime in Cambodia.
Our Khmunity members request that the signatory Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) who supported the joint-letter asking for the suspension of the upcoming 2023 National Election, sign a petition against the establishment of this Sister-City Agreement.
As you may also remember back in 2015, Lowell was a Sister-City to Phnom Penh and was in direct contact with the Phnom Penh regime. A motion requesting a report regarding the establishment of that Sister-City Agreement was also made (motion 11.9). Please see the attached reference from the Motions schedule for Lowell Massachusetts City Council meeting on 4/25/2023.
These alarming actions taken by local representatives cannot be allowed to go unnoticed and all civil society organizations should consider participating in this matter by:
Calling the Mayor’s office as well as other 10 city councilors by Monday 4/24/2023 to express our disapproval of the motions 11.9 and 11.10.
Join in the meeting in person or by Zoom on 4/25/2025.
Sign up to make a statement during that City Council. Call at (978) 674-4161
Sign our attached Petition, or by emailing back to us your endorsement of the petition.
We, members of the Khmer community and civil society organizations, oppose the Sister-City Agreement between Lowell, Massachusetts and Battambang, Cambodia. Our Khmer community will not support this Sister-City agreement as it will contribute to the legitimacy of the autocratic regime of Cambodia.
Here is a list of Lowell, Massachusetts City Counselors. Contact them to voice your concerns about the Sister City Agreement between Lowell, MA and Battambang, Cambodia:
Sokhary Chau, District 6 sokhary.chau@gmail.com 978-375-9855
John Drinkwater, At-Large john.m.drinkwater@gmail.com 978-766-0705
Erik Gitschier, District 8 erik31@comcast.net 978-551-3277
Wayne Jenness, District 4 jenness.wayne@gmail.com 617-777-3396
John Leahy, District 3 jleahy62@comcast.net 978-804-8090
Rita Mercier, At-Large mercier10347@comcast.net 978-453-2467
Vesna Nuon – At-Large vesna_nuon@yahoo.com 978-703-3847
Corey Robinson, District 2 corey@coreyforlowell.com 978-828-5983
Dan Rourke, District dannyrourke@comcast.net 978-319-0953
Kim Scott, District kpemscott@gmail.com 978-398-1376
Paul Ratha Yem paulrathayem@gmail.com 617-459-3000