Members of the Cambodian-American community in Lowell, Massachusetts, planned to rally outside a City Council meeting on Tuesday evening to protest a planned visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son, Hun Manet, to mark the Khmer New Year, according to the Lowell Sun.
The protesters in Lowell, home to the U.S.’ second-largest Cambodian community, join a group from Long Beach, California, who successfully lobbied to deter Lieutenant General Manet from joining a Khmer New Year parade there.
Lt. Gen. Manet is expected to visit Lowell on April 16 and 17, with meetings scheduled with Edward Kennedy, the city’s mayor, and Niki Tsongas, a U.S. congresswoman representing the city, the Lowell Sun reported, adding that he will also give a talk at a restaurant in the city.
Although Lt. Gen. Manet announced earlier this week that he would not attend the parade in Long Beach in the face of pledged protests, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said the ruling party would not make a habit of backing down due to discontent.
“We are not required to compromise in an attempt to stop the demonstration, and they are able to protest every time as they wish because that is the right of those people,” he said.
