Regime Survivor Sees Himself in McCain
Delegates of the Republican National Convention were happy with the choice of Sarah Pali as the vice presidential choice for candidate 
Delegates of the Republican National Convention, held in Minnesota last week, were happywith the choice of Sarah Palin as the vice presidential choice for candidateSen. John McCain, a former USambassador told VOA Khmer. The choice of Palin, which was announced last week, was areflection of the party's plan to advance the national economy and military andto improve its security, said Sichan Siv, a Cambodian survivor of the KhmerRouge who became a USambassador to the United Nations. The announcement of Palin as McCain's running mate in the presidential race surprisedmany observers, but Sichan Siv said the American people will have a chance tolearn more about her and will realize John McCain is an experienced leaderworth voting for. McCain's experiences as a prisoner during the US war in Vietnam reminded Sichan Siv of hisown experiences under the Khmer Rouge, he said. "We had the same experience," he said. "Hewas in prison in NorthVietnam. I was in prison under the KhmerRouge regime." With the convention over, Sichan Siv will now travel aroundthe USto meet with Asian-Americans, including those of Cambodian descent, to help campaign for the Republican ticket, asthe November election approaches. The former ambassador urged Cambodians to follow US electioncoverage, saying the presidential election was "a good lesson in democracy, from which the Cambodian people can learn." "There is progress in Cambodia, and I admire that,"he added. "Democracy is an important base for Cambodia to advance its economy andsecurity."