SoCal demonstrators protest Cambodian prime minister's human rights record

More than 1,000 protesters gathered at the summit in Rancho Mirage between Southeast Asian leaders hosted by President Barack Obama on Monday, according to the Cambodia-America Alliance's Vice President Veansna Roeun. Roeun criticized making deals with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen due to Sen's alleged human rights violations.

"I think it's bad politics, and I think it's bad economics. I think it's irresponsible, I think it's reckless when you want to do business with countries that are not up to par, as far as labor rights and working conditions go, especially with the institutionalized corruption that exists in a lot of these countries," Roeun said.

The summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is centered around discussing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but Roeun said that they were proud to have also made human rights part of the discussion around the summit.

Protesters waited outside the summit, hoping to see the prime minister in person.

"Everyone here is just waiting to catch a glimpse of the prime minister, just so they can show the prime minister that they're no longer afraid. That's what keeps a lot of people, is the fact that they have this opportunity to confront a dictator face-to-face," Roeun said.

Roeun said that they received more demonstrators than they expected, with people flying in from other states and Canada to attend. Rep. Alan Lowenthal issued a statement in support of the protest and had an aide attend, Roeun said.

"We believe that this trade deal, it's just another tool that allows these dictators to continue what they're doing," Roeun said. "It's going to allow him to continue what he's doing. He's going to pad his pocket, he's going to increase his security forces, and he's just going to use that security force to oppress the people. That's the recipe. That's the recipe for disaster."

The summit runs through Tuesday.