Letter to the editor of Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
Unlike most other countries holding elections in transition to democracy, including our own Guyana, Cambodia in East Asia held imperfect elections on July 27 to choose a National Assembly of 123 seats. Like Guyana, Cambodia has a PR electoral system but with a bicameral parliament that has 61 Senators in the Upper House appointed by the King on recommendation from the various parties.
In my discussions with Cambodians during my recent visit, the ruling party and Prime Minister are not exactly popular, but people feel Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling CPP are best for stability of the country and they did not expect a free and fair election. In fact, international observers said the election failed to meet democratic standards but the international community has accepted the results and Hun Sen has proceeded to form a government. He “won” a landslide of 90 seats to maintain his domination of the country governing since 1985 with the help of neighbouring Vietnam communists and various local partners.
The countryside is similar to Guyana – very tropical, hot and humid – with similar fruits, vegetables and rice diet. It also has many of the kinds of freshwater fish found in Guyana. And it has plentiful precious and semi-precious stones sold at bargain prices.Cambodia is officially a Buddhist monarchy and also a communist country that at one time was occupied by Vietnam after its liberation from the killing fields Khmer Rouge communist dictatorship which was aided and abetted by China. Vietnam gave up control in the 1980s after a guerrilla war by Cambodians to eject them. The Vietnamese set up a communist regime led by Hun Sen. Most Cambo-dians despise the Vietnamese who complain to me that the Vietnamese still control a lot of Cambodia’s resources and enjoy privileges that Cambodians don’t have. The government allows free enterprise and 100% foreign ownership of businesses but bribery is expected to get anything done.The CPP has governed the kingdom in a coalition with the royalist FUNCINPEC for over a decade. But Hun Sen has dumped FUNCINPEC because he has won a majority on his own.
Some 17,000 observers monitored the latest election but that could not deter fraud. The extent of the fraud is not known. But opposition parties have refused to accept the outcome suggesting instability is expected ahead. Questionable results also marked the two previous elections in 1998 and 2003.
Like so many former communist countries, corruption is rampant in Cambodia. The press is not free; one dare not criticize the government or its officials or even accuse them of corruption. Opponents often suffer from violence. Although poverty is widespread as I noticed travelling the countryside, the standard of living is rising with an annual 10% growth rate which along with the energy finds will allow the government to breathe.
The recent oil find off Cambodia’s coast has muted criticism of the election results. United States oil giant Chevron recently struck oil and gas deposits. Firms from various neighbouring countries and the US, France and India are seeking permits to explore and develop Cambodia’s energy riches. Beijing has recently provided Cambodia with hundreds of millions of dollars of aid. Washington is looking to improve diplomatic relations with Cambodia building a huge magnificent embassy opposite the hotel where I stayed overlooking the Mekong River. The Indian government is also bankrolling Hun Sen who is a regular visitor to Delhi giving Cambodia hundreds of millions of dollars in aid over the last 15 years and currently provides technical advice to Cambodia.Cambodia has become a case where energy economics trumps pressure for free and fair elections.
In my discussions with Cambodians during my recent visit, the ruling party and Prime Minister are not exactly popular, but people feel Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling CPP are best for stability of the country and they did not expect a free and fair election. In fact, international observers said the election failed to meet democratic standards but the international community has accepted the results and Hun Sen has proceeded to form a government. He “won” a landslide of 90 seats to maintain his domination of the country governing since 1985 with the help of neighbouring Vietnam communists and various local partners.
The countryside is similar to Guyana – very tropical, hot and humid – with similar fruits, vegetables and rice diet. It also has many of the kinds of freshwater fish found in Guyana. And it has plentiful precious and semi-precious stones sold at bargain prices.Cambodia is officially a Buddhist monarchy and also a communist country that at one time was occupied by Vietnam after its liberation from the killing fields Khmer Rouge communist dictatorship which was aided and abetted by China. Vietnam gave up control in the 1980s after a guerrilla war by Cambodians to eject them. The Vietnamese set up a communist regime led by Hun Sen. Most Cambo-dians despise the Vietnamese who complain to me that the Vietnamese still control a lot of Cambodia’s resources and enjoy privileges that Cambodians don’t have. The government allows free enterprise and 100% foreign ownership of businesses but bribery is expected to get anything done.The CPP has governed the kingdom in a coalition with the royalist FUNCINPEC for over a decade. But Hun Sen has dumped FUNCINPEC because he has won a majority on his own.
Some 17,000 observers monitored the latest election but that could not deter fraud. The extent of the fraud is not known. But opposition parties have refused to accept the outcome suggesting instability is expected ahead. Questionable results also marked the two previous elections in 1998 and 2003.
Like so many former communist countries, corruption is rampant in Cambodia. The press is not free; one dare not criticize the government or its officials or even accuse them of corruption. Opponents often suffer from violence. Although poverty is widespread as I noticed travelling the countryside, the standard of living is rising with an annual 10% growth rate which along with the energy finds will allow the government to breathe.
The recent oil find off Cambodia’s coast has muted criticism of the election results. United States oil giant Chevron recently struck oil and gas deposits. Firms from various neighbouring countries and the US, France and India are seeking permits to explore and develop Cambodia’s energy riches. Beijing has recently provided Cambodia with hundreds of millions of dollars of aid. Washington is looking to improve diplomatic relations with Cambodia building a huge magnificent embassy opposite the hotel where I stayed overlooking the Mekong River. The Indian government is also bankrolling Hun Sen who is a regular visitor to Delhi giving Cambodia hundreds of millions of dollars in aid over the last 15 years and currently provides technical advice to Cambodia.Cambodia has become a case where energy economics trumps pressure for free and fair elections.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
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