Opinion by Khmerization
25th October, 2009
I have refrained from writing my opinion pieces on this blog for a while now due to time constraint, but most importantly because I thought that readers are sick and tired of my somewhat vitriolic diatribes which are “provocative”, “too opinionated” or “too subjective”.
However, when Cambodia’s national interests are at stake and since the Preah Vihear issue is increasingly in danger of becoming a “lost cause” by the day due to the mercurial behaviours and the lethargic actions of the Cambodian government, I am compelled to voice my opinion once again.
This time, my opinion will be at odds with the conventional wisdom of the so-called “democrats” and “anti-Hun Sen camp” because the target of my diatribes is not the usual ruling party, but the opposition parties that I so often lauded.
The opposition parties are an integral part of the democratisation process in a pluralistic political system which often act as checks and balances to right the wrongs of the government. It is sad that, in relation to the Khmer-Thai border disputes and the Preah Vihear issue, the Cambodian oppositions, namely the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Right Party, chose to remain silent. They did not react to the two armed clashes between Khmer and Thai troops in October 2008 and April 2009. They did not react when Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban and the Thai Supreme Commander Jaggabatra visited Cambodia. They did not react when 5,000 Thai PAD yellow-shirted ultra-nationalists marched to reclaim Preah Vihear on 19th September and most recently, they did not react to the seminar held on 20th October by 40 Thai MPs staking a claim to the Preah Vihear temple.
The silence of the Cambodian oppositions regarding the life and death issue of the Cambodian nation is politically damaging and it should puzzle every Khmer patriot, considering that they are reeling from a massive election defeat recently.
However, the silence of the Cambodian opposition parties can be explained in many folds. First, Sam Rainsy is a good friend of the current Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva because both of their parties are members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. Secondly, the Cambodian oppositions have been intimidated into silence through defamation lawsuits brought on by the government against party president Sam Rainsy and two of its star MPs, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann. Thirdly, the oppositions are so pre-occupied with fighting the lawsuits against the government that they have little or no time for other issues.
The Cambodian oppositions must get their priorities right or risked being totally rejected by the Cambodian voters in the next elections. They must grab every opportunity to sell their ideas and policies if they are to survive politically and electorally in the turbulent and, sometimes, cutthroat politics of Cambodia.
The current Khmer-Thai border issue is an issue of national importance and is one golden opportunity that they should not miss to grab. It should be used as a weapon by the oppositions, not to stoke nationalistic fervour, but to pressurise the government into actions and to gain the upper hand against the government that seems to be so incompetent in resolving this Khmer-Thai border dispute satisfactorily.
The Khmer-Thai border dispute and the Preah Vihear issue is a cause of concerns for every Khmer citizen. It is the single most important issue that is facing Cambodia today. For being so silent on the issue, the oppositions risked becoming irrelevant in the Cambodian politics and could be further marginalised if they continue to remain silent. Their continued silence would alienate many Khmer patriots and voters. They must be proactive on this issue or risk being pushed into oblivion and disappear into the Cambodian political wilderness. For the sake of the Cambodian nation and to defend Cambodian territorial integrity, they must break their silence and start doing something. As Martin Porter says ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’. And it is not yet too late for the oppositions to do something.
25th October, 2009
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’, Martin Porter
I have refrained from writing my opinion pieces on this blog for a while now due to time constraint, but most importantly because I thought that readers are sick and tired of my somewhat vitriolic diatribes which are “provocative”, “too opinionated” or “too subjective”.
However, when Cambodia’s national interests are at stake and since the Preah Vihear issue is increasingly in danger of becoming a “lost cause” by the day due to the mercurial behaviours and the lethargic actions of the Cambodian government, I am compelled to voice my opinion once again.
This time, my opinion will be at odds with the conventional wisdom of the so-called “democrats” and “anti-Hun Sen camp” because the target of my diatribes is not the usual ruling party, but the opposition parties that I so often lauded.
The opposition parties are an integral part of the democratisation process in a pluralistic political system which often act as checks and balances to right the wrongs of the government. It is sad that, in relation to the Khmer-Thai border disputes and the Preah Vihear issue, the Cambodian oppositions, namely the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Right Party, chose to remain silent. They did not react to the two armed clashes between Khmer and Thai troops in October 2008 and April 2009. They did not react when Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban and the Thai Supreme Commander Jaggabatra visited Cambodia. They did not react when 5,000 Thai PAD yellow-shirted ultra-nationalists marched to reclaim Preah Vihear on 19th September and most recently, they did not react to the seminar held on 20th October by 40 Thai MPs staking a claim to the Preah Vihear temple.
The silence of the Cambodian oppositions regarding the life and death issue of the Cambodian nation is politically damaging and it should puzzle every Khmer patriot, considering that they are reeling from a massive election defeat recently.
However, the silence of the Cambodian opposition parties can be explained in many folds. First, Sam Rainsy is a good friend of the current Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva because both of their parties are members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. Secondly, the Cambodian oppositions have been intimidated into silence through defamation lawsuits brought on by the government against party president Sam Rainsy and two of its star MPs, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann. Thirdly, the oppositions are so pre-occupied with fighting the lawsuits against the government that they have little or no time for other issues.
The Cambodian oppositions must get their priorities right or risked being totally rejected by the Cambodian voters in the next elections. They must grab every opportunity to sell their ideas and policies if they are to survive politically and electorally in the turbulent and, sometimes, cutthroat politics of Cambodia.
The current Khmer-Thai border issue is an issue of national importance and is one golden opportunity that they should not miss to grab. It should be used as a weapon by the oppositions, not to stoke nationalistic fervour, but to pressurise the government into actions and to gain the upper hand against the government that seems to be so incompetent in resolving this Khmer-Thai border dispute satisfactorily.
The Khmer-Thai border dispute and the Preah Vihear issue is a cause of concerns for every Khmer citizen. It is the single most important issue that is facing Cambodia today. For being so silent on the issue, the oppositions risked becoming irrelevant in the Cambodian politics and could be further marginalised if they continue to remain silent. Their continued silence would alienate many Khmer patriots and voters. They must be proactive on this issue or risk being pushed into oblivion and disappear into the Cambodian political wilderness. For the sake of the Cambodian nation and to defend Cambodian territorial integrity, they must break their silence and start doing something. As Martin Porter says ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’. And it is not yet too late for the oppositions to do something.
7 comments:
Hear ye, hear ye!
Yes, I agreed that the Cambodian oppositions should do more to help the cause of the Preah Vihear dispute. To remain silent by leaving the government and civil society to face the Thai by themselves, the oppositions will be seen as not patriotic enough to defend Khmer sovereignty.
They should be more active on the Preah Vihear issue, press statements and media interviews would be seen as a good step and good start.
To remain silent would bee seen as putting personal and party's friendship before national interests.
The Cambodian government is seen as less capable of resolving the Preah Vihear issue, so help from the oppositions in whatever way is very useful to the Khmer cause.
I think Opposition Parties have gone into silent due to a few reasons. First, the CPP seems to be very active with any kind of donor's money and massive investment projects. Secondly, the CPP is good at defeating at any powerless innocent khmer people. If the CPP is very good, why don't they go after any gun shoot from Thailand?
The position of Opposition Parties in Cambodia is similar to the positions of opposition parties anywhere else around the world... Damned if they do, and damned if they don't.
Why weren't Hun Sen's and his CPP's patriotism called into question when the SRP, Khem Sokha,the independent teachers union and various groups were voicing their concerns about his border treaties with Hanoi? As I recall, a few people were jailed by the Strong Man.
He has always calimed that he and he alone can maintain stability in Cambodia.. remember his "I'll round up everybody in 2 hours" comment? Well now that he has someone with equal military power to handle, that is the Thais, his supporters are wanting others to help him? laughable!
The Cambodian oppositions seem to be subdued after Rainsy, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann got into trouble with lawsuits when they dare to take on Hun Sen and his dictatorial cronies.
I can understand their positions and dilemmas, but when it comes to Cambodian territorial integrity, there is no question of silence. Silence in regard to territorial integrity and violations from neighboring countries is tantamount to connivance and is unpatriotic.
It's look like Mr RS is a friend of his father mother and brother sister's killer Mr SR's friend killing Khmer every day till now = SR is also the killer too
Hun Sen and his government is very close to Vietnam, so can we accuse him of being a friend of the murderer (Vietnam)of 2 million Cambodians during the Khmer Rouge regime? Vietnam had Khmer blood on their hands.
Hun Sen was very close to Thaksin and Somchai Wongsowath, Thaksin's brother-in-law and Thai PM. So was Hun Sen is a friend of the Thais who invaded our territories at Preah Vihear?
Rainsy was only invited to Thailand to attend a seminar and what he said was his freedom of expression. It doesn't mean that, because he criticized Hun Sen, he betrayed Cambodia. No!
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