“Cambodia is not going to change to a better country like Singapore or Korea in the next 20 years.”!
Well, when in 1858, the French explorer Henry Mouhot discovered with astonishment the ruins of Angkor and stared marvelously at Khmer temple, Cambodians in the ruling circle in Phnom Penh, kept talking about Preah Pishnuka (Vishnu) who according to them, would have created those stone temples with divine power the way the mighty God created Adam & Eva. For them it was impossible for human being to build such a thing like Angkor, let alone their own Khmer ancestors. Even nowadays, there still are Khmers who do not believe in their ancestor’s builders, architects, sculptors, etc. It is also unbelievable that some educated “true Khmers”, though minority, think stubbornly that their own race is inferior to other.
Talking about colonization, after 90 years of the French rule (1863-1953), Cambodia becomes an independent country. But she was not an alone case. Actually, almost all countries in Asia and in Africa become independent states now.
This occurred after the end of World War II, and it took place with the help of our elite, western educated returnees from France. Also in this same chapter, the collapse of Soviet Bloc started with Polish revolution in 1989, followed by the reunification of Germany in 1990 and only later on that the Soviet Union collapsed and was formally dissolved in December 1991. I mean that the wind of liberty blew across Eastern Europe and liberate the COMECON countries prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union. At that time European peoples were already higher educated people, actually very sophisticated. On top of that, their economic conditions were similar or even better than that of the Soviet Union.
Let's hope that young Khmers, residents in developed countries as well as those from Cambodia studying in Europe, in Australia, in US, in Japan and other part of Asia, such as Singapore, Malaysia, China…, bring back the same knowledge and sophistication to the country and help rising up literally, economically and politically. I guess that there are also Cambodians in Vietnam studying under the scholarship from this country, but it worth noting that Khmers, including that in power, fortunately prefer sending their children to the West which they highly valued.
We have witnessed some changes already, but with more FDI (foreign direct investment) in manufacturing from the countries like Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia etc., coupled with our natural resources (hydro carbon, gold, etc) as well as tourism, Cambodia can reach at least the level of Eastern European countries of 1990, or even better. I would never lose hope in our people. Time is in our side, the younger generations will prove that.
http://jatiyoung.blogspot.com/2011/07/jasmines-for-cambodia-jasmine.html
3 comments:
Politic is more complicated than history textbook.
Yes, I do believe in our own race ability as it had been proved in so many centuries of civilization. I do believe that we can achieve anything if we prepare ourself to achieve it just like our ancestors had done.
But one thing I believe is that I could see it now that we are not prepare anything in investment in people for the future to meet the speed and of the world in business and job market.
On top of that the key elements of Hanoi old guard are running our country. They are playing THE WEAKEST LINK POLITIC GAME as you know its rules. They prefer the weak ones to run ministries rather than the educated ones.
In the 80s there are two groups of our students went abroad to study. One group go to USSR and other eastern Europe and the other go to Vietnam. What happened was that non of those who went to Russia and Eastern Europe came back with high qualifications end up working in the offices or got no job prospect. The other way round the one who went to Vietnam with often little qualifications were rewarded with high position.
At the present is the same we have quite a numbers of qualified people,but they are not promoted. Why because the old guards fears of loosing their power.
Have you seen any of our intellectuals in the country are allowed to make a protest against Thai invasion so far?. Intellectuals is the eyes of our nation if they are put in prison,we simply loosing our direction.This is just a small example for you to take into account.You can also tell the politics of the CPP from the traffic accident. Last year we had 1700 people died on the road.This years we going to have more casualties and more people leaving the country for slavery job abroad and more sad stories about children under age are malted abroad or in side our country.
Don't be afraid to change. America changed. China changed,the whole world change why not us?.Change need not to be blood bath.The only party that willing to do BLOOD-BATH is CPP.
Autocratic regime is the enemy of Democracy,Development, pluralism or progressive society.
Behind all of this I would like you to remember that Democracy in Cambodia is Number one enemy of Hanoi.
True Khmer
I agree with every thing you said here. Just one thing everyone should have in mind: no more wars, enough is enough of sufferings, destructions, refugee camps(look at Libya, Syria and Yemen). In Egypt, some say that they didn't achieve what they want. Look at Pol Pot revolution, Lon Nol coup d'État? What did we get from all that? I understand that many of us, including myself, are not happy with way our country is governed, youns on Tonlé Sap and so on ... But we need to give the time to time!
I do believed that Cambodia will be a better country if continue improving like today...Step by Step! Cambodia will become a better country in next 20 years YES! Do not let or allow other foreign country involve>> like US or French, because they screwed up our country real bad in the past century...
Post a Comment