A Change of Guard

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Sunday 24 July 2011

Jasmine Revolution: A change for the better or a change for worse?

Said Jati Young....
It is inspiring for some, especially for our compatriots who are rightly frustrated by their misfortunes following the last two general elections. For the time being, beyond Tunisia and Egypt, there are also Libya, Syria and Yemen. In what shapes are those countries now, how are theirs fortunes? Cambodia is in South-East-Asia, a region that recorded a highest economic growth in the world this decade. It is actually a revolution in itself, an economic revolution! Cambodia should not miss this one. It is a big mistake to go the other way.

We should learn from our recent history of over past fifty years since the independence in 1953. General Lon Nol did something in March 1970, and Pol Pot started a revolution even before, during the 1960, because they both considered our country in that time ‘undemocratic’ and with corruptions too big a hindering of economic development. Among other things, Vietnamese infringements, or poverty and unemployment among the youth, etc. were also cited as the main causes of their revolutions. Yes, our country has experienced too many revolutions already and it is not now completely cured from those ills, and even those improvements have been observed recently by Cambodians themselves and foreigners.

The growing interests of international investors are undeniable. That said we should also know that Cambodia still needs some more time to have certain level of stability for the economy to growth and for the poverty can be reduced to an acceptable level. Yes, we need more time for the young generation to get more educations and skills need for a decent life. For the corruptions, we should also recognize that Cambodia is not unique in this phenomenon. We can have ample examples of that even before 1970 or in the time of the Khmer Republic. The first two-head coalition government formed after 1992 election was not better. As for the Vietnamese political infringements, the future only can tell. But what we can be certain of is that Cambodia after 1991 Paris Peace Accords has been signed, a page of history book on neighboring intervention has been turned.

Yes, Hun Sen and CPP’s government is the result of that intervention, but there were also successive multipartite elections. Except the first one during UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) authority, and set aside the accusations of frauds from those that didn’t win, no one can say that all the opposition parties combined got more votes than fifty percents. That gave legitimacy to the current government, in spite of Hun Sen personal involvement in Cambodia politic for more that 30 years.
http://jatiyoung.blogspot.com/2011/07/jasmines-for-cambodia-jasmine.html
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Anonymous said...

We admire the courage and the success of people of Tunisia and that of Egypt and sincerely, we wish them the best. We also want to share the sufferings of the people of Libya and Yemen and we would like to pray for them for better outcomes. But are there other ways for us than these tropical storms? We live in a region where culture and economic conditions are slightly different from those countries of the Middle-East. Please look at Korea or Taiwan or even Singapore. There were the regimes of presidents Park Jung Hee, Chiang Kai-shek and Lee Kuan Yew. There were dictatorships, corruptions and other ills in those countries as well in the past. Now those Asians countries evolved far away from those reputations. Now look at them, how prosperous and democratic are they? Since 1953, we had too many unrests, too many wars already (civil war, Pol Pot against VN, Thai aggression! etc). In my humble opinion, it is not that smart to soak our country in a new bloodbath again because some are not happy with the current situations. Beside that, a revolution is not something you can import as merchandises. According to a survey published recently, some 95% of our youth believe that the country is on the right direction. I understand that some may have some reveres on this. But to succeed those would be revolutionary groups have to convince them, the youth, of the contrary. If they think that they can really convince our people to change their minds, why couldn’t they ask them to vote for a change at the next general election in exactly 2 years from now? People are really tired of wars or unrests in the name of anything. I am optimist about the future of our country.
I really want to promote peace and stability for country to succeed and sincerely wish my dream of a prosperous, democratic and just Cambodia comes true. My only party is Cambodia itself! I really care for everything that can affect Cambodian life. I always moved with it when I got good news from it. I can be saddened easily if the contrary happened.

Jati Young

http://jatiyoung.blogspot.com/2011/07/jasmines-for-cambodia-jasmine.html
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Anonymous said...

Read my lip! Cambodia is not going to change to a better country like Singapore or Korea in the next 20 years.
What it will be in the next 20 years is a second state of Hanoi.
Cambodia is a country that lost it soul.The government that you see today is a hybrid puppet of Hanoi.

Hanoi have designed Cambodia for its grand ambition toward the south.

Without the collapsing of the communist empire of USSR Cambodia would still have been controlled by Hanoi's troops.

Majorities of powerful CPP leaders and businessmen are Viet. That is why you see Vietnamese are everywhere in Cambodia.They have more right than our indigenous people Khmer.
Cambodia need to be free from Hanoi's element rulers.They are serving no interest for our people.

More than half of the population are living in extreme poverty,that is why you see them migrated to other countries to do slavery job for peanut. Some were killed and maltreated as you have heard about it.

Cambodia today is like Kampuchea Krom, where our people become refugees in our own country.

True Khmer

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not right for this time.

Anonymous said...

@True Khmer
Let assumed your assessment is corrected that half of Khmer living in poverty. Your claimed that they are living in poverty because what? Is it education? is it lack of business mind? Is it lack of jobs? Once you figure out the why behind it then you can start doing self revolution education.

Let looks at Khmer and Vietnamese living in the United States; many came as refugee but for some reasons Vietnamese are more advance economically while Cambodia right behind Vietnamese surpass other minority groups as time went by. Wonder why they are behind Vietnamese? well, many educated Khmers were executed during the KR. many Khmer educators are new generation, new doctor, lawyer, businessmen etc. While Vietnamese went through the Communist regime like us but their infrastructures were intact. They didnt destroy everything like uncle Pol Pot. Pol Pot put fear in Khmer generation after. Almsot 50% of Khmer living under the Pol Pot regime diagnosed with PTSD and other mental related issues. If you read Koh Sontipeap, you will find suicidal stories almost daily. Some Khmer when pushed to the corner, they dont know how to handle obsticles and most likely to take its own life. This is mental related issues that we have to help them recover. KR brought us back to year zero. If you want to compete with the Vietnamese, we cannot afford wars and revolution as mentioned by Sam Rainsy. The revolution that Khmer ought to do is self revolution. This how you can strengthen your country in the future. Afterall, none of us live forever. We have to create future leader and give them head start to compete. The new revolution is this, each person is responsible for caring of its own family, take care of your children, raise them the right way, ensure that they are healthy, ensure they have the quality education, make sure that they are safe and properly feed and encouraging them to have different skills while studying in college etc so that they could survive in the job market. If each one of us can do this, I can guaranteed you in the next 30 years, Cambodia will be full of educators, business person etc. You will be ready to compete with any body not just Vietnamese. Look at the Jewis after world war II, where they are today. Jewis dominates the world; they influence the US like no other country. US willing to go to war for them. Why? it is power of money, business, influences and educations etc. There are so many jewis business owner, lawyer, doctors, etc. Jewis is small population but they are very strong.

Anonymous said...

Dear Warrior Blood:
You statement about self revolution and your method is very very powerful. I wish PM Hun Sen read your statement and he can use this statment to encourage Khmer to start self revolution from today forward. I understand that not everybody can be doctors or lawyers but the most important thing is that they can have a skills for them to survive if they are are college materials etc. I really admire your statement. I am so inspire; I never such a simple thing will dig Cambodian out of poverty and build strongest nation. I now see the light, I understand what you meant. Thank you so much for sharing. I love Khmerization, it provides instant news and the commentors are very educated and very professional unlike KI media.

Anonymous said...

Thank Warrior for sharing this meaningful statement.
You are right. Changing regime might not contribute much in helping Cambodian out of poverty.
I completely reject the lotus intervention. I hope most of Cambodians don't join this revolution.
We are heading to the future. We need to develop a lot of things.
We should unite.
We are not like other countries like Egypt, Tunisia, or Lybi. We are Cambodia: the poor, the loss, the experimental materials.
We should stand up together and unite. I know it's hard for the PM and his elites to change. But, if we can guarantee the stability of country, that's enough.
Sometimes, it is not the case anymore if I support Communism or What I support Democracy.
The purpose is depending on how you satisfy what you have so far, No one know clearly our feeling beside ourselves.
Now, ASEAN is almost merged together like European Union.
The equality will give us. We will stand with other developed countries like Singapore and Thailand. Because we are small and we have potential sectors.
Therefore, we should wait and develop ourselves.
Development need time. If we have war, people will suffer. Don't stigmatize people. Why do we do such risky path?
We lose Koh Trol to Vietnam in 1984. Now, do the lotus organization want to loss more?
Message to Sam Rangsy:
It's not the right time to do such this stupid organization.
If you cannot enter into Cambodia, don't risk Cambodian innocent lives to do it for you.
Thailand, Lybiya, Egypt, and the like are not similar to Cambodia.
If you are strong enough, what you should do is to ask the US or superpowers to teach Vietnam and China first because those of them are the father of chaos in Cambodia. Cambodia cannot navigate her destiny because of these two countries.
What you should do is to ask for help from the US. However, before anyone helps us, one adjust the pros and cons already. I know cons are more than pros. So, I believe it is difficult for those superpowers to support a small country like Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

We need to get rid of the yuon. China did not take land from us or ever fight us since history of times!!!! We can not depend on US or france or other far away countries beside our neighbor china. As you know, china going to be china for million of years from now. What we need is to be sided with china and not add things in the mix. And focus to fight back the yuon as a priority one. Any Khmer who think that getting rid of or defriend china is shooting at their own feet. Yes you can ask the US for help but not to antagonize china but to rid enemy #1, yuon. I also detest any revolution of any kinds in srok Khmer. I am sure we can implement away to replace new leader without any harm to the people and country. We should not think or do or behave like a regime mentality. Better yet never call our government a regime!!! Any Khmer who judge ourselves as a regime is already giving others or our enemy an impression that we are not united and dumb!!!! What we need is to work hard, think hard, and implement good society that promote distinctively Khmer arts, litrigers,structures, ceromonies, holidays, traditions, manners, respects, ...etc...etc... Revolution is a very dumb and no other means of doing it!!! Any way we saw and witness enough of it in our time already. None of it help us but losses!!!! And we need to let them see or join that our society is for them to live, love, care, good, glorious......not to fight but to be Khmers!!!!!!to proof that is Angkor that were built 1000 years ago. We have history on our side and now we need to stride our good reputations to built a strong and prosperous futures eventho the roads are bumpy!!! Any one think like me??????? Srolach chaed Khmers

Anonymous said...

“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 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 now a day, 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 a lone case. Actually, almost all countries in Asia and in Africa become independent states. 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 peoples, actually very sophisticated. On top of that, their economic conditions were similar or even better than that of the Soviet Union. Let 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 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 loss 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

Anonymous said...

Very well narrated by Warrior Blood and Jati Young of history and changed that affected our country.
I am living in PP I witness everyday of changed,but I also do agreed with True Khmer in some worrying issue about our government allowed so much land to her ally for 99 years.

There are some people making money by buying land and sell but more people are getting poorer and they start to worry about their future,because everything is getting more and more expensive.

It is true that there are more Viet now living everywhere in Cambodia.
I really don't know,but they seem to do better and getting richer than our people.

I have very little hope to find job,when I pass my university in the next few years.
I can not afford to buy land because it is too expensive for my family to be able to do so.

Student in PP

Anonymous said...

DON'T DESTROY OUR COUNTRY