Re: Hun Sen: A dictator or a compromising leader?
We should remember that Hun Sen is the by-product of communism. He did not know what the UN's role was when he was first installed by Hanoi in 1979. Much of his thinking is still limited and is still mainly influenced by the way his master, Hanoi, trained him to rule.
Has his intellectuality improved 32 years later?
To my observation: no!. Why? I noticed on many occasions, but I like to give you two incidents out of his hundred of his irrational behaviours.
In Nov 2010, there were 373 Cambodian people were killed in a stampede over Koh Pich. The first reaction, we saw Hun Sen dropped his tears, but a day later he blamed those victims that they were not responsible for their lives: "There was nothing wrong with the bridge", he said.
You can imagine how the hell can someone on the planet could do that while the people were already dead, why did not he give them some dignity? Instead, he still try to protect his police who failed to control the huge crowd that tried to move away from the electrocuted areas. My feeling about Hun Sen is that his intellectual faculty is narrow, that is why he sometimes behaves so irrational and out of step with the norm of the world .
The second incident was in 2007 when oil was first discovered by Chevron in the sea of Cambodia. Hun Sen and a few of his clans had tried to hide it from the public. Hun Sen did not inform the parliament or the rest of the government to know about this until a year later. I remembered this event from the BBC reports about corruption in Cambodia. The film footage showed that Hun Sen's clans were running away from the cameras like thieves trying to escape from the police, when British journalist raised that question.
Imagine if oil money is pouring in, who knows what Hun Sen can do as he is now trying to shut all the windows and curtains in the house.The idea is, like most dictators did, when the light is off they can do what they want.
Now it's time that NGOs,UN and the opposition parties to work together to fight this crime. Cambodia and her people are not just the pawns of the Hun Sen government alone, but we are citizens of the world and we are governed by the UN and other organisations too. They too have direct responsibilities to protect freedom, to maintain peace and security in Cambodia.
Yes you can UN!.
We are now in the 21st century. The world should be freed from dictatorship. It's unimaginable how much the world could be a better place if the UN could get the grip with this problem. Billions of dollars are in the wrong hands of state criminals and as a result millions of people around the globe are starving. Cambodia is one of this disease. Sometimes, I feel that the UN are too soft and that softness allows dictators to organise illegal states within the umbrella of the UN itself.
UN should use a big stick to punish this type of criminal leaders. They are nothing, but are the parasites of the world.
I truly believe that the UN have not been tough enough to stop Hun Sen's criminal behaviour. He should be condemned by the UN for breaking all the rules of the peace agreement and human right in Cambodia.
In my perception, as the whole world are fast moving towards democracy and transparency, Hun Sen is seen to be on the fast track riding Cambodia back to the dark side of the world.
Perhaps, this motion of Hun Sen's politics, that is against the gravity of the world, would help him meet his demise sooner than I expected, if I am not wrong.
True Khmer
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By Normal student
I really appreciate your explanation here. This gives us some ground information. Yes! Cambodia was communist. But why were we all together communist? I am not a scholar in history but i, as a normal student, can provide some basic discussion here. After Khmer Rouge were overrun by mighty Vietnamese troops in 1979 not taking into consideration what they tried to make us, satellite state or saving us from hell. My own opinion, we should give Hanoi credit on this; without this incursion, there is no more Cambodia by now. Please here. (once again, don't prejudge as Kbal Youn Kloun Khmer, I am just sharing my idea.) Furthermore, thing always comes with price. Yes, both Cambodia and Vietnam all benefited from that.
So, here is the point. After the fall of Khmer Rouge 1979, United Nation (UN)'s seat still belong to 2-million-people-killer if i am mistaken with support from the west. A hardly-breath Cambodia was economically surrounded. We received no aid despite continuous attack from Khmer Rouge and others factions. The breathing respirator was only from the Soviet Union which of course the king of communist. Ok! I want to elaborate more the possibility we could have been democratic at that time being but it's out of our context here since we already become one. Thus, when Soviet collapse in 1989, our international policy undoubtedly changed, that's not abnormal, every country do this. Cambodian ever first democratic National Election emerged after Paris Treaty 1991. If dictatorship was mentioned for Cambodia, it had been a very long absolute monarchy and period before this 1991 treaty.
Absolutely considerable about your critic on government's ability to take over the Koh Pich incident. Cambodia lacked materials and experience over such sudden incident which claimed almost 400s people. We are all very sorry for this including the government. However, Fund had been raised, government support on funeral ceremonies, family compensation, which were all wholehearted done i believe. Despite your criticism on Prime Minister behavior, i think this would not apply to a perception as dictator. Rule of law is vowed to be employed in all countries just what definition it is vary from one to another state. Cambodia new's democratic policy would be encouraged by all state but they would respect her(Cambodia) interests for all. On the other hand, what is the definition of dictatorship? The article author explains dictator as whatever he rules must be employed. Cambodian Prime Minister is not allowed to implement this. If he could, many internet forums would have been shut including this one like what people do in Thailand. Boeng Kok residents would have been forced out long before what opposition said World Bank reaction happened. Illegal checkpoint would never be seen. Real situation in Cambodia differ mostly from what is being broadcast abroad. Now the state acquired modern communication facility to weaken spreading misinformation. I am able to say this because i live and learn here.
To my own opinion, dictatorship should not be given to Cambodia. We will have commune election in the following year, national election a year after. The result will tell its story. If the long-serve leader fairly elected is defined as dictator, so let. it be.
Normal Student
11 comments:
I stopped reading the article after the first line mentioning communism. I don't need to read the rest to understand what mentality you have. You probably reside in the US and have the same mentality of the group whose logic and understanding regard anything with the word communism as the evil of the world, ignorantly projecting own version of righteousness onto other people to right the wrong in the world without knowing the bs, hypocrisy, and lies you feed others and especially yourself.
Well said, True Khmer. For 32 years, Hun Sen's mentality has not changed for the better, but for worse. Everyday, he only think how to stay in power, how he can outsmart or get rid of his enemies and rivals, that's why he has no time to think about how to make Cambodia a better place and to raise the living standard of the poor Khmers. He will go down like Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi one day.
Great job, True Khmer
not everybody in the US felt the same way as True Khmer, the Vietnam agent.
People should remember the hard time Cambodia went through. Cambodia is not perfect democracy like the US where True Khmer is living. Don't get twisted by Cambodian political short view of few right wing group self claimed the savior. If people used to live in the KR regime they understood what it was like. I know it is the past and we shouldn't compare it through our current time now; I couldn't help it but to think back who was the savior to help Cambodia escape from the killing fields. Many critic like might say, it was a trick that Cambodia was trap by Vietnam. Whether it was a trick, trap or whatever you wanted to call it; I am glad they came in to invade the KR. Many people would agree that if Vietnam and CPP didn't come in, we probably dead and unable to write this article bashing the current leader unless True Khmer were born after KR era. Who were there to help us from the killing fields? I didn't see Sam Rainsy and his savior group or so call democracy friends. All I saw PM Hun Sen, Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, Pen Sovann and the Khmer/Vietnam armies etc. These people were there whether through Vietnam helps but they were there to help Cambodia undisputely. Cambodia was shut off from the world, we ate banana trees for living. War is a business, Vietnam invested lives, amunition etc, therefore Cambodia pay for the debts like we owe to US and China as the True Khmer mentioned in his article; there is no free lunch. Don't get twisted that they did it without a cost associated. You can call them pupet or Vietnam regime all you wanted but these people are Khmer that help save lives in 1979 and I will never forget them because they saved my life and many Cambodian families including True Khmer families if he was not those rich families escaped the country before the KR took over. Cambodia was like a waste land, no body wanted it. After 1979, people worked for foods during that time, we didn't have economic boom; some teachers were reward with lands because the government didn't have anything to pay them; many teachers refused to accept those lands because it was worthless or too far from Phnom Penh including my mother who refused to accept those plot land for her teaching salary. We didn't know land is worth so much monies like now. This why you see people fighting over land now. Back then, everywhere you went, there are dead bodies laying around, mass graves left as evidences from the killing machine. The group that you called "pupet" was there working from their bare hand to reconstruct the country. Now we have peace, economic booming, investor flocking into Cambodia, NGO fighting to stay free from Cambodia law without accuntability, opposition wanted to gain power through riot or pressure super power country like US or pin it against China to overthrow the current leader. Why? We forget that we went through these scenarios in the past; we had regime changed four times through forced. Have we learned anything? The rice is cooked now Sam Rainsy wanted to kick the cooker out of the kitchen. It is up to Cambodian to uplift it economy, self sufficent, etc. If you don't work hard and expect the West to come in and rebuild your country; you are in a dreaming world my friend. Don't get bend out of shape because PM Hun Sen is not educated like Sam Rainsy but he is as smart as other leaders. He was not a rich kid that never seen war; all Sam Rainsy did was study in France. PM Hun Sen was in the jungle fighting what he believed as good causes to help Cambodia during that time without full knowledge of what UN as the author indicated. PM Hun Sen doesnt have those highly educated childhood friends. However, I know for a fact that he can count on his uneducated friends when trouble come. They may not as educated as those people in France but they know the value of friendship and what is "True Khmer" is all about.
Warrior Blood
I think any state in the world that is not abide by its own law and constitution is a dictatator state. Think about it, what is the purpose of government and why it was form? We Khmer people, need to stop pointing finger at each other, and focus on unity. Look at Japan, how many prime minister in the 5 years? This is an example NOT dictator state. They were also destroyed by war, but where are they now? I can hear a few but, but , no if or but...let us work together rebuild the country. Www.Investcambodia.com.
LoveKhmer
Hi N student,
Ask yourself,Who created Khmer Rouge?
Why did Vietnam invaded Cambodia,without Cambodian permission ,in 1969 that led to full-scale war and Khmer Rouge rose to power and execute millions of people?
Between 1983-84,Hanoi sent Hundred of thousan of Khmer civilians to landmine area,as a result thousand of Khmer farmers lost their limbs and lives. Was Hanoi really want to save us?
In 1979,the world was shocked by the horror of the genocide and starvation in Cambodia,why Hanoi did not let UN and the rest of countries to provide food supplies to Cambodian people? although later on there were aids from NGO and UN organisations,most of those aids had never been given to Cambodian people.
Without the collapsing of the communist empire in 1989, and the die hard Khmer coalition resistant forces,Hanoi would never withdrew from Cambodia.Today Cambodia could to have been a second province of Hanoi. Hun and the rest of Hanoi's puppets like Heng Samrin and Chea Sim could still have been living in Hanoi's cages. Ask them,Hanoi's troops were guarding them like a prisoners around their houses. Their immediate relatives were not allowed to see them, without top Hanoi permission. Hanoi would not let their puppets to travel as they wish too.Did Hanoi trust them?. Hun and the rest of puppets should say thank you to all the resistant leaders that they were kind to allowed them a new breath of life.
It was a mistake to my opinion,that the peace agreement was signed in 1991 in Paris while the communist Hanoi empire were in coma.It was King Shihanouk who was keen to accept the peace agreement that was designed by Hanoi.Sihanouk
careless about the future of Cambodia as long as his palace is lifted.
Today Cambodia is in full controlled by Hanoi agents like Tear Banh and Xoc Kong and many others. Hanoi was the father of Khmer Rouge and is the father of the CPP. Sihanouk and Seihamony are simply the prisoners in their palace.
True Khmer
And by the way, the title of this article should be "Khmer people is not tough enough, verse UN...
LoveKhmer.
9:33 PM Warrior Blood, Well aren't you living in America and always attack America? You are "ah si bay bork chnang". And because you live comfortably in America that you are siding with dictatorship in Cambodia so your fellow Khmers in Cambodia can live in hell? Siding with Hun Sen, a dictator, will not help Cambodia moving forward, but instead moving forward. The UN have been working so hard to establish democracy in Cambodia and tens of thousands of Resistance fighters have sacrificed their lives to bring about changes and democracy to Cambodia. So, it is important that we keep the democracy momentum going forward, not backward. Hun Sen has turned back the clock since he refused to step down when he lost election 1993 and staged a coup in 1997 and subsequently cheated to win the 1998, 2003 and 2008 elections. He is not an elected leader because he cheated to win. Saddam Hussein also won many elections, Hosni Mubarak, Assad of Syria, N. Korea's Kim Jong-il and Gaddafi had one time or another claimed to have won the elections, but staged elections organized and counted by his people like what Hun Sen had done in Cambodia. So Hun Sen is no different from this people who had been in powers for too long who ruled with an iron fist by creating fears and brutally cracking down on rivals and opponents. If he keeps being stubborn and want to rule forever, his fate would be like the fates of those dictators like Hosni Mubarak, or worse like Gaddafi or even hanged like Saddam Hussein.
People should thank PM Hun Sen for the coupe against rannaridh group; they are nothing but corrupted group and worked for themselves. By the way, Sam Rainsy was in this stupid group too. He broke away because Funcepec were too corrupted. If you ask Sam Rainsy, he will tell you how corrupted they are. I have no mercy for the group so if you come back and tell me that Hun Sen did it wrongly then you should go and serve Rannaridh. PM Hun Sen did good job to remain in power to avoid another disaster created by Rannaridh. It is not legitimate to gain power this way but it alright in my book because you have almost the same seats in the parliamentary.
Tuk Tuk Driver
This is a good debate among Cambodian, eventhough some of the true but not all true were presented.
Let start it from Lon Nol regime mentality. This regime were corrupted and the US knew it. They accepted the US Aid but didn't want to fight the war. There were many people want to be a leader but not enough followers. If you wanted to get rich fast, you need to get in the good Gov. position so you can take bribe. Most people knew that the Gov. was not going to last so they didn't care about the country. If they wanted to win the war over the KR, they could done it.
The KR gained strength after Sihanouk appealed to Cambodian people. Therefore, majority of the KR were Sihanouk supportors. After the KR took over, most of Cambodian expect the country to go back to what it was before the war, Sihanouk style regime. But it was not the case so the KR faced some resistance from the high ranking and low level KR cardres. If you are a politician, you can say the Vietnamese or Chinese started all of this thing to created chaos in Cambodia. The KR were afraid that they were going to loose power so they started purging some cardres.
After the Viet invasion, there was only one group that the Viet army were afraid of, it was the KR, the rest of the groups were not strong enough or dicipline enough to fight Viet army. Most of the other groups had Lon Nol regime mentality in it which was too many leaders or wanted to be and not enogh followers. This was the reason why there were so many of them. I was at the Thai/Cambodia border and there was fighting every day among themself. They were not busy fighting the Viet army but fighting among themself for power. This was the reason why the groups is no longer exist. But the element and mentality are stil there which is getting rich quick by finding the good position in the Gov.
In present Cambodia, some people were rich because they mad the right decision. I missed the opportunity when I went back to Cambodia in 1996 but I am not regret because it was my decision. There are always some corrupted Gov. official for any Gov. But there are also some honest Gov. official who were rich before joining the Gov. It take time for any new Gov. to clean itself. It may take a hole new generation but it will be better over time.
The getting rich quick mentality by finding the good position in the Gov. will not win the election. This is the group that can't lead or create unity to win the election. Most of their time were spend on fighting among themself to gain powere just like the 80's at the Thai border.
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