Re: The fate of Col. Gaddafi terrified all world dictators, including Hun Sen
A breeze of Jasmine Revolution from the Middle East!
Now it seems that some of Khmers have decided and actively promoted a new war to get rid of their “Gaddafi”! It is also undeniable that a breeze was felt from the jasmine revolutions in the Middle East. They are really urged for that because it seems that they really think that it is fully justifiable, regardless of the fact that the wounds from the last thirty years of wars are not healed yet. They argued that poverty is still there, corruptions are not eradicated, our economy is not as strong as of China and our society is not as good as in the West, etc. Regardless, they are ready to start another chapter of our history book, another chapter of uncertainties, unrest, sufferings, destruction, starvation, deaths or frightened life in refuge camps… Who know if that could be the last chapter of the book when we all know that vultures are waiting there to eat the carcass if that were to end up in ruin?
Do we learn anything from our History?
Please be patient and put aside individual interest and ambitions. A country can be more democratic and prosperous with peace and stability than with permanent war and revolutions. Look around us in the region and in the whole world. In prosperous Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ruled almost continuously for more than fifty years from its founding in 1955. No one can say that the country is not a democracy. In Korea, autocratic and military regime ruled the country almost of half the last century before it became prosperous and democratic nowadays. In Taiwan, the Kuomingtang (KMT) controlled the government under a single party state until reforms were carried out in the late 1970s through the 1990s before loosened its grip on power. Now, the country is a prosperous economy and democracy is strengthening.
Sure, that we want a wealthy Cambodia with a democratic government as in France, or in Australia, Great Britain, Canada or the US! But should we know how long those countries took to get there? I do not believe that our country now is worst than in 1991 or in 2008 when it held the last election. It is a fact that nowadays more and more countries around the world wanted to do business in Cambodia and we can be certain that business people do not want to lose their monies. Building a country is a work in progress and everyone should play by the rules which required a lot of wisdom and patience.
Our Khmer adage says: “Those who control their heart to reject anger deserve the greatest praise of all”.
A breeze of Jasmine Revolution from the Middle East!
Now it seems that some of Khmers have decided and actively promoted a new war to get rid of their “Gaddafi”! It is also undeniable that a breeze was felt from the jasmine revolutions in the Middle East. They are really urged for that because it seems that they really think that it is fully justifiable, regardless of the fact that the wounds from the last thirty years of wars are not healed yet. They argued that poverty is still there, corruptions are not eradicated, our economy is not as strong as of China and our society is not as good as in the West, etc. Regardless, they are ready to start another chapter of our history book, another chapter of uncertainties, unrest, sufferings, destruction, starvation, deaths or frightened life in refuge camps… Who know if that could be the last chapter of the book when we all know that vultures are waiting there to eat the carcass if that were to end up in ruin?
Do we learn anything from our History?
Please be patient and put aside individual interest and ambitions. A country can be more democratic and prosperous with peace and stability than with permanent war and revolutions. Look around us in the region and in the whole world. In prosperous Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ruled almost continuously for more than fifty years from its founding in 1955. No one can say that the country is not a democracy. In Korea, autocratic and military regime ruled the country almost of half the last century before it became prosperous and democratic nowadays. In Taiwan, the Kuomingtang (KMT) controlled the government under a single party state until reforms were carried out in the late 1970s through the 1990s before loosened its grip on power. Now, the country is a prosperous economy and democracy is strengthening.
Sure, that we want a wealthy Cambodia with a democratic government as in France, or in Australia, Great Britain, Canada or the US! But should we know how long those countries took to get there? I do not believe that our country now is worst than in 1991 or in 2008 when it held the last election. It is a fact that nowadays more and more countries around the world wanted to do business in Cambodia and we can be certain that business people do not want to lose their monies. Building a country is a work in progress and everyone should play by the rules which required a lot of wisdom and patience.
Our Khmer adage says: “Those who control their heart to reject anger deserve the greatest praise of all”.
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Khmer culture of labeling
Labeling people is a practice known all along Cambodia recent history. Event before 1970, first they painted their political rivals as Red Khmers or Blue Khmers; and generally those painted politicians ended up as traitors and assassinated.
During the Khmer rouge regime, this practice became a very powerful killer machine. Soon after April 1975, the KR labeled every one, mostly “New People”, those deported from cities and towns as CIA agents, KGB agents or Youn agents. The next day after the labeling, they brought those to the killing fields. We can see all along of the three years and half of their reign, even amongst the Khmer rouge cadres, those who had different opinions from “Angkar” were labeled as this or that and ended their lives in Office S21 famously known as Toul Slaeng. Millions more ended their last days in many killing fields dotting all over the country.
Today this culture of labeling is alive and well and is carried on even among supposedly educated Khmers oversea or in Cambodia. Every one who dares to express his freedom of speech runs the risk of getting label Youn or “Hun Sen advisor” as we can witness here in this blog. It is so sad that in our culture, freedom of conscience has no place. Freedom of speech is not recognized, let alone, being respected!
Here I simply speak my mind against the idea of another possible endless war in my country Cambodia. You and I all know that wars bring destructions, lost of lives most of the times among innocent people. War ruins our economy and most importantly deprives children and younger generation from the right to education. There were no schools under Democratic Kampuchea as well as during the State of Kampuchea under Youn occupation. Do we need all that again for Cambodia because you are not at the helm of the country?
I can be wrong in my opinion as Khmer with national conscience, without political affiliation, without any interests what so ever in any position associated with the power in Phnom Penh. I am just Khmer who care about my country and dare to speak my mind when I feel that is needed. YOU OWE ME APOLOGY KHMERIZATION!. No one has the monopoly of patriotism!
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