Dear Readers,
If you choose to send an email to the ambassador, please be discreet, polite and diplomatic. He is a representative of the U.S president and the U.S government in Cambodia, so people cannot just talk to him like what they have done in this or other forums. Please be discreet, polite, diplomatic and straight to the points. Thanks. Khmerization
Published: 17 June, 2012
By William E. Todd
Hello, and welcome to my first “Ask the
Ambassador” column. I have been in Cambodia for nearly two months now,
and on June 8th I presented my credentials to King Norodom Sihamoni. It
was an honor to meet His Majesty and discuss ideas for forging a more
effective relationship between the United States and Cambodia and
reaching out to all Cambodians for their help and support on this
effort.
One of the ways I hope to reach out to Cambodians is
through this column. In the United States, newspapers have sections
that invite readers to write in with questions, and then someone at the
newspaper answers them. I used this idea to start my first “Ask the
Ambassador” column while I was the U.S. Ambassador to Brunei
Darussalam. Every week I wrote an article that responded to questions
that readers sent me. And now, I am happy to be able to continue that
tradition here in Cambodia thanks to our friends at Rasmei Kampuchea.
I
believe that giving Cambodians a chance to ask me questions is
important because it will create a dialogue between us. It gives me a
way to learn what is important to Cambodians, and it gives Cambodians an
opportunity to get answers to questions that might otherwise go
unanswered. I want you to ask me about what interests you. Questions
can be about the United States, about Cambodia, about me or my family.
Maybe you’d like to know what my favorite football team is, or why I
like Khmer food so much or what I think about the kickboxing matches I
regularly go see on Saturday afternoons at CTN. Or, perhaps you want to
ask why certain things matter to the United States like human rights,
or why we consider all political freedoms necessary and important.
Anything is fair game, and I have a special e-mail address where you can
send your questions, thoughts, and comments: AskAMBToddPP@state.gov.
Creating
and maintaining a dialogue is an important part of any relationship.
This past week, His Excellency Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, flew to the
United States to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Secretary Clinton has met the Deputy Prime Minister several times, most
recently in November 2010 during her visit to Cambodia, and I know she
was pleased to see him again this week. Before he left for the United
States, the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters that “the visit will
tighten Cambodia-U.S. relations and the ASEAN-U.S. ties,” and I agree.
In
her opening remarks, Secretary Clinton welcomed the Deputy Prime
Minister to Washington and said she was looking forward to coming to
Phnom Penh in July for the ASEAN Regional Forum. Then in their private
conversation, Secretary Clinton and the Deputy Prime Minister discussed a
range of issues important to our two nations and to regional and global
interests. Many of these were tough issues – human rights,
strengthening democracy, space for civil society, maritime security,
bilateral debt, and ASEAN connectivity.
I have learned in my
long career that sometimes people may not agree on everything and in
some cases not even see eye to eye, but communicating and keeping the
conversation going are the best ways to find solutions. In my opinion
it is better to get the issues on the table to discuss them, than to
gloss over them or pretend they don’t exist. By communicating, we can
work together to make the relationship between the governments, civil
societies, the youth of our countries and our leaders, even
stronger.
That is what I hope this column will do for us.
It will keep the lines of communication open, and it will be a place for
fun questions and tough questions alike. I encourage you to email me
at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Ambassador Todd is the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
18 comments:
Hello Mr Ambassador,
I would like to know why your government still wants the DEBT that owed during the war era (Vietnam war)? Correct me if it am wrong about this war.Base on i what i have learned that war was your war to defend the free world from Communist north(V.C) and your government dragged Cambodia to the war result were catastrophe an estimated about eighty-thousand Khmers died in his conflict from the so called CARPET BOMBING.
Your government should compensate these people that victimized by this war that your government has created,so if your government did not compensate the victims of war (Cambodian) Why do we have to pay your govt back the DEBT? I think your govt should FORGIVE AND FORGET THE DEBT...your govt responsible the lives of khmer's people that lost in your war.
People, be civilized and ask politely.
12:14 AM
Your mail will throw into a WC by other anonymous.
Go back to school and learn something from the protocol of state or community working system.
the whole point of this exercise is for ordinary people askings ordinary questions. if he wants protocol bulldust then what is the freaking point? He wants to talk to us, the masses, the proletarian and not some diplomatic technocrats who capable of knifing you in the back an smile politely in the name of protocol. there are too many elitism within this forum, political correctness and politeness stifles healthy discussion. some of us here think that we are over-educated and pompous in our eloquent ESL English that is actually done a disservice to a rebus discussion and alienated our lest educated compatriots.
You got the point 9:15PM.
But people should also be reminded that humility doesn't cost them anything. Have an open mind and learn to express their views politely.
I think 9:15 PM is right. We do not need to meet diplomatic protocol in writing an email to the ambassador, but what we need is politeness and a bit diplomatic in our questions as opposed to the rude and crude language that has been used in online forums. I think if we write politely by avoiding offensive language it should be OK. We do not need to follow the diplomatic protocol like when ambassadors exchanging diplomatic notes or letters with each other.
Well, who needs all the protocol of community working system? What is that? I am suppose to ask Mr Ambassador of United States a Raw question in which i want to know from his point of view about debt and war, that is related to Cambodia in Lon Nol's era.
Debt:Why should Cambodian's gov't have to pay back 450 millions dollars plus interest to American's gov't have?
Causes of war: American's gov't did not pay compensation to the victims of this war (civilians +soldiers+properties) that lost due to bombardment illegal invasion of Cambodia's neutrality by American force.Keep in mind that this war was an American's war,not Cambodian's war.
The point is;Since American's gov't did not pay compensation Cambodia's victims of this war,why should Cambodian's repay back the debt that usedto financing the American's war in expenses of Cambodian's lives? I think American gov't should FORGIVE THIS DEBT.
For those who think that I need correct protocol to ask question;my answer to you is;English is only my recreational language,Khmer is my main language of my native, i would write it perfectly and correctly,as for politeness i don't think i cross a line.
I am12:14am,1st to ask sir Ambassador.
11:06 PM, your first post was normal and polite. You certainly did not cross the line. What I worry is those bloggers who used to write crudely and rudely, including swearing. If we just ask him simple questions with simple language, without resorting to crude and rude language, it should be OK.
WHY ? don't u ask them as well to be polite, to be nice, to khmer's government,
unfair, unjustice.,
looked down, on our own governments
sucked, sucked ,
Thank you fellow very much,we should focus on asking Mr;U.S Ambassador a question that relates to the war at that era.(1968-1975 Viet- American war) not trying to correct one another about writing protocol.There is no right or wrong question,if you want to know you have to ask...
1st poster
12:14am
Depending on khmers government,like cpp govt now ,no one will respect this corrupted regime that ceding khmers land to Yuon.This regime(govt) deserve all the disrespect from its people,because this govt of Kampuchea under Hunsen are traitors...
Ask him why is the US always favor the youns and not the Khmers? Does it look down on Cambodians?
Veit, are smarter than KHMER,,
At what situation?using girl to get what its wanted !!!!!!! Imoral issue !!!! Khmer has high morality that why Khmer's girl doesn't uses herself to influence her works/get what she wants .Is that what you call not smart????
the Chinese and the PLA also think you Viet are too smart as well.now you will know what it like to be invaded and tramped on . good luck and ask your women to get ready as they are more braver than your men. this time the Middle Kingdom is not going to teach you but will determine to finish the job. first you joined up with the Soviet, now you do it with your old enemy against china. who will you be asking next .....maybe India ?
Vietnam , are not smarter than Chinese , Chinese already kicked them out from china once,,,,
Vietnam , smarter than Khmer ,
Smart like you spelling Viet wrong.R u smart's Viet?
Yuons are sub-Chinese,they were Mongolian's thieves (bandits) fleed China long time ago to formed its own colony called Annam,stole Cham+ Khmer 's land.
Post a Comment