June 14, 2013
HUN SEN SEEKS TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM CAMBODIA’S REAL AND PRESSING PROBLEMS
Recent personal attacks by Hun Sen against Kem Sokha of the Cambodia
National Rescue Party are an indication of the weakness of the framework
of democracy in Cambodia. In democratic countries that have an
independent judiciary, the possibility of being sued for libel provides a
natural restraint on the temptation to sling mud at political
opponents. The existence of a free press and the right to reply mean
that it is only common sense to restrict allegations to what can be
proved.
No such limitations exist in Cambodia. Hun Sen has
been able to make a series of personal allegations against Kem Sokha
without supplying any supporting evidence. The prime minister controls
the courts and the Khmer-language media. No doubt he realises that the
crudity of his claims is apparent to the international community, but
probably believes that the attacks have served their internal purpose.
If you throw enough mud, he calculates, bits of it will stick.
Meanwhile, the bulk of Cambodia's population struggles to live in
extreme poverty and public services such as health remain deprived of
the means to provide a basic minimum. The country's youth is prevented
by mass unemployment from starting their lives. Land grabbing and
environmental destruction, including the stripping of our forests,
continue.
A responsible leader would seek to marshal all of
the country's political resources to try to solve these problems.
Instead, Hun Sen seeks to distract attention from them. Mud-slinging
takes the place of a proper, fair debate about the best way forward for
Cambodia.
SAM RAINSY
CNRP President
សម រង្ស៊ី / Sam Rainsy
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