This week, the United
States marked the 237th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. When America’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration
of Independence on July 4, 1776, they asserted that everyone has
“certain unalienable rights” that include “life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.” Each year on the “Fourth of July,” Americans
take time to celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to these fundamental
principles.
The central tenant of the Declaration of Independence
– that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights –
was a watershed moment in world history. Not only did it establish the
United States as the first modern democratic republic, it inspired
generations of people the world over to demand and achieve respect for
fundamental human rights. Our commitment to this ideal is what compels
the United States to support Cambodia in its own pursuit of freedom and
democracy.
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “A
great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great
democracy.” As U.S. history shows, democracy and human rights require
much effort from its citizens and leaders. The story of the United
States is the story of a nation that has made strides in each generation
to improve upon the past and to put aside the intolerance and
inequality of earlier times. Americans fought a brutal civil war to end
slavery, and over the decades, Americans from coast to coast have
joined in campaigns to recognize the rights of women, indigenous
peoples, racial minorities, gays and lesbians, children, people with
disabilities, immigrants, and workers, among many others. In the United
States, guarantees of the right to free expression and freedom of the
press, although always fundamental to the American political system,
were strengthened through the years. Cambodia faces similar decisions
about strengthening its democracy and the freedoms of its citizens.
As
Cambodians head to the polls in late July, the Royal Government has a
chance to promote democracy, ensure freedom, and inspire confidence on
the world stage like never before. While no democracy is perfect,
getting more people involved in the electoral process – through
campaigning, asking questions of the candidates, and ultimately voting –
is the best way to build up democracy. I encourage all Cambodians to
get out and vote. The will of the people can only be heard if all
citizens perform their civic duty.
A key element for ensuring
that voters can make informed decisions is by having access to accurate
and relevant information through a free press that fosters debate and
provides a forum for people to express different points of view. For
this reason, the United States welcomed the Royal Government’s decision
to rescind its ban on Khmer-language programming from outside the
country during the election campaign period. This decision means that
Cambodians will continue to have access to high-quality, independent
news from sources such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. I
sincerely hope that the Royal Government will also seriously consider
requests by civil society and news broadcasters to rescind the media
bans currently planned on election day and the five preceding days.
Cambodia
has made substantial political and economic progress over the last two
decades – something its people should be proud of. Yet there is so much
more that can be achieved in the future if we work together. Part of
my efforts to assist Cambodia reach its full potential is to foster
dialogue and engage civil society, the youth, the Royal Government, and
the private sector in a common effort to help Cambodia continue to
prosper. Through this weekly newspaper column and my blog, I have
enjoyed discussing issues and questions on the minds of ordinary
Cambodians. My Youth Council has provided me and my Embassy team a
solid sense of what Cambodia’s youth are thinking about the future
direction of the country. I also continue to have a very constructive
dialogue with leading members of Cambodia’s civil society through my NGO
Advisory Council. I take these opportunities to listen to Cambodians
very seriously, and I am very encouraged by the hopes and high
expectations that I see and hear each and every day.
I strongly
believe that the continued growth of democracy and respect for human
rights and the rule of law in Cambodia will lead to greater freedom,
prosperity, and security – as it has in the United States over the past
237 years. The United States intends to stand by the people of Cambodia
and support their aspirations for a strengthened democratic framework
that provides protections for individual freedoms, economic opportunity,
and dignity for all. Given our two countries’ long friendship and
desire to make our bilateral relationship more effective, I look forward
to working closely with Cambodia – both its government and its people –
to achieve our common goals. Liberty and democracy require nothing
less.
Please feel free to reach out to me at
AskAMBToddPP@state.gov and tell me what you think about this week’s
column. I look forward to hearing from you.
William E. Todd is United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
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