Search Results

Search Term: working hard working smart

Number of Results: 12


CNRP must adopt working smart and working hard together

Chea Sim who is the President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Chair of Senate, passed away in 8 June 2015 caused by aged illness and natural depreciation.

Chea Sim Passed Away

Courtesy: Sakou Samouth

His passing away has intrigued hot debates among Cambodian youths, observers, and political commentators. There are accuracy, loopholes, and inaccuracy among those debates.

Some have viewed this passing away as a new phenomena of political landscapes in Cambodia while internal structure of CPP would be more polarized than unified. As Hun Sen said in April 29 this year about his ascending to presidency of the party whenever Chea Sim passed away surprised many supporters because as the president of the party cannot be prime minister (or could not be both) in complying to the internal rule of the party. Hun Sen’s power consolidation shall actually trigger two outcomes: making CPP more divided, or more solidified?

Hun Sen’s political maneuver

Chea Sim

Courtesy: Facebook

At the helm of political regression of Hun Sen popularity among the Cambodian people and the young voters, and the uncertainty of his power consolidation inside the party, Hun Sen is in need to having Sam Rainsy of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to balancing and stabilizing his new maneuver, or at least to neutralize his unseen opponents from inside the party.

At this point, Sam Rainsy should be able to grab all opportunities in hand such as strengthening the duties and prowess of the CNRP, a loyal and official opposition party. Among those upgrading, CNRP must step beyond the ability of “uphill struggling” opposition by transforming itself to “new vibrant alternative political party” towards government leadership.

To achieve this, the titling of Minority Leader of Sam Rainsy must not be just symbolic or shallow title paralleling to Prime Minister position without having privileges and responsibilities at all.

Moving up from Uphill Struggling Party into Alternative Government Party

Sun Ray Policy Platform Pace I drawn by Sophoan Seng

Sun Ray Policy Platform drawn by Sophoan Seng

CNRP should adopt a policy of “working smart” and “working hard” combining together. Let put aside of “working hard” and “just nationalistic” rhetoric alone by transforming itself into a real political party to driving social changes as well as to embracing the Government Leadership for this 2018 election mandate.

Working hard is an “activism policy” but working smart is “government leadership policy”. Both are very important but to undertake the preparedness for this government leadership in 2018 is a must. In order to achieve that, CNRP should consider following scenarios:

  • Adopting political opposition and their status like those in the UK, Australia and Canada. In Canada, an opposition and Minority Leaders have reserved full privileges and responsibilities such as he/she is the leader of a shadow government, the opposition leader could host international delegates at the same level of the Prime Minister, there is a free mansion for opposition leader and their family to reside in, there are members of his cabinets for his office, and there are funds to conduct researches regarding national issues opposition could mobilize evidences and capitalize critical knowledge to criticize the government effectively.
  • Adopting the “Sun Ray Policy Platform” in different paces and expectations. For instance, pace I is dealing with upgrading opposition status, pace II is dealing with expertise within the opposition members ring or shadow government, pace III is dealing with policy to lead the government during the upcoming elections: commune in 2017, and national election in 2018 etc.

(Article and copyright by Sophoan Seng)

Dedicating 27 articles today before Phnom Penh Post is absorbed away from its professionalism

 Op-Ed: The Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh Post Articles

Freedom and the challenges of teen pregnancy in Canada

Email from Canada,

FREEDOM is the lifeblood of human enterprise.  Free-market countries have higher standards of living, social development and productivity levels.  Some, though, contend that freedom is a double-edged sword.

Greater independence from parents and guardians can lead to the creation of a more open, more progressive society in which young people are free to engage their talents and amass practical knowledge.

But some say too much freedom can lead to undisciplined and incompetent adolescents.

In Canada, adolescents enjoy a wide array of freedoms, sexual, romantic and otherwise.  But high teen pregnancy and divorce rates have some policymakers worried.

Still, statistics show that national teen pregnancy rates have been declining.  A study from 1996 to 2006 showed a drop of 37 per cent, compared with a 25 per cent decline in the neighbouring US.

This doesn’t necessarily mean  teenagers are less sexually active.  In fact, a study found about 50      per cent of teens aged 16 and 17 engage in sexual activity.

These findings confirm what has become only too visible in daily life: teens holding hands, hugging, kissing and generally revelling in young love, all in public.

The teen-pregnancy study includes statistics on births, abortions and miscarriages.  The Canadian government views all three outcomes as having a negative impact on society.

If newborns survive the delivery process, teens are often unprepared to act as parents.  And miscarriages and abortions can result in various diseases and complications that can stall the mother’s education and development.

Teen pregnancy affects individuals, families and entire communities, placing a social and economic burden on the whole of society.

According to the study, the welcome decline in teen pregnancy can be attributed to an increase in awareness about sexual health and protection among teenage girls, as well as increasingly easy access to clinics and family planning counsellors.  Young women are using their freedom to make safer decis-ions, entering the adult world of sex and romance armed with more information and more confidence.

The story may be different in Cambodia.  Canada is fairly open to adolescent sexual activity and independent decision-making, but the issue is rarely talked about in Cambodia, where cultural conservatism and embedded tradition keep teenage sexuality under wraps.

For this reason, teen pregnancy rates are higher and show little sign of declining.  Until the Kingdom begins some sort of dialogue on teenage sexuality, young women in Cambodia will continue to have their education interrupted and their freedom curtailed.

About Sophoan Seng
I am the single son of a farming family from Siem Reap. I spent more than 10 years as a Buddhist monk. I graduated with a master’s degree in political science from the University of Hawaii and am a PhD candidate at the same university.

My interests are social-capital research, the empowerment of young people for social change, and grassroots participation to developing democracy. I am a freelance and president of the Khmer Youth Association of Alberta. I can be reached at sophan@hawaii.edu

******

Rich Oil-Sands of Alberta, Canada

Emails from Canada: Sophoan Seng

Alberta is well known as a leading exporter of natural resources like timber and oil in Canada. Large foreign companies from the US have invested billions of dollars extracting oil and gas in this territory to make up for the shortage of oil for energy in their country. Oil deposits which are called “oil sands” are very distinctive from what is found in those oil rich countries such as Iran or Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, and the monitoring and regulations of this lucrative industry has never been neglected.

The official website of the Alberta government describes Alberta’s oil sands as the backbone of the Canadian and the global economy, adding it is a great buried energy treasure which has continuously supplied stable and reliable energy to the world. Oil sands are a naturally composed mixture of sand, clay or other minerals, including water and bitumen, which is a heavy and extremely thick, sticky oil that must be treated before it can be processed by refineries to produce usable fuels such as regular gasoline and diesel. Oil sands can be found in many locations around the globe, but the Athabasca deposit in Alberta is the largest and most developed and it has utilised the most advanced technology to produce oil.

Canada’s Facts and Statistics Department has ranked Alberta’s oil sands second after Saudi Arabia in terms of proven global crude oil reserves. In 2009, the total proven oil reserves were 171.3 billion barrels, or about 13 percent of the total global oil reserves, which is about 1,354 billion barrels. The net income in the fiscal year of 2009 for the Alberta government was more than US$3 billion in royalties from oil sands projects, which was lower than 2008 at $20.7 billion. But they project it to skyrocket and revenue to hit $15 billion in the next few years. Ultimately, about 99 percent of Alberta’s oil comes from oil sands.

Responsible corporations and the government’s clear goal and commitment have transformed Alberta oil sands into a blessing, not a curse. All approvals, licences, dispositions, permits and registrations relating to oil sands are required by Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development bodies. This enables the comprehensive task of handling oil sands investments.

However, in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, University of Alberta scientist David Schindler told the public that the high levels of toxic pollutants in the Athabasca River were caused by oil sand mining. Schindler and his team of researchers found that oil sands development projects were contaminating the Athabasca River watershed area. The scientists found that seven “significant pollutants” were at levels that exceeded government guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. This new finding contradicted the government’s previous argument, which had always claimed that the naturally occurring bitumen had low levels of pollution.

After publishing in 2009 the first peer-reviewed paper from Schindler and his team, an ongoing political debate started, the story grabbed the public’s attention and a group of experts was given the job of finding the best solution for this rich oil sands industry. From public and private debates to ones in parliament and political institutions, a solution must be found to ensure the sustainable development of this non-renewable natural resource.

*******

Jobs and Employment in Canada

Letters from abroad

There is a popular saying that “to live is to work”, and while life is not all about work, the saying seems to hold true in Canada, Cambodia and around the world. Most people cannot live without a job, but the approach from the governments in various countries to the problem of unemployment differs greatly. It might be interesting for you to hear about the ways in which Canada’s government and private sector have intervened in order to help more citizens get jobs and keep the ones they have.

First, there is a growing number of job search agencies who help both new and experienced workers find jobs suitable to their educational background and experiences. Enrolled students learn about networking strategies, curriculum vitae, cover letters and interviewing skills. These agencies also partner with private groups and the government to launch job fairs, which exist in Cambodia on a smaller scale, in order to bring together employers and employees. In fact, I was employed as a result of my participation in a job fair.

Second, the government helps unemployed citizens by providing them with short-term support through both skills training and living expenses. Many unemployed workers are directly subsidized to allow them to maintain a level of strength and professionalism while they search for a new job. The money that funds this program, called the Employment Insurance (EI) program, was deducted from workers’ salary if they worked before.

Read More …

Dedicating 27 articles today before Phnom Penh Post is absorbed away from its professionalism

 Op-Ed: The Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh Post Articles

Freedom and the challenges of teen pregnancy in Canada

Email from Canada,

FREEDOM is the lifeblood of human enterprise.  Free-market countries have higher standards of living, social development and productivity levels.  Some, though, contend that freedom is a double-edged sword.

Greater independence from parents and guardians can lead to the creation of a more open, more progressive society in which young people are free to engage their talents and amass practical knowledge.

But some say too much freedom can lead to undisciplined and incompetent adolescents.

In Canada, adolescents enjoy a wide array of freedoms, sexual, romantic and otherwise.  But high teen pregnancy and divorce rates have some policymakers worried.

Still, statistics show that national teen pregnancy rates have been declining.  A study from 1996 to 2006 showed a drop of 37 per cent, compared with a 25 per cent decline in the neighbouring US.

This doesn’t necessarily mean  teenagers are less sexually active.  In fact, a study found about 50      per cent of teens aged 16 and 17 engage in sexual activity.

These findings confirm what has become only too visible in daily life: teens holding hands, hugging, kissing and generally revelling in young love, all in public.

The teen-pregnancy study includes statistics on births, abortions and miscarriages.  The Canadian government views all three outcomes as having a negative impact on society.

If newborns survive the delivery process, teens are often unprepared to act as parents.  And miscarriages and abortions can result in various diseases and complications that can stall the mother’s education and development.

Teen pregnancy affects individuals, families and entire communities, placing a social and economic burden on the whole of society.

According to the study, the welcome decline in teen pregnancy can be attributed to an increase in awareness about sexual health and protection among teenage girls, as well as increasingly easy access to clinics and family planning counsellors.  Young women are using their freedom to make safer decis-ions, entering the adult world of sex and romance armed with more information and more confidence.

The story may be different in Cambodia.  Canada is fairly open to adolescent sexual activity and independent decision-making, but the issue is rarely talked about in Cambodia, where cultural conservatism and embedded tradition keep teenage sexuality under wraps.

For this reason, teen pregnancy rates are higher and show little sign of declining.  Until the Kingdom begins some sort of dialogue on teenage sexuality, young women in Cambodia will continue to have their education interrupted and their freedom curtailed.

About Sophoan Seng
I am the single son of a farming family from Siem Reap. I spent more than 10 years as a Buddhist monk. I graduated with a master’s degree in political science from the University of Hawaii and am a PhD candidate at the same university.

My interests are social-capital research, the empowerment of young people for social change, and grassroots participation to developing democracy. I am a freelance and president of the Khmer Youth Association of Alberta. I can be reached at sophan@hawaii.edu

******

Rich Oil-Sands of Alberta, Canada

Emails from Canada: Sophoan Seng

Alberta is well known as a leading exporter of natural resources like timber and oil in Canada. Large foreign companies from the US have invested billions of dollars extracting oil and gas in this territory to make up for the shortage of oil for energy in their country. Oil deposits which are called “oil sands” are very distinctive from what is found in those oil rich countries such as Iran or Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, and the monitoring and regulations of this lucrative industry has never been neglected.

The official website of the Alberta government describes Alberta’s oil sands as the backbone of the Canadian and the global economy, adding it is a great buried energy treasure which has continuously supplied stable and reliable energy to the world. Oil sands are a naturally composed mixture of sand, clay or other minerals, including water and bitumen, which is a heavy and extremely thick, sticky oil that must be treated before it can be processed by refineries to produce usable fuels such as regular gasoline and diesel. Oil sands can be found in many locations around the globe, but the Athabasca deposit in Alberta is the largest and most developed and it has utilised the most advanced technology to produce oil.

Canada’s Facts and Statistics Department has ranked Alberta’s oil sands second after Saudi Arabia in terms of proven global crude oil reserves. In 2009, the total proven oil reserves were 171.3 billion barrels, or about 13 percent of the total global oil reserves, which is about 1,354 billion barrels. The net income in the fiscal year of 2009 for the Alberta government was more than US$3 billion in royalties from oil sands projects, which was lower than 2008 at $20.7 billion. But they project it to skyrocket and revenue to hit $15 billion in the next few years. Ultimately, about 99 percent of Alberta’s oil comes from oil sands.

Responsible corporations and the government’s clear goal and commitment have transformed Alberta oil sands into a blessing, not a curse. All approvals, licences, dispositions, permits and registrations relating to oil sands are required by Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development bodies. This enables the comprehensive task of handling oil sands investments.

However, in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, University of Alberta scientist David Schindler told the public that the high levels of toxic pollutants in the Athabasca River were caused by oil sand mining. Schindler and his team of researchers found that oil sands development projects were contaminating the Athabasca River watershed area. The scientists found that seven “significant pollutants” were at levels that exceeded government guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. This new finding contradicted the government’s previous argument, which had always claimed that the naturally occurring bitumen had low levels of pollution.

After publishing in 2009 the first peer-reviewed paper from Schindler and his team, an ongoing political debate started, the story grabbed the public’s attention and a group of experts was given the job of finding the best solution for this rich oil sands industry. From public and private debates to ones in parliament and political institutions, a solution must be found to ensure the sustainable development of this non-renewable natural resource.

*******

Jobs and Employment in Canada

Letters from abroad

There is a popular saying that “to live is to work”, and while life is not all about work, the saying seems to hold true in Canada, Cambodia and around the world. Most people cannot live without a job, but the approach from the governments in various countries to the problem of unemployment differs greatly. It might be interesting for you to hear about the ways in which Canada’s government and private sector have intervened in order to help more citizens get jobs and keep the ones they have.

First, there is a growing number of job search agencies who help both new and experienced workers find jobs suitable to their educational background and experiences. Enrolled students learn about networking strategies, curriculum vitae, cover letters and interviewing skills. These agencies also partner with private groups and the government to launch job fairs, which exist in Cambodia on a smaller scale, in order to bring together employers and employees. In fact, I was employed as a result of my participation in a job fair.

Second, the government helps unemployed citizens by providing them with short-term support through both skills training and living expenses. Many unemployed workers are directly subsidized to allow them to maintain a level of strength and professionalism while they search for a new job. The money that funds this program, called the Employment Insurance (EI) program, was deducted from workers’ salary if they worked before.

Read More …

CNRP CNRM or Others in a Concerted Effort to Bring Back Normality to Cambodia

Weekly Analysis:

But pragmatists have advised that you couldn’t expect the jailed President to revoke your democratic CNRP back to live. The jailed President has no freedom to exercise his free will as well as to undertake a routine leadership to oversee his over 3 million members organization effectively. It has no proof that a jailed person could be an effective leader for any active large political organization. There must be a big misunderstanding in this matter, and the sympathizers have likely played into Hun Sen’s trap. 

118 banned politiciansWhat would I begin with for the current political affairs of Cambodia? At all times, it is a challenging moment for major scholars to analyse the Cambodia political situation in a structural manner. Cambodia politics, during these decades, has been unpredictable, uncertain and risky. Hun Sen has become a pivotal actor to all these unpredictable occurrences and he has boldly coped all those occurrences. In July 1997, the bloody coup detat was exploded within his controllable magnitude, but the anchoring force at the border by his opponent led by Nhek Bun Chay was believed to pressure him to return back to conduct a participatory election. Thus, this happened only after he was sure to ably cope the election outcome. This end of 2017, the preparedness for Senate election in February 25, 2018 and the national election in July 29, 2018, Hun Sen has been pragmatic on his predictable election outcome as if he allowed the existing rule of the game (existing NEC and CNRP), he would loss the power. Hun Sen has learnt to be a King in all circumstances (from his own speech and it is true from our own observation through his lifetime of politician career; this is different from other leaders who have stepped down when time is suitable for them to step down for the sake of collective/national interest although they still see chance to win over the game). This time, Hun Sen has made a decisive moving-ahead by jailing Kem Sokha (president of the CNRP), dissolving the CNRP, taking away all seats of both 55 law-makers and 5007 commune/quarter counsellors elected by the people, and banning all 118 high ranking officers of the CNRP not to participate in Cambodia politics for 5 years. This political manoeuvring has noted as a cold blood coup to renew his power. Hun Sen has been the longest premier serving in post by a facade democratic election, and he has boasted to stay tenure for another ten years.

There are speculations that Hun Sen will turn Cambodia into North Korea model  in the next five years under modern stage of the international stresses. He will not oblige to follow democratic model well-known among Western states, or he will imitate governance model of China or Vietnam. He will practice facade-democracy through a disenfranchised and controllable election mechanism to ensure his tangible political projection.

Pragmatically, the strongest Hun Sen doesn’t exactly reflect its reality, the strongest Hun Sen is because the weakness of his rivalry (opposition). As said, during118 banned politicians waking up the largest crowd of rally against election rigs in 2013 by the CNRP, the negotiation with Hun Sen seems achieved trivial things such as the new creation of NEC structure and the TV Channel, while the key components for power-based sustainability such as the reform or change of judiciary system/institution as well as the neutral arm-force, neutral policemen, and neutral public servants etc. were not prevailed. After agreeing to resume the national assembly and endorse Hun Sen as Premier in his fifth mandate, there were notably conflict in leadership skills within the CNRP as  the top leader attempted “culture of dialogue” but individual law-maker attempted border scheme campaign against the vision of dialogue, or between President and Vice President, they both was likely not in the same page in directing their grand plan and their men. There were vacuum allowing external force to slow down or to obstruct the party’s works. There were encouragement for CNRP to work hard and to work smart indispensably after entering the Assembly. Actually, there were opportunities to change from within by working at the Assembly of those 55 law-makers, but their activities were active at the grassroots level more than in the top level of government. The chronic obstacles of democracy such as the court, the non-neutral national police institution, the systemic corruption, the unequal economic growth, the ineffective public servants, and the non-neutral army etc. were not actively engaged by or at least the CNRP’s working group did actively engage in policy changes of those shortcoming entities to survive itself or to assimilate them with their value for their long term “survival of the fittest” political arena.

This is perhaps one of the reasons in emerging Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM) to replace some of the dysfunctional ability of this party. In practice, there are active unity and passive unity, active bonding and passive bonding, active splitting and passive splitting. This time, CNRP has been entrapped into a Khmer-pot (ក្អម), so if you don’t split your force (បំបែកំឡាំង) from such Khmer-pot, you will die effortlessly. Therefore, all splitting forces must come with pragmatic and concrete action-plans, vision, mission statement, and predictable outcomes etc.

Read More …

When incumbent government changed which level of positions shall be changed?

Image Credit: Ari V/ Shutterstock.com

Image Credit: Ari V/ Shutterstock.com

Political history of Cambodia has illustrated less scene on how changing from government to government affects on incumbent government’s level of public servants? Major scenes are regime change which changed the whole system. But during the UN’s monitored election in 1993, the change of government was become impossible as two prime ministers and other two assigned duties to each political apparatus smoothly coordinated. During that time, some leaders said the change were down to principles and superintendents of public schools. This practice has surely affected on society unity and corruption embeddedness. Now, there are questions on how CNRP plan to change level of government’s positions when this party won election in 2018?

Believe it or not, Cambodia home-made democracy is a Raem Vong (round dance) approach. We have difficulty in jumping off from god-king politics to modern democracy politics. And the constraints are level of education and embedded behaviour of self-centric leadership. 25 years since the election in 1993, the political apparatus has not only visible from under-secretaries to upper echelon, the government-led party has likely viewed all public servants including teachers and arm-forces personnel are belonged to the party. Rationales behind this are following political abstracts: 1-party has survived them from atrocity, 2-party has fed them food and other amenity, 3-party has brought peace and security to them etc. Or sometime, the top leader boasted publicly about his rationales of his monopolistic suzerainty through what he has built roads, schools, and many other public goods especially his effort to maintain peace and security and capitalism etc.
Speaking from a pragmatism approach, CNRP which is inherited from decades of struggle has also been assimilated by this political behaviour, or caused by so-called Cambodia home-made democracy as sociologists may call it collective cognitive political behaviour.
Hence, CNRP has relied on pragmatism than idealism, or we can say maintaining outputs than throwing Sam Rainsy Returnout inputs because they don’t have much inputs to be thrown. We must agree that through this 25 years, human resource has hugely built within the government (government here refers to pragmatic collective body being inclusive of public servants, civil society member activists, and members of opposition political parties etc.) By looking from outside political behaviour, CNRP might at least take model of British Westminster System to its leadership core as this style is not only practised in those commonwealth states but also most democratic states. By looking at their key policy stating that CNRP stands on national reconciliation and unity by eradicating colouring each other, discrimination and patronage system through ameliorating following 6 core principles as you can read them all here , so I do believe CNRP must be working hard and working smart combining together.

CNRP’s Action Plan and Political Platform

VOA Interviewing of MP Son Chhay and Expected New CNRP Policy Undertaking

sonchhayFirst of all, I would like to congratulate MP Son Chhay who are selected to monitor this task. MP Son Chhay is known for his work seniority, parliamentary knowledge, integrity, and political moderation.

According to this interview, the task of transformation CNRP from long-serving opposition party towards new vibrant alternative government-led party is pragmatic and effort-needed collective work. There are pragmatism, challenges, and solutions lying ahead of this effort.

Pragmatism
My previous recommendations on increasing anticipation on “culture of dialogue“, Sun Ray Policy, and building realistic platform for minority leader in the assembly, all are foreseeably achievable and effective after the political settlement incurred by confrontational political detente. The agreement to conduct in-dept reform of the National Election Committee, although it is not in a perfect shape, but at least new voters registration and the sharing power of 4 candidates from opposition party could solve this short-term fallacy of the NEC. The preparedness to play in field of those CNRP’s 55 law-makers were not in consistency. A new marriaged couple needs time to adapt. The brides and grooms were coming from different backgrounds as some are smoothly accustoming to the actual ground but some are brand-new to this new space. The later are likely perceived as hardliner activists which are visibly contradictory to dialogue and teamwork cooperation. Thus, all these differences have not constrainted CNRP from moving ahead and devolving its advancement. Opposition gained 55 seats or 26 seats increase in 2013 national election to become highest performance opposition party to sustain such outstanding incremental numbers with popular votes of nearly 3 millions or run shorter than the winner CPP around only 300,000 votes. The major voters are from urban and middle (income) classes of Cambodian population. This visible voter-location figure is significant for CNRP’s leadership to adjust its strategy from activism to pragmatism by using KPI (Key Performance Index) to analyse its law-makers and higher status members inside the party to insure highest expectation of work performance, to adjust public speech and political delivering focusing on more meaning on policy than personality or policy-oriented approach equipped by data-based analysis, and to undertake a policy of inclusiveness by including voters of Cambodians overseas and those current competent or technical individuals within the government when CNRP ascended to government-power leadership. The adopting of diversifying internal competent key leaders to prepare for different work accountability through shadowship cabinet arrangement is pragmatic. The building-up realistic and actual platform for minority leader of the assembly is a must to complying with the amended law of the Cambodia Constitution. Minority leader must not just be inscribed by the law, but he/she must be entitled to privileges and financial aids by the government.

Challenges
Recalling the shadow cabinet arrangement in accordance to democracy practices, MP Chheam Chany once was accused by PM Hun Sen because of his new title created among opposition party members to advance the critics on armed forces section of Cambodia. It was Hun Sen alone among leaders in this world who adopted democracy without allowing opposition to conduct its effective critics tasking and effective-embodied force to ensure maximum benefits for the nation. After 2013 election, the situation changed, as law adopted CNRP to be official opposition party and King nominated its president as minority leader for the parliament so it will depend on the opposition to utilize this provision at the fullest. Amid current crisis on judicial system perpetrated on broad-day light by the ACU, it has advocated more sympathies from the Cambodian people to look at the opposition party CNRP on its adherence to professionalism and high standard performance. It poses tremendous challenges for the party to roll on especially to build up effective think tank of criticism.

Solutions
Amid current excessive forces of attack, the preemptive bid opposition should carry out is “avihimsa or patience and non-cooperative” by strengthening its internal forces and co-opt new criticism approaches. Buddha said patience is supreme virtue of the wise; patience brings clear wisdom and road-map. Whenever, the contender tried to bring us to their arranged game, we should not cooperate with such dirty arranged game. And the most important one is to increase criticism through new tools of delivery. The function of opposition party is to critics the government-led party. Whenever, the works of criticism are disappeared, the opposition title shall be disappeared as well. But new criticism approaches must be adopted and enhanced. Scholars addressed effective criticism as positive, specific, objective, and constructive. Grouping expertise among those 55 law-makers through shadow government platform to solely work on their own specialization shall bring specific and objective inputs leading to positive and constructive changes. Those expertise must have platform such as blog, media or publication to publicize their works as well as for a monitor to easily follow up. Few minutes speech during parliamentary plenary session must come along with produced paper work that public media and voters are able to anticipate it without going through middle men or third persons. Public rhetorics should be objective, not subjective or specifying the issues (as really shortage), the affiliated body to such issue (accountable body), and recommendation (achievable solution framework). No excitement, anger voice, personal attacking, explicit vile (sometime level of tone), and be directive towards actual accountable body etc. are few tools to perform an effective criticism. For instance, ACU should be criticized for its abusing of power and mandate because this body should punish those corrupt high ranking officers who have been endorsed by the King under the provision of the Constitution, not a civilian, ordinary citizen, or members of civil society. ACU’s actions towards civil society members has surely complicated higher court of Cambodia and Ministry of Justice who have been abode by some levels of due process and public servant ethics.

Remember that sometime to criticize the government is too subjective but to criticize those small sections of the government who are abusing power is very objective.

CAMBODIA: Some thoughts for 2014 by Dr. Peang-met

FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-002-2014
January 15, 2014

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: Some thoughts for 2014

Confucius (551-479BC): “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”

Albert Einstein (1879-1955): “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Leaders of both the Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party each assert a longing for peaceful negotiations to end the political impasse that has endured since the July 28, 2013 national elections that gave victory to Premier Hun Sen, a victory the CNRP has rejected on grounds of election irregularities and fraud. Resolute and unyielding, CPP and CNRP leaders are unlikely to come to terms.

Both parties are powerful. The CPP has a stranglehold over the armed forces, and controls state institutions. The CNRP has shown it has “people power” on its side.

On Jan 2 and Jan 3, Hun Sen unleashed the infamous Special Command Unit 911 (an Indonesian-trained parachute Brigade) to crush protests at the Korean-owned Yakjin garment factory, and at Canadia Industrial Park. Troops shot and killed 5 striking garment workers, wounded 35 others, detained a few dozen in unknown locations without access to families and lawyers. NGOs fear detainees may be subject to torture and starvation.

Read More …

CAMBODIA: Understanding nation building

FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-025-2013
July 2, 2013

They may look simple, but each stage requires considerable knowledge and understanding, and all five stages are interrelated and provide a formidable vision of nation-building.

1. Identity:
 People must think of themselves first and foremost as citizens of the nation; original identification with a tribe, region, or subnational group must cease.

2. Legitimacy:
 A government becomes legitimate and its rule becomes rightful when its citizens respect it, obey its laws and commands, and keep it in power.

3. Penetration:
 A government must reach out to all people everywhere on the land and
get them to follow and obey its laws and commands.

4.
 Participation: People need to participate, or have a say, in the affairs of the state and in
their government.

5. Distribution: 
Who gets what, when, how.
An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission
CAMBODIA: Understanding nation building
I owe this article to a number of Cambodian participants at the May 18 Cambodian Leadership Conference (CLC) in Tacoma, Washington, where I gave a keynote address on Building Leadership for Young Khmers, and two lecture-discussion sessions on political socialization and political culture. After the day-long conference, participants raised the subject of nation-building to discuss with me this topic, which they saw as a natural follow up to the day’s activities.
I was enthused about their interest, but felt somewhat hard-pressed to engage a topic to which, as a professor, I would allot no less than a semester of classes and discussions. I told them a few things about nation-building and state-building, subjects that piqued their interest. When one participant pushed for my return to Tacoma for further conversation, the leader of the Cambodian Women Networking Association, sponsor of the CLC, said decisively the CWNA would shoulder the project.
Read More …

CAMBODIA: Building leadership for young Khmers

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: Building leadership for young Khmers
This article combines my keynote address and two lectures on political socialization and culture at the Cambodian Leadership Conference on May 18 in Tacoma, Washington, on the theme of Building Leadership for our Young Generation, organized by Khmer women’s organizations in Washington State, spearheaded by the Cambodian Women Networking Association’s Ms. Sinuon Hem.
I valued this time to share my thoughts on building leadership, korsang reu bangkoeurn chomness nae noam, in the company of a diverse audience of Cambodians and others, including the State lieutenant governor, the mayor of Tacoma, and distinguished legislators and officials from state and local government. The discussion was lively and thought-provoking.
Building leadership is a daunting task in a society muffled by hundreds of years of traditions and social norms derived in part from having lived entirely under authoritarian, even dictatorial, governments. In such an environment, building a leadership corps that will not fall into old patterns requires changes in values, kun’sambat, attitudes, ek’riyabot, and culture,voabthor. These are daunting changes many today acknowledge as necessary. But stepping outside a series of long-held traditions and patterns of behavior is not easy. Many talk about change, but few walk the talk.

A general framework

Political scientists, such as I, describe a framework of perceptions (kar yul kar deung), influenced by opinions (yobol), interests (phol proyaowch), values (kun’smabt), and beliefs(chumneur), which mold our attitudes (ek’riyabot). These attitudes lead to a tendency toward action (sak’kampheab), or to passivity (ak’kampheab). As those factors predominate in a population, a culture emerges.
Read More …

Obama is re-elected to possibly re-shape Cambodia

Several mountains and rivers that American Election Campaign moved on its trail that I have no enough time to follow all those trails for personal learning, today around 11pm of Mountain Time, in front of live CNN channel, I am very impressed by the speech from the re-elected president, Barack Obama.

Many words and phrases of his speech caught heart all listeners and I can assure that as a winner, his speech tends to appreciate all hard working regardless of winner or loser, and over all his recall and recall for a great unity of the United States of America. He is an amazing public speaker, inspirational and authentic politician.

Obama said that “not what got be done for us, but what got be done by us…” amazed my mind vigorously.

From this phrase, I wish to ask all Cambodian compatriots that “We do not ask what Cambodia nation got be done for us, we must ask what Cambodia nation got be done by us…”

President Obama’s Full Acceptance Speech

 

Transliteration By ABC NEWS

November 7, 2012

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny to perfect our union moves forward. (Applause) It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that triumphs over war an depression. The spirit that has lifted the spirit from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope. The belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams we are an American family and we will rise and fall as one nation, and as one people. (Applause)

Read More …

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-004-2012
January 17, 2012

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: Toppling cambodian dictators is not impossible if we think smart and act smart

My grandson, 12, a seventh grader, read “The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror” (2004), a bestseller by a former Soviet prisoner, Natan Sharansky. He passed the book to me, saying I might be interested in reading it.

I had read about Sharansky, 9 years a prisoner in the Soviet gulag; I hadn’t read his book. I immediately opened the book to pages my grandson had bookmarked: Sharansky’s distinction between “free societies” and “fear societies”; Sharansky’s description of believers, dissenters and the millions of “double thinkers” who don’t speak their thoughts because of fear of arrest, imprisonment and physical harm so they speak with their “eyes” but go through the motion of supporting rulers who are interested only in remaining forever in power.

Sharansky contends that elections are not enough to dub a society free – a free press, an independent judiciary, the rule of law must exist before genuine free elections are held. He became controversial as he blasted conservatives for placing “stability” above human rights in international relations, and liberals for failing to distinguish between struggling democracies and authoritarian regimes that overtly trample human rights. Sharansky advocates the universality of freedom and human rights.

As I browsed through the book, a Khmer saying came to my mind: “Tumpaeng snorng russey,” referring to young bamboo shoots that grow to replace aging bamboo trees – the future is in the making.

Read More …

Urban planning and the controversial development of Boeung Kok Lake

Note: Below is partly re-posting a discussion on Facebook between Sophan and Kevin Sok under the topic posted by MP Mu Sochua about a video clip illustrating Venerable Loun Sovath and his human rights defending. You can read the whole conversation on this link (click here). The English writing re-posting here is not edited. We hope by posting here we can keep the critical points of the conversation useful for the readers while facebook might not keep this conversation as their priority.

Sophoan Seng

Dear All. I am intrigued by your very constructive argument. Regarding Ven. Loun Sovath, I think his eyes-witnessing of land grab and gun shot of the authority to his siblings, relatives and neighbors was greatly affective on his Buddhist monk mentality: learning/practicing by yourself, sharing/teaching your close relatives, and expanding this compassion/knowledge sharing to the greater society. His civil rights and social engagement will not be alienated and deprived. Regarding Cham Vasa or Rain Retreat of Buddhist monks are minor to the offense in Buddha’s code of conduct. It is Pacittiya offense or minor offense in Buddhism. Otherwise, his outreaching to communities during this Vasa stemmed from the subsequent orders from Buddhist supreme patriarch Tep Vong and Non Ngeth banning him from staying in Phnom Penh, and yes the provincial monk also banned him in his village too. I really want to know those orders are basing on the monk conscience or it is just the obeying in accordance to the government’s signal? It is controversial on your argument that Buddhist monk like Ven. Loun Sovath should not join political activity (as I think he is not) but the other monks especially the supreme patriarch are obeying the government’s order. Do you know Somdech Tep Vong was consecrated by Hun Sen (televised nationwide that Hun Sen watered on the head of Somdech Tep Vong). Regards

October 4 at 12:21pm

Kevin Sok

MP Mu Sochua, thanks for your challenge me to tell what I have said to residents of Boeun Kak lake and else where. I doubt you are aware the real history of Boeun Kak Lake after Pol Pot regime because you have lived happy life in USA while myself have lived just 200 metres from Boeun Kak lake. However, if you know the whole story, you won’t dare to spell it out because telling the truth you won’t get a political gain. From 1979-1985 there were small group of people live behind the French Embassy, staffs of the Save children Centre who have lived behind that centre and some people lived in the south part of the lake, 90% of Boeun Kak land was the empty place with had very long grass which was hard to walk through. In 1986, the city governor has turned that empty place from behind Calmette Hospital up to behind the Save children centre into a national park where most people came to visit, play games and see some animals like monkey and crocodiles…etc and the Muslim mosque was a restaurant. But surprisingly, before UNTAC arrived in 1992, Boeun Kak national park became thousand houses of the residents. During that time, I told my friends and my neighbours who rushed to catch the land of Boeun Kak national park to be careful because we all know that it is belong to the government, but they replied that I was not smart to do business like them (sic) If my family was greed like most people in Boeun Kak Lake, my parent no need to do like them, just took the land around 3 hectares behind the medical school was the next door of the Save Children centre because from 1984-1989, my father was the chief of that medical school. See, despite 90% of Boeun Kak land is belong to the government, but the government has solved the issue for residents as a whole. However, the dispute is still existed as we speak. If Boeun Kak land was in Western country like Australia, the residents who moved to live in former Boeun Kak national park will be kicked out within 24 hours by the police, let alone ever get any money from the government like in Cambodia. Moreover, if the government has decided to solve the issue with only 10% of the residents who are the real owners of the land, Boeun Kak Lake’s dispute has sorted out long times ago.

October 4 at 11:48pm

Sophoan Seng

Land issue in Cambodia is lingering by the corruption and anarchic settlement. In the wake of war, both government and people are anarchic. But the anarchic people is a large profit for anarchic government. The issue of Beoung Kok Lake once has been academically and publicly debated by the researchers, environmentalists and the government. The solution was settled to preserve this natural lake as the leisure place and water reservoir for flooding water in Phnom Penh capital city. But lately, the government decided to give concession this important strategic land to their patron tycoon for 99 years without considering the research finding or having proper plan for it. In a short period, government can hand those huge amount of money, but in a long run, the children of Phnom Penh city will be drawn and badly affected by this self-suicidal concession. I am reading Kevin’s lineage event description and his personal factual explaining about Beoung Kok Lake with great impressive. I think to be durable, Kevin might need references to support his personal factual narration. This website helps us a lot about understanding Beoung Kok Lake and the urban poor/development: http://saveboeungkak.wordpress.com/2007/02/ and Dr. Bunnarith gave us much insight on the proper development of BKL http://www2.hawaii.edu/~csaloha/articles/Between_Metropolitan_Centrality_and_Poverty_Reduction_Policies.pdf

saveboeungkak.wordpress.com

‎[Note from the editor of the Mirror: The following is presented because it reflSee More

October 5 at 2:06am ·

 

Kevin Sok

Sophoan Seng, I am glad if you want to talk about environment of Boeun Kak lake and I respect your opinion about “preserve this natural lake as the leisure place and water reservoir for flooding water in Phnom Penh” As I mentioned above, Boeun Kak lake was the national park and its water is OK, but after anarchy people took over before UNTAC arrival, Boeun Kak lake has became Boeun Kak Lou because those residences polluted the water worse than we could ever imagine. Boeun Kak lake’s water is worst like Khmer called “Tek Lou” That is why I called Boeun Kak Lou. It became the safe heaven for million mosquitoes fly out every night to spread diseases to city residences. Please bear in mind that those anarchy residences, they built their houses as temporary houses, no toilet or other stuffs like normal house and most owners don’t sleep there. They rent their houses to many kinds of people: robbers, thieves, prostitutes, drug dealer/users even the chief of Al Qaeda for Southeast Asia (Hambarlie) also used to stay there. So, who is care about environment or who has damaged the Boeun Kak lake’s environment? Boeun Kak Lake had started from empty place to national park, then, Boeun Kak Lou and in the future it becomes a nice residences and beautiful park. Well, opposition can invent the story about Boeun Kak lake to their supporters who live in overseas but most Khmer inside the country who knew about the history of Boeun Kak Lake will not impress about it. When Boeun Kak national park opened for the public in 1986 onward, not only Phnom Penh residences visited there, there were many people came from the provinces as well.

October 5 at 6:01am

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kevin Sok, as I have mentioned about durable information you have mentioned, you have always based on your personal factual description. What you mentioned about Beong Kok became Beoung Lou and it was resided by robbers, thieves or terrorists; where are the durable sources and where is your references? How is your virtue and mentality to biasedly accuse your debater in this stage as supporting opposition political party? For the sake of Cambodia and a learned one, I don’t think your debate approach is praised by the wise and saved the best benefit for Cambodia. 1. Boeung Kok Lake is a natural lake can be considered as the ancient natural heritage hugely benefit for a wise developer. 2. Outcomes of a wise development remaining Beoung Kok Lake for both greenery sustainable investment and reducing the over flooding water in the city. 3. The concept of urban development and poverty reduction will not in the way that government has been operating nowadays. Dr. Bunnarith elaborated in his paper that ““GREEN RING” concept will not only raise the spiral of economic development, improve urban life and urban community, but also care for the city’s scarce natural resource, not compromising future generations.” Source: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~csaloha/articles/Between_Metropolitan_Centrality_and_Poverty_Reduction_Policies.pdf and he elaborated on replacement and housing policy in the urban poor areas that “Yet, the Government is endeavoring towards enabling, not depleting, existing housing stocks and improving housing conditions so that people, including the urban poor, can live in a safe and secure environment.” Source: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~csaloha/articles/Between_Poverty_Reduction_Strategy_and_National_Housing_Policy.pdf So what you have said about the pollution of Beoung Kok Lake, the residents there are not blamable, it is the government’s will to govern their own citizens. However, I walked through behind Phnom Penh Hotel and around the area including boating, the situation is not like what you claimed. I praise the Phnom Penh municipality for their effort to maintain clean within the city. My personal factual description is different from you; I also can prove you by photos I took.

October 5 at 11:54am

 

Kevin Sok

Sophoang Seng, I am the local people live near Boeung Kak since 1979 and I am always seen the events surrounding Beoung Kak as a daily life. What I have mentioned about Boeung Kak is based on my own eyes and I have no intention to invent the story about Boeung Kak either. If you doubt about what I said, it is supposed to be you to find durable source which is proved otherwise. As for pollute water which caused by those residents, I am regret that you had time to see area behind Phnom Penh luxury Hotel, but did not come to see the reality in Boeung Kak area behind Calmette Hospital. However, you can see the pictures of water in Boeung Kak here: http://www.gluckman.com/CambodiaEvictions.html

As for that area was resided by robbers, thieves and terrorist. There is plenty of news outlets in Cambodia have reported about it, you can ring to local newspapers editor or contact Dr. Bunnarith, you will know about it. This is the website about Hambali in Cambodia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riduan_Isamuddin. Please bear in mind that Hambali had used the Mosque in Boeung Kak as his base while he stayed in Cambodia. When he was arrested in Thailand on 14 August 2003, Boeung Kak residents as other people who have remembered him were so regret that they didn’t know that Hambali is a chief of Terrorist in Southeast Asia and the U.S will award $5 million to anyone who gives information leads to arrest him. Well, I don’t understand on what you said that “How is my virtue and mentality to biasedly accuse my debater in this stage as supporting opposition political party?” Who is you refer to as my debater that I accused him in this stage as supporting opposition party? Which is part of my word in this topic that I accused him like that? Actually, I have never accused anyone without proof and I also don’t like people who accused other people without proof either. Moreover, Dr. Bunnarith is worked for Ministry of land management, Urban Planning and Construction in Cambodia. His view is in the scope of the government’s planning.

October 5 at 8:28pm

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kavin Sok, it might be my part on sightseeing only the eastern side but it would be not an appropriate excuse for the policy makers to see some pollution or sheltering terrorists etc as the pretext to transform the old lake into the concrete. Dr. Bunnarith used his talent in urban planning and poverty reduction policy practiced in developed countries that it has not been workable in Cambodia as every thing is likely anarchic: no proper plan, no goal, no sympathy, no transparency, no rule of law and no good governance. Whoever can undertable most will win the bid. It seems urban planning policy is money talk, not planning policy talk. Regarding comment or accusation, you can read your statement again “Well, opposition can invent the story about Boeun Kak lake to their supporters who live in overseas but most Khmer inside the country who knew about the history of Boeun Kak Lake will not impress about it.” while you were debating with me. Get to the point, my knowledge in urban planning and personal conscience, transforming the ancient lake into concrete is an imprecation on Cambodian greenery nature, Cambodian ancestors and it is a committing self-suicide. This not mention the ongoing bleeding and tearing of the urban poor residents.

October 6 at 12:21am

 

Kevin Sok

‎@Sophoan Seng, Please let me make it clear with you on what I said that “Well, opposition can invent the story about Boeun Kak lake to their supporters who live in overseas but most Khmer inside the country who knew about the history of Boeun Kak Lake will not impress about it”. Opposition means I refer to SRP because this topic I am not only debated with you, but with MP Mu Sochua too. I don’t accuse you as opposition at all. Well, I just saw Dr. Bunnarith’s picture with you. I am admire his opinion which is similar with the original thought of the government when Boeung Kak was still national park. But when anarchy people settled at Boeung Kak national park, thing has changed. The reason that I have said he is worked with Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction in Cambodia because I saw the website that you showed me above, he wrote below his name that General Secretariat of Council of Land Policy, then Ministry of Land management, Urban Planning and Construction (July 2006). Look, I am the local people, please don’t think that I don’t care about Boeung Kak. Environment from Boeung Kak is affected me, my family and local people more than yourself. When Boeung Kak was a national park, I always spent my free time from school to see sunset, walking around park or watching people finishing there, but sadly, Boeung Kak has turned into a terrible way. Most people who live surrounding Beoung kak feel deeply affected and pray to the government to develop it into the better place. However, I feel so pity to some Khmer people who were sent back from Thailand’s border during UNTAC who have no choice but to stay in Boeung Kak national park. Well, you can express your opinion about Boeung Kak, I respect your view, but I prefer the current development rather than leave Boeung Kak in the hand of those residents.

October 6 at 1:21am

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kevin Sok, I am impressed by your research about me and Dr. Bunnarith. Of course, we studied the same school before but different field. Yes, you can see my name, my pictures and my activities posted in every where on the internet. As a Koun Khmer, I have no secrecy about myself and the causes I have to talk for Cambodian nation. However, if you are really sharing the same emotion with me, I do expect to know who you are, what is your background, your photo or your education etc. Frankly speaking, this debate and sharing is basing on fraternity, common sense sharing for the causes of Cambodian society and collective effort in bringing the best choice for Cambodia. Though, your mention referred to MP Mu Sochua, I am still seeing it as an unfriendly approach because in Cambodia as you might know, in order to humiliate someone, first the authority will accuse him or her as political activist inclining to opposition party. This is a severe situation in Cambodia that most Cambodians are shut up by this political endeavor and yes Cambodia has lost gigantic human resource from this political threat. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression is a huge source for human resource development. Also Visal Ross stated “Development is a people-centered process that encompasses economic and social well-being.” But your argument has been clearly seen as an effort to isolate the people from this development policy by giving 100% legitimacy to the powerful man. You might ask yourself that if development without giving well-being to the people especially the onsite urban poor residents, development for what? Sokhon Tiv who is with our debate group posted an impressive quote of Socrates that “The shortest and surest way to live with honour in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find, that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice of them.” I hold this proverb as Beoung Kok development must be standing on reality. Reality will give use huge success. Few questions you might need to consider about Boeung Kok Lake: 1. Concession 99 (?) to Shakaku Inc. is appropriate for Cambodia?, 2. Dredging sand to fill up the greenery lake is acceptable while both sources of sand dredging and the natural Boeung Kok lake are deteriorating., 3. The sound of people crying for justice from this development should be ignored or paid attention? I think you don’t mind to elaborate these three questions for the sake of our debate here.

October 6 at 10:22am

 

Kevin Sok

Sophoan Seng, Sorry that I cannot say anything outside this topic. However, through this debate, you can see about my life since 1979 onward. As for your three question: First, according to Cambodian law, the concession 99 years to Shukaku Inc. is well inside the law. Second, Dredging sand to fill up the greenery lake is acceptable while both sources of sand dredging and the natural Boeung Kok lake are deteriorating. This might be affected the sand and the natural of Boeung Kak, but it is still better than leave Boeung Kak’s environment is damaged by those residents beyond repair. Third, if you read or remember what I mentioned about the history of Boeung Kak since 1979, you will see my answer it. I don’t want to repeat it all over again. Moreover, you might be right to say that “in Cambodia as you might know, in order to humiliate someone, first the authority will accuse him or her as political activist inclining to opposition party” but you should look another side of politics. If you have time to read in KI-Media which is belong to SRP’s supporters, you will see what those SRP supporters insulting and curse to the Cambodian government and the CPP supporters. It is the worst languages which is I ever seen since I have started to study English. What do you think about KI-Media in term of promote democracy in the sake of Cambodia?

October 6 at 8:50pm

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kevin Sok, I don’t mind if you don’t want to disclose yourself. My ranting just run after your mouth. 99 years concession is according to the Cambodian law is listenable. It might be able to compare like the 25 years friendship signed under the Viet Minh troops in 1997. According to Dr. Peang Meth, the 25 years ended in 2004 and it was re-amended in 2005. I think by this law, every Cambodian who have sharing Cambodian conscience are feeling entrapped and emotionally sad. I have tried to search around this world, I don’t see any country who gave concession land to foreigner 99 years. It is unbelievable that is happening in Cambodia. Regarding the excuse of pollution and resident anarchy is incomparable to the ramification of the reshaping and transforming a natural greenery lake into the concrete building. On the other hand, reading this law chapter (you might be able to apply with the concession law you mentioned) “Cambodia’s 2001 Land Law prohibits deprivation of ownership without due process and grants the right to apply for a land title to someone who has been in possession of a private property for five years. Article 44 of the Constitution states that the government can only deprive someone of property for “public interest” purposes and requires the payment of fair and just compensation.” Reflectively, law is working only with the powerful. I don’t think KI-Media is the supporter of Sam Rainsy Party though many articles are likely supporting Sam Rainsy Party posted there. Many SRP’s members and its internal rules are ethical and standing on humanity, not humiliation. Like MP Mu Sochua who is with us here, she has always expressed her vocal voice on the moral and legal basis, not insulting or humiliating. Insulting and humiliating have been successfully used by the enemy, not by the patriots. Historically speaking, Viet Minh hated Somdech Sihanouk deep to bone but their cadres must act like loving Sihanouk so much in order to achieve their goal. On the other side, it is not Khmer haters who have been professionally insulting Sihanouk, but it is the plan to do whatever to divide the political unity in Cambodia. I would like also want to appeal to KI-Media webmaster to understand that if you want progressive and sustainable development in Cambodia, you must stand on reality. Socrates praised reality as the main stand for growth and achievement. Insulting cannot solve the problems and it only creates endless enmity and failure. If Sam Rainsy Party has taken KI-Media approach, it might have no today. I cannot calculate how many people claiming themselves as SRP’s activists but they have mistakenly made this party shameful in the eyes of intellectuals. I am an independent observer has always borne neutral mind to see growth in Cambodia. My debate stands on this ethic.

October 6 at 10:20pm

 

Kevin Sok

Sophoan Seng, Thanks for your comment. I am fully aware about the Cambodian land law 2001 and the Cambodian Costitution. If you or opposition think that the land concession of Boeung Kak is breached the Land law or unconstitution, we have to go to the Constitutional Councils to interpret it. What I have debated with you is in the rule of law in Cambodia. Of course, Cambodian law might be different from Western country, but if you live or step in any country, no matter what you don’t like that country law, you have no choice but to comply with it. You are right to say that “law is working only with the powerful”. It has been happened not only in Cambodia, but most of countries in this World. You can argue that “Many SRP’s members and its internal rules are ethical and standing on humanity, not humiliation” But it is the rule and not reflect with SRP’s action at all. I just like give you one example: You might hear Mr. Sam Rainsy’s interview on RFA or VOA, look at his language. Most of times, his talking like he has a fire ball inside his chest. Is this the person who has ethic and standing for humanity, not humiliation? I don’t think so. I also disagree on what you said that KI-media is not the supporters of SRP. KI-Media is belong to SRP supporters, even MP Mu Sochua has often posted news from Ki-Media and she is keen to encourage Khmer people to read KI-Media. Well, SRP and SRP supporters might deny that Ki-media is not belong to them, but they cannot deny the truth. SRP’s finger prints are in everywhere inside KI-Media. Please bear in mind that the Cambodian government has a long arm to know almost every secret news within SRP. I am admire that you has appealed to KI-media owner to understand the progressive….and must stand on reality. but I don’t think he/she will listen your advice. In my opinion, if SRP has embraced only people who has intelligent thinking and gentle opinion like you, SRP members will be reduced dramatically. It could be a suicidal for SRP as well. Most of SRP supporters are not a peacefully people, you can listen in candle light program of SRP, you will know about it.

October 6 at 11:37pm

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kevin Sok, the rule of law in Cambodia has become the rule of manipulation. Why I say this? Many evidences have been displayed. The tone of speakers cannot be judged as insulting. But if I am Sam Rainsy, I am grateful for your advise and kind mind to criticize his flaws to be more flawless while you are supporting another party. Like I keep ask you about the meaning of development, while people on the site have been humiliated, what is the goal of development? According to your observation, it seems SRP has no good people at all. You might want to say that this party has many members because their profession in insulting, right? I think SRP must listen to you especially you and I must jump in to help this party then in order to keep political ballancing in Cambodia for the sake of Cambodia.

Friday at 1:47am

 

Kevin Sok

Sophoan Seng, As you might know well that the rule of law in Cambodia is based on liberal democracy but in practice, some bad the government officers have misused it and it becomes the rule of manipulation as you mentioned. I don’t condone those actions at all because it won’t help the ruling party and is an obstacle in development of the country. Honestly, I have no intention to give any advice to Mr. Sam Rainsy because he regards himself is the best Western educated person which is Cambodia ever produced while myself is just a young generation. Thanks for your grateful to my word related to Mr. Sam Rainsy. Please don’t get me wrong, I have never thought that SRP has no good people at all, but based on my observation, most SRP supporters are not a peaceful people. I have friends both sides in Cambodian politics and I have never seen any SRP supporter as my enemy even though, they have insulted me very badly when I just expressed my opinion about Cambodian politics. I always want to see Cambodian opposition becomes an alternative government like in Western country, but I doubt it will happen with current opposition. Every issue in Cambodia, if the opposition dares to acknowledge the truth and cooperation with the government to solve the problem and leave aside our political different for the sake of the country, I think Cambodia will move quicker than current situation. However, Most of issues have happened in Cambodia always become the political football which complicated the issue further. Finally, I hope SRP supporters understand what I said and I have no intention to lecture them at all. It is all from the bottom of heart and we all are Khmer.

Friday at 5:19am

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kevin Sok, I am emancipated by your open minded and clinching a hand for the sake of Cambodia. This culture must be nurtured. A young generation of Cambodia like you would be a hope for Cambodia. Regarding your point on the SRP’s members are not peaceful people, might be right if I based on current political space of Cambodia. Pluralism and political space in Cambodia nowadays are not acceptable. It has changed from worse to the worst. After the election in 1993, I can see some light of liberal democracy with pluralism trend in Cambodia. But the coalition government was fragile following after by humiliation on the peaceful demonstrators, the killing/arresting/jailing activists, and the coup etc. Now it has arrived to the spot of absolutism at the podium of liberal democracy, the parliament. Current situation of the most majority of seats as well as the big gap of seats obtaining at the assembly are not good sign for liberal democracy in Cambodia at all. You might ask what? SRP’s members have bad tempered might also stem from the pushing pushing pushing their opponents to the corner of the CPP’s policy. It is good for the CPP to win in that way because in Cambodia this way might be the best way to operate for the winning after the Cambodian people are still embedded by the past scar of trauma and suffering. But it is not intellectual in cultivating the national interests. Like you can ensure your friends, the main sources of political tasks such as the media, the money, the civil manpower etc. are totally controlled by the CPP. This is also not a good sign for future Cambodia in developing pluralism which is the key for liberal democracy. The TVs, Radio and printing materials who are supporting CPP have revealed majorly on the positive sides of the country, but the negative sides such as the land grabbing, the illegal immigrants, the misbehaving of the powerful officials, the abuse of power of the powerful officials etc. are intentionally disregarded and they are unwilling to expose them to the public for positive change of Cambodia at all. All these demonstrate the disgraceful scenario for future Cambodia.

Friday at 9:36am

 

Kevin SokSphoan Seng, Thanks for your comment which is indicated many good points. However, we should conclude our debate because we are already way out of this topic and we will meet again in the new topic in due course. My last word in this topic is “Say is much easier than done”.Friday at 9:16pm

 

Sophoan Seng

‎@Kevin Sok, this is might be an happy ending but there are many things are still on the queue to be discussed. Buddha taught that “thought leads to speech, speech leads to action”, so Khmers said “action without having proper thought would be dangerous”. So the concept of speaking is easier than doing is not generally correct. Doing without speaking might be the same concept of “doing without having proper plan”. In conclusion, the crony capitalism is the driven force of Beoung Kok Lake development and yes evidently it is absolutely “doing without having proper plan” for the Beuong Kok Lake development. It is very shortsighting that Cambodia should not leave Beoung Kok Lake at the edge of abyss. The tears and cry of urban poor residents might become a curse for the future and next generations of Cambodia. The discuss with you and me here is very substantial. I would like to request this discussion to be posted in this blog www.sophanseng.info. I hope you don’t mind about this. Thanks in advance!

Saturday at 11:21pm

Land issue in Cambodia is lingering by the corruption and anarchic settlement. In the wake of war, both government and people are anarchic. But the anarchic people is a large profit for anarchic government. The issue of Beoung Kok Lake once has been academically and publicly debated by the researchers, environmentalists and the government. The solution was settled to preserve this natural lake as the leisure place and water reservoir for flooding water in Phnom Penh capital city. But lately, the government decided to give concession this important strategic land to their patron tycoon for 99 years without considering the research finding or having proper plan for it. In a short period, government can hand those huge amount of money, but in a long run, the children of Phnom Penh city will be drawn and badly affected by this self-suicidal concession. I am reading Kevin’s lineage event description and his personal factual explaining about Beoung Kok Lake with great impressive. I think to be durable, Kevin might need references to support his personal factual narration. This website helps us a lot about understanding Beoung Kok Lake and the urban poor/development: http://saveboeungkak.wordpress.com/2007/02/ and Dr. Bunnarith gave us much insight on the proper development of BKL http://www2.hawaii.edu/~csaloha/articles/Between_Metropolitan_Centrality_and_Poverty_Reduction_Policies.pdf