Leadership
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Please RELEASE THE 23 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS immediately
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Today is 8 days since the violent cracking down on peaceful strike of garment workers to demand decent wage of 160 dollars per month in Cambodia occurred. We all must utilize all means to advocate for the “RELEASE WITHOUT CONDITION” of all those 23 detainees. Among those workers, unionists such as #Pao Vorn #Theng Savoeun #Chan Puthisak and others are being detained at outskirt prison near Cambodia-Vietnam border. Those are imprisoned without having fair trial and accessing to wound treatment severely injured by the state’s security arm-force who used real bullets to shoot those thousand protestors. The democratic governments and the world are watching closely towards that state’s sponsored violence on peaceful strike of workers resulted in 5 deads, about 37 injured/hospitalized and 23 incarcerated.
We would like to call for #UN, #USA, #CANADA, #UK, #Australia, #Japan, #China etc. to urge your responsible authority to intervene for the RELEASE of those detainees immediately.
I would like to call for # Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada to intervene for the RELEASE of those 23 detainees as soon as feasible.
I would like to call for # Deepak Obhrai the Member of Parliament for Calgary East, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights to intervene for the RELEASE of those 23 detainees as soon as possible.
We would like to call for #Gap #Adidas #Puma #H&M #Walmart #Nike #Inditex, #LeviStrauss and #Columbia to use your purchase power to intervene for the RELEASE of those 23 detainees immediately and help with the raise demand of minimum wage of 160$ for Cambodian garment workers.
Cambodian people have traumatically pressured by the injustice and violence since the Khmer Rouge atrocity. Although, they have experienced some pace of peace and better quality of life in recent decade, their living standard is not improved, the social justice is not concerned by the powerful leaders, the culture of impunity is omnipresent and this impunity has threatened the quality of peaceful life of Cambodian people severely, and the measure government responded to the garment worker strike recently is not acceptable. Those perpetrators must be accountable in front of the law; the shooters must be arrested and imprisoned, not the bare hand unionists and workers who are demanding for decent wage to survive.
Sincerely,
Sophoan Seng
The International Leviathan of Cambodia in Political Leadership
Preamble
Last 27 December 2014, Cambodian people were astonished to see and hear Prime Minister Hun Sen talked in Vietnamese to the professional audience of Vietnam during his visit in Vietnam by the invitation of Vietnamese leader in Hanoi. This is first time that Cambodian people see their leader used foreign language to communicate with people in country he is visiting. By international protocol, he is unprofessional to speak country-host’s language and the meaning of his speech tended to pay unusual gratitude about the past political crisis Vietnam involved in the post-cold war politics in Cambodia. The fact of the story is still very murky on the legitimate action of Vietnam over Cambodia, that murkiness prohibits a top leader from an independent country to pay direct gratitude to another country, beside of respecting and paying gratitude to their own citizens.
His Vietnamese phonology has actually triggered obscure mixture of feeling of Cambodian people. Vietnam has been seen for historical enmity with Cambodian people through their domination policy named Southward and Westward expansion. The feeling of enmity is also caused by historical encroachments on the Cambodian lands such as Prey Nokor and Kampuchea Krom, the current human rights scheme towards the Khmer Kampuchea Krom or Khmer ethnic population in Southern part, and the close yet skeptical relationship with incumbent Cambodian government whom Vietnam installed to power during its political scheme to attack Khmer Rough in 7 January 1979.
Why International Leviathan?
Henri Mohout
The international leviathan here driven by the concept of political Leviathan of Thomas Hobbs. Vietnam is considered the Leviathan by Cambodians and many Khmer leaders. Those called Vietnamese leadership in different names such as crocodile, giant or imperialist. During the visit of naturalist Henri Mouhot in Cambodian capital city of Udong during 1859, he mentioned there were many servants from Annamites region whose behavior was different from other mainstream savages. For David Chandler, the records illustrated the Vietnamese imperial(s) looked down on Khmer citizens by stereotyped them as wild, uncivilized and uneducated. During the post-cold war, Vietnam equipped with strong ambition to expand Southward and Westward. It is Vietnamese’s pride to be able to tame Cham leadership and to subjugate this Kingdom eventually. By defeating the French colony at Dien Bien Phu, the pride of nationalism and expansionism embedded strongly in the mindset of their warriors. Although, there were rift and great division between North and South, the aura of marriage between China and Russia to back Vietnam in confronting with the US; Vietnam received sufficient surplus to unify North and South (former Khmer land) and further looked into the West to maintain the legacy of expansionism, the success and the mindset of imperial leadership. Dream of Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh, is to influence over Laos and Cambodia (former member states of Indochina Federation of French) in hope to take over, to control and to build base for the spreading of communism in this Southeast Asian peninsula. And the by-product from this ideology spreading is able to maintain “the legacy of expansionism” at the same time.
“All the palaces and pagodas which you see from here have been built in one year since my return from Siam: in another year all will be finished. Formerly Cambodia was very extensive; but the Annamites have deprived us of many province.”
“Sir, the time has arrived for you to retake them. The French are assailing them on one side; do you attack them on the other.” His Majesty did not reply, but offered me a cigar, and inquired my age.
“I am twenty-three,” he said to me. “I recognize you; you were at Siam with M. de Montigny.”
“No, sir; your Majesty is mistaken. I have only been in Siam a twelvemonth.”
By Henri Mouhot “Travel in Siam, Cambodia, Laos, and Annam”, White Lotus Press, page 149, printed in 2000
The inconvenient state visit: inconvenient host vs inconvenient visitor
Personally, I am so surprised to hear and see his leadership at the international stage especially in Vietnam. His Vietnamese language is not that bad and some facebookers said he can speak Hanoi accent very fluently. Accent of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city is very different from each other. Some friends told me that it is like Thai and Lao accent. If it is true, I think it is very different and very much in the domination of language users. But his showing ability and official visiting is very idiosyncratic as his home country is having problems particularly the problems of people power demonstrating about the vast fraud of national election, to request for the re-election, and to request him to step down from power in order to ensure democracy development. Many assumptions are thought, but these two things are most considerable:
The Challenge of the International Leviathan
Now, the policy of Southward reaching is deems successful but the Westward reaching is deems uncertain. The high respect and expression of esteem on the Vietnamese soldiers who helped wage war in Cambodia especially to change the course of Khmer Rough leadership, absolutely provide incredible value and pride of Vietnamese warriors and people viewers nationwide. The thought of hope from those viewers will give much credits to their incumbent leadership in which many Vietnamese are believed to against them by seeing their communist approach has been deteriorating their life of dignity. And this stage also tells us the failure of the primary attempt to install lasting denomination within this country. The cause of failure arises from both international change of geo-strategy, democracy of poeple-oriented power and demography.
Courtesy: Dr. Lao Mong Hay, Cambodia Academic Network (CAN)
According to sampling of Dr. Lao Mong Hay, Cambodia is factually under the power thirst from China, US (its allies) and Vietnam. It is interesting that previous Vietnam’s policy especially before the Khmer Rouge, it was only Vietnam and US. But after China discomforted with Vietnamese invasion over Cambodia, Vietnam tends to compromise with China in the same time associating with US and Russia. In the regional ASEAN, this new emergent regional body tends to recognize strength of each country more than illegal Indo-China Federation mindset.
However, locally speaking, Vietnam has exercised full leverage within Cambodia land under its installing bureaucrats. Hun Sen leadership and his party is well known for the not-home-made political organization. Without Vietnam, this party cannot last today. There are undeniable evidences indicating Vietnamese leadership has explicitly helped and exploited this party. For instance, the creation of two prime ministers during the UNs-sponsored election in 1993 and the coup detat in 1997 was seen backed by Vietnam; and for the additional supplemental border treaty in 2005 was seen Vietnam exploited their former friend. All these facts have made China and US headache a lot. But it is not safe for Cambodia as well while China and US is likely unsure on their fraternal relationship as well.
What shall Cambodians do next?
Khmer proverb reminds us that “unity is power”, and Khmer Buddhists remember clearly on the teaching that: “no one save us, we are our own savior”. Locally speaking, the election on the July 28, 2013 triggered huge optimism for Cambodia to be saved by its own Cambodian people. By individuals, Cambodian youths are representing 60% of the total population. Those youths are not entrapped by past trauma or political submission, or they are not easily manipulated by mainstream media such as TVs, Radios or print media. They are grown up in the age of mobile phone, iPhone, iPad, Tablet and facebook. Their new findings on those new media provide them sufficient tool to confront with all manipulative agenda. The effort of the UNs in building Cambodia institutions such as Monarchy, Assembly, Judiciary and Executive with the control of arm-force branch, has resulted in hopelessness for Cambodian people. But the effort of the UNs in helping to create national constitution has been helpful in continuing interpretation to end all unconstitutional political behaviors.
Thus, the new occurrance of mushrooming capable youths, NGOs and political party particularly CNRP, provide us a lot space and hope, if this party is not negligent in its principles, to overcome all the International Leviathan(s).
Samdech Chuon Nath: Leadership Pioneer for the 21st Century
Samdech Chuon Nath or Supreme Patriarch Chuon Nath is very well-known in Cambodian society for his deep knowledge in Khmer language, Buddhism and modernity. Among his historical legacies, the initiative on translating Pali text into Khmer language and his encouragement in socially engaged Buddhist monks, have been presently practical. His initiative in translating Pali text into Khmer language for common people to understand the Buddha’s teaching, has created more space of comprehension among Buddhists and politicians. During the reign of King Norodom Sihanouk, his leadership was called Sangkum Reastr Niyum or People Oriented Society, or sometime Buddhists Oriented Society. Motivation behind Samdech Chuan Nath, was an effort of French protectorate to discontinue the Buddhist brain-drain to Thailand. Zusan Kapele, Fino, Cedes and many other French scholars were well-known in restoring Khmer legacies, spirit of belonging, nationalism and sense of unity. However, Samdech Chuan Nath, Samdech Huat Tat and many other Buddhist scholars were impregnable erudite reformists for new effective leadership to build Cambodia and to free this country from French eventually.
At the presence, many Khmer monks have waken up to follow the trace of Samdech Chuon Nath, Khiev Chum and other monks in reforming this society to be sustainable socio-economic development, free, fair, equal, just and democratic etc.
Biography of Samech Chuan Nath. For details, read Transcription Book of Khmer language interviewing of Samdech Chuan Nath by Dr. Long Seam and his colleagues.
Some pages fully mentioning about the movement of Samdech Chuon Nath and Huot Tat in book “History, Buddhism, and New Religious Movements in Cambodia” by Marston and Guthrie
Preah Bhikkhu Heam Chiev, a leader against the oppression of French protectorate
Reflection of Political Leadership of Cambodia from Past to Present
Pre Angkor and Post Angkor Political Leadership
At school, Cambodian children have learnt about many Khmer heroic Kings during the pre Angkorean period. For instance, King Jayavarman II, after escaping from the abdication of Java or Sailendra Kingdom, he made a long march across Cambodia to calling for a people power to fight against Sailendra occupation, and to proclaim back sovereignty of his Kingdom. It is said that he was raised and grown up in Sailendra but he eventually declared independence at Mahendra mountain (Phnom Kulen) to free from Sailendra. He began strengthening his Kingdom by building Mahendraparavata capital city with the installation of a sacred Linga of the Nation named “Devaraja”. From this period of 802 as inscribed in the stone, Cambodia enjoyed prosperity and candid strength in the region.
For post Angkorean period, Cambodia was seen as very fragile and dividing. According to palm leaves records, more than 700 years, Khmer Kings and leaders turned to fight against each other by asking Thai and Vietnam to back their cause.
However, this behavior was halted during the reign of King Ang Duong who projected his political leadership differently. He was raised and grown up in Thailand, his ascending to throne was expected in the same previous Kings. But the King secretly contacted France who was initially not interesting in this region at all. The history tells that the King failed at the first time because his messenger was killed by Thai authority. However, his second attempt was successful and French arrival was signed to be the protectorate of Cambodia. French fought with Siam and helped discard the power of Siam ever existed in Cambodia.
However, French arrival was not dislocated the power line between Vietnam and Cambodia. Under the French’s policy of Indo-China, Vietnam enjoyed most domination over Cambodia and Lao. This embedded legacy has affected on Cambodian political leadership until nowadays.
Current Cambodian Political Leadership in Reflecting Post Angkorean Era
From my whole life, I have observed that Cambodian politics has played hard line approaches. This time, when the authority has allowed peaceful mass demonstration to march freely for few days and the participants visibly increasing, they come up with this idea “Coup” or an attempt to overthrow the government which is explicitly threatening. By definition, the peaceful mass demonstration could not be called an attempt to coup (detat) at all.
I observe the hard-line politics has been used in Cambodia since the election in 1993. Often,
it is not dangerous if Cambodian politicians are contendering with one another, but for Cambodia, some of her leaders have always been seen so subservient to the third party (outsider). The crisis of 1993 election happened because of an attempt to separate Eastern zone plus the bloody coup detate in 1997 which was visibly involved as our Premier televised in soldier uniform from Vietnam plus the pressuring to sign additional border treaty in 2005 in which many activists were jailed. These three examples exhibit clearly on the leadership of powerful third hand. From time to time, any Cambodian activists who are outspoken about the Koh Tral island or Eastern border line, they will be ended by jailing, life threatening or fleeing the country to avoid criminal sentencing. I listened RFA Forum this Dec.22 (watch clip below) and had chance to listen to our Premier’s speech on his logic on giving up the claiming back of Koh Tral very brokenhearted.
As we are Cambodians and we are working to protect Cambodia land and to protect our Constitution, why we condemn our own people who are sharing our common emotion and mentality? Why our top leader has always taken side with foreigner? Is it showing foreign influence is very strong in our system, or our leadership is very weak and xenophobic, or the political mechanism is not in our hand? If the last sort is exhibited truth, the learned, the scholars, and the young patriotic entities who are working within that system, cannot change anything to better off in leading this country independently.
To what I am speechless now is, while the CPP has perceived that part of their losing seats in the election, it is probably caused their unravel secret relationship with VN, but it seems like this party has ignored this part and they are going to visit VN, by the invitation of Vietnamese leader, during this very tense circumstance in Cambodia. I don’t see this coming event is really helpful for Cambodia and the CPP at all. Observers and opposition politicians have asked themselves that why the preceptor (ឧបជ្ឍា) from VN is likely very important during this very sensitive political contesting? And as a sovereign and independent state and may be very civilized like VN, is it more beneficial to sign memorandum with a government in which their own citizens are still contesting about election irregularity? I think VN should not back one party at all during this unresolved election conflict. Further more, from this type of policy of our neighboring country especially VN that Cambodia has transformed itself into a nation of self-victimization or what else I can say?
From the reaction of Premier towards the demonstration (he rejected the demand of the peaceful mass demonstration, watch clip below) including this letter accusing the demonstration as an attempt of coup detat, including the trip of Premier and his team to VN this coming Thursday, December 26, 2013, encouraged us to hold a belief of “hard line political leadership of Cambodia”.
What next…?
The peaceful mass demonstration has been occurred in Cambodia since the campaign in June, the election day in July and this post election. This ongoing daily basic rally has surely established a new culture of Cambodia of : non-violence principle, political participation, grassroots democracy, fearless and capable citizens etc.
Many people have compared the demonstration in Cambodia to that of in Thailand. Of course, the two demonstrations are very different from each other. In Thailand, the cause leading to the mass demonstration is a historical conflict between two government parties. But in Cambodia, the cause leading to mass demonstration come from the election which is found unfair, unfree and fraudulence. National Election of Cambodia (NEC) has rigged the election and produced false result, according to joint statement of 20 NGOs. It said 20% of the eligible ballots were stolen. NEC itself has been built dependently on the powerful CPP party. The procedures of the election have been seen in vast disfranchisement and bias. Until the last minute of the election result declaration, the NEC was seen under pressure of military and policemen deployed by the government. So it is candid to assume that the people who come to the street to demonstrate against the election have shared the same emotion: the perception of cheating by the NEC and this electoral committee has plundered their will. All Cambodian people cannot accept this act of cheating.
Cambodia might be able to model other Asian countries about non-violence protest and peaceful mass demonstration. CNRP has strongly committed to non-violence and peaceful mean. And this new emerge of political agenda should be credited to all Cambodian people. And if we think about organized groups, the credit must offer to all stakeholders especially CNRP, CPP, NGOs and Khmer community diaspora worldwide.
By Sophoan