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Category Archives: Politics

The real pain of a King is the pain of his subjects – Jayavarman VII

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“ទេហនាន្ទេហ រោគោ យ​​ន្មនោរោគោ រុជត្តរាម៑​ ​ រាឞ្ត្រទុះខំហិភត៌្ឫុណា​ ​ន្ទុះខន្ទុះខន្ទុនាត្មនះ “

៚សេចក្តីឈឺចុកចាប់នៅក្នុងខ្លួនប្រាណរបស់អ្នកជំងឺ គឺជាសេចក្តីឈឺចាប់ក្នុងហប្ញទ័យរបស់ព្រះអង្គជាងនោះទ្វេដង។ សំរាប់សេចក្តីឈឺចុកចាប់ផ្ទាល់ពិតប្រាកដរបស់មេដឹកនាំ[ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ] គឺសេចក្តីទុករបស់ប្រជានុរាស្រ្ត មិនមែនជាសេចក្តីទុក្ខផ្ទាល់របស់ព្រះអង្គឡើយ។៚
“dehinām deha rogo yanmanorogo rujattarām
rāṣṭra duḥkham hi bharṛrnān duḥkhan duḥkhan tu Nātmanaḥ”

“the bodily pain of the diseased became in Him (the King) a mental agony more tormenting than the former. For the real pain of a King is the pain of his subjects, not that his own (body)”
Note: this is courtesy of Heng Moneychenda, Prof. Vong Sotheara, and Tourch Bora from CAN Cambodia!

CAMBODIA: Democrats must become a credible alternative to stop Hun Sen and the CPP

Posted on by Posted in Culture, Economics, Education, Politics, Researches, Social
This culture maintains law and order and protects rulers (Sdech phaen dei, or King of the Earth) and their thrones. Despite the arrival of Buddhism, a belief system that preaches individual salvation, Khmers primary devotion was to the god kings. In such circumstances, the “good” karma of Buddhism is perverted to become not an active choice but a passive compliance with the old to avoid “bad” karma.
This culture imbued in Khmer mentality the concepts of king-subjects and lord-slaves, and built the Khmer society on class, rank, role relationships based on the superior-inferior, master-servant, patron-client, leader-follower precepts, as known today. Any regime in power — monarchical, republican, communist, authoritarian – benefits from this culture and mentality. Education is the remedy.
FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-017-2012
June 15, 2012
An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: Democrats must become a credible alternative to stop Hun Sen and the CPP
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s victories in local elections were pre-ordained.
Hun Sen rode to power under the guns of some 200,000 Vietnamese troops who crossed the border with Cambodia on Christmas Eve 1978, captured Phnom Penh in January 1979, and stayed in Cambodia as occupiers until 1989. They installed Hun Sen as premier in 1985.
A former Khmer Rouge defector to Vietnam, Hun Sen lost the 1993-United Nations organized elections, and used threats to win the post of second-premier. In 1997, he launched a coup d’etat against the first-premier. For 27 years, since 1985, premier Hun Sen has controlled Cambodia’s administrative apparatus, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. He has become a dictator.
Cambodians, like many other people, say they hate politics. Yet, politics has been practiced since human beings began living and working together. People organized and made decisions that would affect the collectivity. In the words of a professor of politics: “Between the cradle and the grave, we live our lives in the midst of politics.” It is “part and parcel of nearly all human interactions.” Politics exists everywhere.
The “pagoda boy,” as he called himself — in reference to his childhood — learned fast. Now 59, he says he wants to stay in power for life. He promises an open investment environment to the world’s thirsty investors – 99 years leases on land concessions and availability of natural resources — backed by political stability. He plays well on the world’s appetite for democracy and elections. He allows just enough free expression as he carefully controls media outlets and public demonstrations sufficient to air some grievances. He’s quick to tell potential transgressors he will “close the door and beat the dogs.” He encourages elections, but ensures his opponents don’t win. He and his party intimidate and bribe hungry citizens for votes.

Chanting and observing eight precepts from Somdech Song Chuon Nath

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Somdech Preah Sanghareach Chuon Nath is the Buddhist scholar of Cambodia who initiated to reform Cambodian Buddhism. His task of modernization of this peaceful religion happened during the early post-colonial era and his legacy has become the progressive connector between the end of colonialism to the beginning of modernization. This video clip is the original sound of Somdech Song Chuon Nath in his worshiping Triple Gem and delivering eight precepts to the laypeople. Thanks to the person who produced this great work. Many Buddhists will hugely benefit from this clear voice, beautiful and peaceful screening. Soum Anumotheanea Bon!!

Target Cambodia

Posted on by Posted in Culture, Economics, Education, Politics, Researches, Social

Target Cambodia

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From the Summer 2012 Games People Play issue

By Laura Rena Murray

PHNOM PENH—The 328 acres known as Boeung Kak Lake still appear on maps of Cambodia’s capital as a large blue patch, though its waters are now only a memory. Pumped full of sand, the area is being readied for a promised development that has already displaced some 4,000 families. Looming over the puddles and dirt, two massive billboards display portraits of the high-end residential and commercial wonderland intended for the plot.

In 2007, the Cambodian government handed Boeung Kak Lake to Phnom Penh-based Shukaku Inc. in the form of a 99-year lease, which allows the company to clear the land for economic development. The local company belongs to Lao Meng Khin, a close friend of Prime Minister Hun Sen and a senator from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, but several Chinese companies also have a share in the new development project. The Inner Mongolian firm Erdos Hongjun Investment Corporation has a 50 percent stake in Shukaku. Another Chinese firm, Guangdong New Golden Foundation, has also announced its intent to invest in the project.

Cambodia today is quite literally giving itself away, especially to China and Vietnam—two rivals vying for regional influence. As the Cambodian government welcomes millions of dollars in investments from both nations, the land concessions handed out to these foreigners are forcing tens of thousands off their property and imperiling Cambodia’s future. Over the last 30 years, the Sino-Vietnamese rivalry has shaped Cambodia militarily, politically, and economically, and there are no signs this will change.

Much of the backdrop for this current activity was set during the 2008 financial meltdown that took a wrecking ball to the world economy and sent investors searching for stability in unexpected places. Mineral resources continue to deplete, while the costs of labor are rising in the mega manufacturing centers of southern China. Neutral, well-positioned smaller nations in Southeast Asia like Cambodia have become alluring targets for new investments. Although the commercial benefits have bolstered the economies of such nations, the smaller states have become ground zero in the struggle for resources by more dominant countries.

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