Khmer Abroad

"Khmer Abroad"

In this context is referred to people of Cambodia who are currently residing abroad whether they left Cambodia before or after the civil war during the 70's, or during the Lon Nol era, or during the Khmer Rouge era, or the aftermatch when Khmer Rouge were driven out from the power and country, or currently moving abroad under family, whether or not they are citizen or are legal permanent resident of those respective countries in the North American continent, EU or Oceanic Etc.. who are the supporters of minority political party.

It is good thing that "Khmer Abroad" have shown interests in the internal affairs of country once they lived. Some has been a long time observers for self-knowledge purposes, some has been the strong supporters of particular political party, some has chosen to go back and participate in politic with political party of theirs choice orhas embarked on a business venture and some is simply curious to know what the future would be installed for the beloved motherland.

The "Liberal Democrat"

The numbers of "Khmer Abroad", in those continents mentioned earlier on, are far much smaller than the actual numbers of youth population in Cambodia, and there is small amount of them/a minority group, in my personal point of view, who are called themselves the "Liberal Democrat".

They are voicing their concerns on almost aspects and every single issue of the beloved motherland, are continously criticizing and attacking the current administration under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen in favor of the party[s] they are ideologically and financially supporting.

It is nothing wrong being a "Liberal Democrat" or being the supporters of this or that particular party because each individual of us is not the same in any way, is having diferrent taste, is having different point of view and vision about the internal affairs of the beloved motherland, however, being "Khmer Abroad", from logic point of view, no matter where we are residing now or are holding a citizenship of a foreign country, in our mind and soul, we are remained Khmer however, we are no longer a legal citizen of Cambodia, from a technical point of view; is due to the restriction[s] on holding dual citizenship imposed by respective country we are currrently residing.

"Khmer Abroad" Prospective

"Khmer Abroad" prospective on the internal affairs of the beloved motherland are likely emerged by the political party's ideology rather than the facts and truths.

One shall remember that "None of us is perfect in every each way". We all human being and in the matter of fact being a "Human Being", we could not avoid making any mistake[s] at some point in life. It is a matter of the kind of mistake, the level of mistake, or is it a repeatedly one. That is applied to everyone of us whether the person is a politician, an administration, a government or an opposition in Cambodia or around the world.

What we should do is to learn from the past mistake[s] and find a way round for an appropriate and applicable solution[s] to which would benefit rather than harm us and ensure that we shall not to let the past mistake/history to repeat itself.

Let get back to the issue of "Khmer Abroad".

My personal point of view and at personal level, we as the "Khmer Abroad", who are currently residing in USA, Canada, France, Australia, Austria, New Zealand who are supporters of party[s], in aprticular the Sam Rainsy Party/Main Opposition Party tends to discount the facts and truths about the progresses of internal affairs of our beloved motherland, the plights and wills of our compatriates inside the country.

The late 70's to early 90's, Cambodia was seen as an isolated state and much parts of the country were at war between the State of Cambodia and the warring coalition party along the Cambodia-Thai border. However, since the conclusion of Paris Treaty, Cambodia was opned its door to the outside world once again in the spirit of National Reconcilliation and reconstruction of the country after 23 years [1970 - 1993] at war and unrest.

1993 Un sponsored election was seen as the birth of Democracy in Cambodia and Kingdom of Cambodia was reborn for the 2nd time.

Cambodia since then became a Constitutional Monarchy, where King is the Head of State and whist the actual day to day affairs of the state is under the Prime Minister.

Our National Assembly is "Democrat Multi Political Party", representing the entire population of the Kingdom, which was impossible under the Lon Nol and the Khmer Rouge and during the State of Cambodia.

At this point and in this context, "Credits and Due Respects" shall be recognized and given to the administration and leaders of the regime for their willingnessly, good wills and painstaking decision to accept and allow theirs once ennemy - the Khmer Rouge to return and participate in the 1st ever general election.

The Facts - Freedom of Movement, Expression and Press

Since 1993, people of Cambodia has been enjoyed the freedom of movement, expression and press ever if it is not the same level as other countries around the world where democracy is mature but to an acceptable level recognized by the world community; considering that Cambodia had 3 general election under its belt.

Cambodia nowadays has had an explosive amount of International and Local NGO inside the country than ever before, multi langual Pro-government and Opposition medias, Union Organizations just to name a few, who are cretics of the government, leadership and ministers.

According to the survey relasing by the International Republican Institute [was once a stauncy critic of RGC regarding corruption, Human Rights abuses] shown that +70% of people of Cambodia are happy and believed that Cambodia is heading in the right direction.

The Truths

There is always room for improvement.

Investments

Any direct foreign investment is subject and comes down to what the country could offer in term of return to on the investment, rules and regulations on investment, country's infrastructures, manpower and skilled workers for particular industry, but most important of all are political stability and governance.

From the investors prospective, it is about dollar and cent.

From the Government prospective, they are having much more and big chunk of issues on their plate to juggle and balance, and it is no an easy task at all.

Conclusion

Being a "Khmer Abroad" myself, I would suggest to all my compatriate abroad to be more sensible, realistic, apply appropriate common sense and please take into consideration and recognize due respects based on the facts and truths rather following self-emotion, unrealistic political party's ideology.

My points of view in this context are based on my long life experiences as a young boy during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum, a victim of the civil war during Lon Nol, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge, a brief resident during the State of Cambodia, refugee, a long time observer for self-knowledge and by no mean to support or oppose any political party.

My principle towards our beloved motherland internal affairs isvery simple "To recognize the facts and truths rather than follow one political party's ideology, the wills and respects of my compatriate inside the country", and hope that all political parties could work side by side, hand and hand with each other for the best interest of Cambodia and its people.

Cambodia Political Parties Kick Off Campaigning

The long awaiting period for the political campaigning was finally over.

Thursday [26th June 2008], Cambodia political parties kick off its 1st day of long month campaigning in style. The long concoys of trucks, cars and motorbikes, have been holding rallies along major thoroughfares and public places in the capital city, Phnom Penh, except those majors imposed restriction by the City Hall.

From distant, it seemed a colorful processions indeed: - The Cambodian People's Party and Sam Rainsy supporters are all in either white T-shrits or shirt, while the UNCIPEC and Human Rights Party are in yellow Polo and T-shirts, distinguishing only by the symbol, shape and color[s] of its official party logo.

The mobile sound system operators are out in force.

Many of small, flat-bed trucks are criss-crossing Phnom Penh, displaying banners and placards of each individual party's leader and logo, blasting out music, political slogans - anything to get the attention of potential voters while party members cram into the back of each vehicle.

Election will be taking place on 27 July. Eleven political parties are contesting for the 123-seat National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, with the winner forming a government for the next five years.

There are high hopes that Cambodia's fourth democratic election will be a peaceful one.

Dr. Lao Mong Hay's Opinion on the future of the monarchy

An article from KI-Media

Click here for original and full story Dr. Lao Mong Hay's Opinion on the future of the monarchy

With regard to the future of the monarchy, our August, Great and Valorous King may not be "amusing" or may not be "crazy" as some might think.

In an article published in The Nation newspaper in Thailand in October 1990 (see below) I advocated the restroration of the monarchy in Cambodia and the new enthronement of our August, Great and Valorous King Sihanouk. I saw Him as the biggest piece to which the other small pieces could be fixed to reconstruct our shattered nation.

Compared with all other regimes ruling Cambodia, the constitutional monarchy with parliamentary demmocracy is the best regime for Cambodia: from 1947 to 1960 and from 1993 to around 2004. After 1960 (King Suramarith's death) Camdodia already became a republic but name, when Queen Kossamak was not head of state but only a symbol of the monarchy, and our August King Sihanouk became head of state with all executive power. Since 2004 our Prime Minister Hun Sen has held all power and has become, in comparison, more powerful than our August King before his overthrow in 1970. In their respective times, both have become demigods.

Dear Dr. Lao;

Your view is very comprehensive indeed.

There is a point here that draw to my attention "The constitutional monarchy with parlimentary democracy is best regime for Cambodia ..... 1993 to around 2004.

In the matter of fact as since 1993 to date, Cambodia is remaining a Constitutional Monarchy with parlimentary democray and personally I don't think this would change any course even though the real power to day to day affairs of the state is in the hand of RGC and under the leadership of current Prime Minister.

National Assembly is till operating in the same manner where the RGC is still having a junior partner and the Oppostion is still remaining and actively performing their duties and tasks.

Frankly said, I don't think that the current PM has much more power than our beloved August King Sihanouk when he led the nation during the Sangkum Reast Niyum era considerting that Cambodia at that time, to a handful if not all people who oppose to the his leadership saw and thought it was a single party state [our Augsut King had all executive power to the day to day affirs of the state as you mentioned. Of course, there were public meeting or "Smarch in Khmer" as an annual event, held at Veal Preah Men - courtyard injunction to the Royal Palace, where ordinary citizens could pose questions about the RGC performances, policy and platform];


while the current 2nd Kingdom of Cambodia, we have HRH King Norodm Sihamony as the Head of State [reign but did not rule similar case to the Queen Elizatbeth II of UK where her hands are free from politic and state affiars which are in the hands of the PM - she had no say to the Former PM Tony Blair when he decided to go to war in Iraq], we have parlimentary democracy, we have oppostion party who has always had and will continue to scrutinize the government, and on top of these the local and international organizations who are always having much to say and criticized the RGC and rather discount the facts and shall give due respects to the RGC where progresses are made.

Of course, there is no denial that RGC can do much more. There are more room for further improvement in all frontiers and that the RGC shall look into and move forwards in appropriate and reasonable pace for the best interest of the nation, its economy and in particular its people. However, as the saying "Rome wasn't built in one day" so does the development of Cambodia would be moving forward, in the right direction in due course.

Re the ban of using references to monarchy in election campaign, my personal point of view, the PM might be right about the use of such a reference. As the matter of fact, many poltical parties are claimed to be royalist and they may use such a reference as its own shield to conceive people in order to drum up supports for the up-coming election.

Not long after our Prime Minister's appeal to the King(s) to ban references to the monarchy in the election campaign, our August King obliged and issued a request to members of the royal family not to use such references to Him and His Samgkum Reatr Niyum anymore. Who is leading and who is following now?

LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong--------

Cambodia needs a King and UN

17 Oct 1990The Nation (Thailand)

M.H. Lao calls for the restoration of monarchy and an open-ended commitment of the United Nations in Cambodia. The Cambodians themselves and the architects of a future peaceful settlement of the conflict in Cambodia may have to look harder at the realities of Cambodian society and to take them into account if they are to have an effective and efficient administration of the country by the United Nations and a lasting peace they, are working for.

Compared with almost all countries in the world, Cambodia does, not seem to have any strong pillars or institutions to support and sustain its society. The brutal Marxist revolution and foreign aggression before and after that revolution have broken that society to its very foundations. Cambodia's social, cultural, and above all moral and ethical values have largely been destroyed. War propaganda and political indoctrination have worked against proclaimed efforts to rebuild that society. Hate has been institutionalized in the form of Day of National Hatred (May 20) inside Cambodia. Vengeance has been exhorted among the young, especially among the Khmer Rouge orphans who have been recruited into the Vietnamese-trained army.

Nowadays one can almost be certain that there are hardly any national institutions that can control large sections of the population or around which large sections of the population are bound together. Some talk of the "rebirth" of Buddhism in Cambodia. But the state and status of this religion are almost nothing compared with those before 1970. Even then Buddhism had greatly lost its influence over Cambodian society. The Phnom Penh regime and its administrative machinery have been in a parlous state all along. They have lately been very divided and are seen to be very corrupt. The communist party which controls the regime and the administrative machinery from top to bottom is dislike and commands no trust from the people. The Phnom Penh army, however much support it has got from the Vietnamese troops, is very weak and has no will to fight.

In the liberated zones, the resistance forces have not been able to inspire complete trust in them on the part of the population and to establish stronger institutions and administrative machinery.

In this situation the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) provided for in the Big Five's peace plan would have to do a lot to be able to bring those bits and pieces of Cambodian society together. To be able to satisfactorily complete this task, which is crucial to a lasting' peace, would take much longer time than the proposed two years.

The Cambodians who wish to uphold the supreme interests of their nation and the international community, which has shown so much concern for the Cambodian people should strive to promote Cambodia's remaining national institutions which still command popular respect and support. One of, such institutions is the Monarchy.

Many including surviving members of Cambodia's royal family feel that the Monarchy is completely discredited and destroyed. This may be so for the elite but to the ordinary people, after experiencing the consequences of, many non-monarchical forms of government, the Monarchy is still seen as the least bad.

There is now the question of who could and would occupy the throne. Again most educated Cambodians, including this family for various reasons, But to the ordinary people and especially to the older generation Prince Norodom Sihanouk is the most popular.

How to reconcile these different attitudes prevailing in Cambodian society? Prince Sihanouk himself has already agreed to a parliamentary regime. With external help, a deal could be struck to consolidate the foundations of a constitutional monarchy while UNTAC is governing Cambodia.It would make a great impact on the Cambodian people if Prince Sihanouk could be crowned again on the 50th anniversary of his first coronation, that is, in April 1991. A big celebration of this Golden Jubilee would contribute; tremendously to the unity of these people. With a people now psychologically and socially more united around its King and with his cooperation, UNTAC's task in the administration, would be easier and more effective.

UNTAC: A dangerous deadline

All parties concerned over the conflict-in Cambodia have agreed to an enhanced role of the UN in the administration of Cambodia in the transitional period leading to the election and setting up of a national government of Cambodia.

All have also agreed to the setting up of UNTAC for this purpose.

All the big pieces of the jigsaw puzzle seem to be in place, at least on paper. However, as to the nitty-gritty of the actual implementation of the final agreements on ending the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia and the actual administration of Cambodia by UNTAC, many thorny issues are yet to be addressed. Nevertheless, thus far, there has been some sort of consensus on a few important points of this administration:

1]UNTAC will administer Cambodia over a period of two years;

2]It will run five key ministries (interior, defence, finance, foreign affairs and information) and have 10,000 peace-keepers and 10,000 civilian staff;

3]The financial burden on the UN, that is, on the international community, will be between three and five billion US dollars.

The UN's commitment would appear adequate if all direct parties to the war were to wholeheartedly agree to and abide by the terms of the settlement that will eventually be reached at the Paris International Conference on Cambodia. Past experiences in the region and the present situation and political forces in Cambodia do not seem to warrant such a happy development. Vietnam violated the 1954 Geneva Agreements on Indochina, the 1973 Paris Accords on ending the Vietnam War, and its own recognition of the Cambodian territorial integrity in 1967. The Khmer Rouge did not delivered what they had promised to the Cambodian people in March 1970. Already the six Members of the SNC from the Khmer People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP) have attempted to violate the Jakarta agreement already, at the SNC Meeting in Bangkok and after.

It is likely that both communist parties, when under irresistable pressure, would simply go along with the Perm Five's transitional arrangements, make the most of them, behave before the elections and try to win them. They would just lie low and hide their fangs under UNTAC’s rule. It is very likely that the outcome of these elections would be unfavourable to at least one of these rival parties. The losing party would not be happy and would not hesitate to seize the opportunity offered by social disorganization and political instability to come back to power.

Its cadres including army officers who are used to having power and riches by the use of this power and who cannot find other satisfactory employment because of its shortage or of their lack of skills and knowledge would then organize themselves and resort to their old ways once UNTAC is out of Cambodia, History in the region has shown that the communists are very patient and can wait for a very long time. Two years away is simply tomorrow for them. The ineffective role and, at the end, the departure from Cambodia in the late 1960s of the International Control Commission that eventually led to the final collapse of Cambodia should be a strong reminder.

As has been well known already' very few former colonies have experienced political and social stability let alone, economic prosperity in the aftermath of the colonial rule. Cambodia itself experienced continued political instability after the departure of the French until it finally collapsed when the Vietnam war was extended to its territory. But then it had at least social and, until the early 1960s, economic stability thanks to its strong institutions such as its Monarchy, its religion and its vast land compared with a small population. But now Cambodia is in a much worse condition than it was in the aftermath of French rule. The probability of a dangerous political, social and economic instability and of the ensuing struggle for power is very high.

The international community which has been so generous to the Cambodian people should reconsider the deadline of UNTAC and make its commitment to looking after these people an open-ended one. The costs of this open-ended commitment may not be necessarily higher as it would force at least the present generation of communists to abandon right from the beginning all hopes of regaining power by their old ways and to learn, as lately in Eastern Europe and Mongolia, a democratic' way to power.

Once all abandon these hopes and the Monarchy restored UNTAC will have more cooperation from them and an environment far more conducive to its effective administration and could start to gradually phase out its costly staff earlier than planned until at the end it would simply need a skeletal staff of technical advisors to assist the Cambodian authorities.

M.H. Lao is director of the Institute of Public Administration of the Khmer People's National Liberation Front.

Word of a Little Ambitious Princess

An article from KI-media
Click here for original story:

Japan is not taking Cambodia's election seriously: it sends in a mere 25 election observers

Japan to send 25 election monitors to Cambodia in late July

Friday 06th June, 2008Japan Today

TOKYO — Japan will dispatch 25 election observers to Cambodia on a 10-day mission to monitor the July 27 general election, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.About 10 members of the team will be selected from the general public through open recruitment on the ministry’s website.

For people who oppose to the current leader are always having much things to say about the International Observers who were in Cambodia for the past few elections and who will be in Cambodia again for this up coming election. They would come to fullfil their roles and duties as the friendly nation to Cambodia, under the request and plight of others and that's including the Oppostion Leader, of course; at the expenses of their own and each individual country tax payers' fund, to ensure that election in Cambodia is up to an acceptable level [considering that Cambodia 1st ever had an election with multiple-political parties in 1993, and for decades since the 70's] if not up to a standard of countries where democracy is 100 years old or more.

Last election in 2003, Opposition party was not impressed with International Observers when they declared the election was acceptable to a free and fair level, then people who oppose to the current leader complained that International observers were not in country long enough to know everything and they [Interbational Observers] were merely in the country 3 or 4 days before the election and out again the day after the election; now again this particular site [KI-Media] is fuming, screaming their head off and stated in the article tiltle that "Japan is not taking Cambodia's election seriously: it sends in a mere 25 election observers".

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Japanese Government, in particular, the current leader of Japan now has numerous credentials and abilities under his belt then a few of us who make comment and wrote the Article Tittle here, and may be much more than opposition leader.

If I am not wrong Socheata is still realy a young girl growing up in country where yet she has learned the history of the country [USA].

Admiring your ambition but you are really off track about countries that would send their people to Cambodia in particular this up-coming election.

A Look at Cambodia’s Minor Parties

Click here for original and full story A Look at Cambodia’s Minor Parties

Courtesy of Phnom Penh Post at http://www.phnompenhpost.com

Written by Sebastian Strangio & Nguon Sovan

Friday, 30 May 2008


Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party
Founded: May 2002

President: Hang Dara, 56.

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in January 1979, Dara joined the royalist opposition to the Vietnamese military occupation of Cambodia and was imprisoned in 1988 at Phnom Penh’s T3 prison for his political activism. Between 1993 and 2002 Dara was active in Funcinpec, before entering the Buddhist sangha after the 2003 national elections.

Platform: Support the royalist regime; resettle illegal immigrants; settle border disputes to regain Khmer territory; smash tyrants and corrupt officials; improve Khmer living conditions through extensive access to health and education; eliminate corruption via the adoption of an anti-graft law; promote local produce; and establish inter-ministries to manage oil and gas deposits transparently.

Candidates: 123, in all 24 cities and provinces

Seats expected: 10 to 15

Society of Justice Party

Founded: August 2006

President: Ban Sophal, 51.

Served for Funcinpec as the deputy governor of Battambang province in 1993-95 and as undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Cults and Religion in 1997-98. From 1999 to 2004, he was an advisor to assassinated union leader Chea Vichea and is currently an advisor to the Ministry of Interior.

Platform: Promptly amend the Constitutional law to restrict an individual to two terms as prime minister; ensure that political parties cannot arbitrarily dismiss lawmakers; ensure that the courts are independent of any political control; support the royalist regime; resettle illegal immigrants; settle border disputes to regain Khmer territory; eliminate corruption without waiting for the anti-graft law; reduce the inflation rate and manage oil and gas transparently by encouraging Cambodian students to study in countries which are experienced in oil resource management.

Candidates: 46, in Battambang, Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Pursat, Siem Reap, and Kampong Chhnang

Seats Expected: At least one seat in Battambang

League for Democracy Party

Founded: March 2006

President: Khem Veasna, 37. Veasna joined the SRP in 1997 and was an SRP lawmaker in Prey Veng province from 2003 to 2005.


Platform: Defend Cambodia’s independence, sovereignty, and territory integrity; create laws and mechanisms to fight corruption; take action against illegal land grabbing; increase salaries of civil servants and soldiers; adjust the school curriculum by adding elements of moral education and national conscience; focus on the development of border and rural areas; crack down on crime and reform the judiciary; limit the prime minister to two terms, and prevent him from creating a personal bodyguard unit and living in a residence provided by the state.

Candidates: 123, in all 24 cities and provinces

Seats expected: At least one seat

Khmer Anti-Poverty Party

Founded: September 2007

President: Daran Kravanh, 51.

Born in Pursat province, Kravanh received a degree in anthropology and sociology from Evergreen State College in the US in 1988. After graduating, he worked extensively with widows, orphans, the homeless and the disabled in Tacoma, Washington State.

Platform: The party aims to reduce poverty, protect land titles, fight corruption, increase the salary of the civil service and armed forces and to eliminate deforestation and the depletion of the Kingdom’s natural resources. It also pledges to defend Cambodia’s territorial integrity from the power of any foreign country or tyrant leader, and to create four new ministries: of Anti-Corruption, Job Seeking, Disabled People, and Welfare and Social Work.

Candidates: 120, in all 24 cities and provinces

Seats expected: 41 seats

Khmer Democratic Party

Founded: March 1998

President: Uk Phourik, 63.

A former professor of chemistry, Phourik was a founder and deputy president of the KDP from1970 to 1998. Since 1997, he has been an advisor to the government with the rank of minister, a member of the Council of Lawyers at the Council of Ministers, a practicing lawyer and a member of the Bar Association of Cambodia. He is also legal advisor to the supreme patriarch Buo Kry, head of the Buddhist Thommayut sect.

Platform: Comply with the Constitutional law and promote the rule of law; promote respect for democracy and human rights; promote market economic policies and gain the support of national and international financial institutions; promote human resource development, employment and salary increases; fight corruption; eliminate anarchy, terror, thievery, drug and human trafficking and forest crimes; and preserve Cambodia’s cultural heritage and social morality.

Candidates: 123, in all 24 cities and provinces.

Seats expected: Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Kandal

Khmer Republican Party

Founded: March 2005

President: Lon Rith, 46.

The eldest son of General Lon Nol, who ruled Cambodia from 1970-1975, Rith has no prior involvement in Cambodian politics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Fullerton University, California, and is the chairman of the Association of Cambodia-born Americans in Long Beach, California.

Platform: National unification for national independence; reconstruction of the nation; defense of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; increases in living standards.

Candidates: 73, in nine provinces: Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Kampong Chhnang, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom

Seats expected: At least one

Election 2008 - The Debate

An article from Ki-media

Click here for original and full story: NEC Issues Debate Questions to Parties

By Chun Sakada, VOA KhmerOriginal report from Phnom Penh05 June 2008

Click here to listen to the program in Khmer

The National Election Committee on Thursday issued a list of questions to all the competing political parties for July's general elections, in preparation for a series of roundtable debates to be held in the upcoming campaign period.

NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said each of the 15 questions was important for helping voters decide on which party might serve them best. The questions focus on:-

The economy, corruption, natural environment, tourism, social
security, justice, immigration, rule of law, public
health, land disputes, foreign
policy, prostitution, drugs, international borders, rights
of women and children, rural development, poverty reduction
and education.

First of all, my sincere and due respect to:-

The National Election Commission, all political parties who will be participated in the debate, the particpants; in particular, the RGC for taking this historical step forward and for making this round table debate possible.

This is the 1st time ever since the 1993 general elections, that political parties' representatives would sit together at the same table and, face each other and face the crutinized questions from participants and voters.

Now, the voters would have the chance to pose questions, to have the comprehensive and 1st hand thought and insigth to each individual political party's policy and platform.

Voters should take this opportunity and wisely to cast theirs vote on the election day.

Hun Manet

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Click here for original and full story: A Hun (Sen) Dynasty In The Making?

Editorial by Khmerization

“Despite past rumours and past denials, people are not easily gullible enough to
believe that Mr. Hun Sen has given up the idea of a political
dynasty. This time, by constantly and publicly berating and castigating the
critics of his son’s possible entering into the political arena, Mr. Hun Sen has
no doubt left the impression that people are seeing a political dynasty in the
making in Cambodia.”

With mulit-degrees achieved and had under his belt; ranging from Bachelore to Master and Ph.D from both the USA and UK, in particular the Westpoint [where many young Americans are dreaming to be a graduate]Hun Manet certainly has the potential and well-equipped himself to be in the leadership role in either private sector and politic should he wish to take upon.

Believing in the "Constitution" stipulated a clause on age restriction for young people who want to be in politic, and therefore I personally can see young Hun Manet would be in politic any sooner. However, at the mean time; he is in the good postion to groom himself and be ready entring the politic arena [should he wish] with most available guidances from his father's subordinates who are either ministers and advisors as his personal mentor[s].

It would be interesting also to see the leadership style and differences young Hun Mate could do for the country, considering the insight knowledge he has learned and seen under the leadership of his father and the democratic systems in both the USA and UK.

The issue of Hun Manet succeeding his father, Prime Minister Hun Sen, has popped
up so very often that deserves my attention and warrants my comments. But before
I launch into a barrage of personal opinions and factual history, I would like
to draw some analogy in regard to Mr. Hun Sen’s future political dynasty. (Read
Hun Sen's speech about Hun Manet's political future here).

Personally, I cannot foresee that this could happen at all. In matter of fact, Cambodia nowadays is quite different from Cambodia decades ago, in particular, the political structures which are drastically and completely changed and there are majority [parties that are currently seating in the National Assembly and Senate such as CPP, FUNCIPEC, SRP] and minority [NRP, HRP and others] political parties contesting in any commune and general election.

Personally, I strongly beleived the "Constitution" would not allow to be hand picked or handed down the leadership to any particular person except to be elected by people trhough the general election.

Personally, I strongly beleived there will definitely chains or reactions from people from all walks of life and in particular within the CPP - the hardliners and old guards who would bitterly oppose to such a hand down of leadership role.

Khieu Samphan's Health

Anarticle from KI-media.

Click here for original and full story: Khieu Samphan to cheat the KR Tribunal? Death may free him from judgment

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The Khmer Rouge's 76-year-old former head of state, who is awaiting trial on war crimes charges, has suffered an apparent stroke and can barely speak, his lawyer said Wednesday. Khieu Samphan was rushed from his detention cell to a hospital on May 21 with high blood pressure. Since then, his condition has worsened, said attorney Say Bory, who is defending him at the U.N.-backed genocide tribunal scheduled to start later this year.

Everything could go wrong with every ordinary person's health and without any sign of warning. It is quite obvious for a person at the age of 76 whose health would eventually deteroriate and prone to secum to all sort of illness: Hypertension, stroke, heart diseas and dementia.

Many fear the aging suspects might die before they ever see a courtroom.

If it's God willing - Khieu Samphan may survive one stroke after another or he may slip through this world on his sleep. But for the meantime, the court will not trial a person deemed to be physically or mentally unfit and ill.

The former of Yougoslave - Slobodan Melosovic case was closed when he was pronounced death by medical officer.

Legalizing the industry?

An Article from KI-media.

Click for original and full story Sex workers demand law amendment

Monday, June 2, 2008

Everyday.com.kh. Translated from Khmer by Socheata.

"Keo Tha asked the government to recognize the sex trade and to agree to recognize it as a job just like any other jobs, and she asked that there will be rights protection for these workers to earn a living as well".

On Sunday, 5,000 members of the Women’s Network for Unity (WNU), which is an organization including sex workers, have all agreed to send a letter to Prime minister Hun Sen to ask for his intervention in bringing an amendment to law on human and sex trafficking.

"Law on Suression of the Kidnapping, traffacking and Expolitation of Human being has an objective of suppressing the acts of kidnapping of persons for trafficking/sale and the exploitation of persons, in order to rehabilitate and upgrade respect for good national tradition, to protect human dignity and to protect the health and welfare of the people.

Was passed by the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, on 16 January 1996, During the 5th of Ordinary Session of its 1st Legislature

click here to read Chapter One "GENERAL PROVISION" - Law on Suppression of the Kidnapping, Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Beings http://www.cdpcambodia.org/trafficking_law.asp]

The plight of the WNU is to protect its members who are or may be in the trade from the underground facilities or being arrested by the authpority concerned.

Personally, I don't think and I cannot see a particular lawmaker from any political party would rush out to propose such an amendment to the law while taking into serious consideration the climate of recent proposed "Law on Monogamy", and the concerns of what might be the chains of reactions from people from all walk of life against that particular lawmaker and the concerned party.