Wed, 26 Sep 2007Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
Posted online
When Prince Sisowath Thomico proposed to shut down the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on September 18, 2007, it was clear that politics is way out of his league. A more seasoned politician would have considered the impacts of the trial for both the Cambodian people and the international community.
The tribunal, if conduct appropriately, serves symbolically as a closure for millions whose lives impacted by the Khmer Rouge and also serves as retribution for future Cambodian leaders. It is a reminder that whatever course of actions a leader chooses to take, he or she must be prepared to answer or defend them in the court of law.
The international community has spent millions, times, and efforts working with the government to bring the tribunal its current status. The tribunal cannot be shut down on a whim. Besides, the tribunal must be free from the government intervention for it to have any credibility.
Prince Sisowath Thomico first came to the national scene when the prince was charged with defamation in October of 2005.
The prince does not seem to have sure footing in politics. In the span of two years, the 55-year-old prince has been on a political rollercoaster. Attempting to follow the footstep of the former monarch, the prince launched a new political party, Sangkum Jati Niyum Front Party with the aim to unite all royalists in August of 2006.
The prince said, "I trend to merge all royalists political parties in the kingdom for reaching success in the 2008 general election"
He dissolved his party to join the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) in June of 2007, and left NRP to join FUNCINPEC in July of 2007.
Yesterday, after a fail advocacy to shut down the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, the prince resigned from a post as senior advisor to FUNCINPEC.
In a broader picture, the prince's intention is noble. From all the political maneuverings, the prince attempts to revise the losing cause that is known as monarchism. Cambodia has changed forever ever since it experienced republicanism from 1970-1975.
As democracy continues to take roots deeper and deeper into the Khmer's psyche the further Cambodia will move away from monarchism. The closest to monarchism Cambodia will ever get to will be constitutional monarchy that is already part of the current constitution.
A misstep such as the one caused by Prince Sisowath Thomico and a few other incompetent members of the royal family reminds us that the former king Norodom Sihanouk understands the future role of the royal members in the kingdom when encouraged the princes and princesses to stay out of politics earlier this year.
The tribunal, if conduct appropriately, serves symbolically as a closure for millions whose lives impacted by the Khmer Rouge and also serves as retribution for future Cambodian leaders. It is a reminder that whatever course of actions a leader chooses to take, he or she must be prepared to answer or defend them in the court of law.
The international community has spent millions, times, and efforts working with the government to bring the tribunal its current status. The tribunal cannot be shut down on a whim. Besides, the tribunal must be free from the government intervention for it to have any credibility.
Prince Sisowath Thomico first came to the national scene when the prince was charged with defamation in October of 2005.
The prince does not seem to have sure footing in politics. In the span of two years, the 55-year-old prince has been on a political rollercoaster. Attempting to follow the footstep of the former monarch, the prince launched a new political party, Sangkum Jati Niyum Front Party with the aim to unite all royalists in August of 2006.
The prince said, "I trend to merge all royalists political parties in the kingdom for reaching success in the 2008 general election"
He dissolved his party to join the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) in June of 2007, and left NRP to join FUNCINPEC in July of 2007.
Yesterday, after a fail advocacy to shut down the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, the prince resigned from a post as senior advisor to FUNCINPEC.
In a broader picture, the prince's intention is noble. From all the political maneuverings, the prince attempts to revise the losing cause that is known as monarchism. Cambodia has changed forever ever since it experienced republicanism from 1970-1975.
As democracy continues to take roots deeper and deeper into the Khmer's psyche the further Cambodia will move away from monarchism. The closest to monarchism Cambodia will ever get to will be constitutional monarchy that is already part of the current constitution.
A misstep such as the one caused by Prince Sisowath Thomico and a few other incompetent members of the royal family reminds us that the former king Norodom Sihanouk understands the future role of the royal members in the kingdom when encouraged the princes and princesses to stay out of politics earlier this year.
13 comments:
Thomico! go away! you don't know how to build the country. You even don't know how to act in politics. He just want to kneel to Ranarith.
Let me tell you buddies, during the past(before1970) royal family killed each other for power(eventually lost land to VN or Thai) and killed innocent people. But there is no punishement on them. Now, Will Thomico try to use the same tool. No way kid, it is democracy!
Thomico,you are just a Cambodian blood sucker,go away your parasite groups,or go to French to replace your brain or your whole head and have never come back you suck.
Between a real Prince and an animal, Thomico has shown his animal mentality from a short test.
At the end of the day we are all realizing the bad deed it in the return to monarchism, by sending the idiot comes and help to finish to kingdom it self.
May God bless Cambodian people!
From time to time, if We have someone who had different opinions is really appreciated.
Thomico is a fool if He don't want a KRT. And in a meantime, if He wish to have a LaHaie KRT, that's really original. As you all know, khmer court is just a joke. The actual KRT is controlled by Hun Sen. Michelle Lee is just a puppy. It's seem for me that this actual KRT is worthless. Hun Sen do whatever He want. And We can't bring all khmer killers to tribunal, beginning by Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Men Sam Orn, Ouk Rabun, Keat Chhun.... All those people are CPP's member. COMMUNISTS!
Good to see that the government has everything under control, no kaos, riot, ... . Great job!
Thanks 5:53, and thanks to all hard working administrators.
Chey Yoh Hun Sen! Chey Yoh Hun Sen!
Five more years, Five more years,
Five more years, Five more years,
Five more years, Five more years, Five more years, Five more years, ...
I would rather see Hun Sen in control for five more years than having this fool running a mock of the country.
This is the reason why Cambodia had gone back to the year zero. It is because these idiots like the royalits and the communist Pol Pot and communist puppet Veitnamese Hun Sen running the country. They have now clue how run the country and clink to power forever. Long live democracy and the Cambodan peolple.
Policticians must take responsibility and respect human rights allow free speech and press in order the society to progress.
Most Khmers are like opossum. I mean when problems confronted them, all Khmers played DEAD or avoidance behavior. Khmers were born to have internal conflicts. Khmers fight Khmers, and that's all we are.
IF WE BECOME LIKE THE GERMAN, TORN DOWN THE WALL. COMMUNISTS HAS NO CHANCE!!!!!!!!! NOPE. WE ARE TOO EGOTISTICAL BEINGS.
Thomico, you are a real and good sham: Cambodia should be proud to have someone like you are. Keep on being like that ....
Thomoco's mind is instable. He is crazy and like Chakrapong, will make trouble with anyone who trusts him.
Khmer 7:23 must be one of the oppossums. How else does he know all Khmers are like oppossum? Are you having conflict with other Khmer's perspective? Just by reading your comments, I think you are the most greedy and disageeable Khmer. Are you doing something to contributing to Khmer society? or just play dead put Khmers down.
Well, 7:23 does have a point, but he's a little bit late for that. We would have been alright, had someone thought about what he said in the 16th century or so. Am I wrong?
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