Op-Ed by jayakhmer
Posted at http://www.modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com
As election is near, politicians are scrambling to find ways to ensure their place at the national political arena. This political maneuvering has happened before. It was done in the façade of national unity where political parties struck deals to form an alliance in order to face a stronger opponent. In the end, natural alliance emerged and politics was just as business as usual.
If we are not examining the issue carefully, it can be very confusing. Politicians tend to use undefined political terms to confuse people.
I am going to focus on two operating terms that being tossed back and forth out there – “the Royalists” and “the Democrats”. Who are the royalists and who are the democrats?
Here are the main parties to be contested in the 2008 election: The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), The FUNCINPEC Party (FUNCINPEC), and The Human Rights Party (HRP).
Let us examine the term “Royalists” first. Under the current constitution, aren’t we all royalists?
The answer to that question is a resounding “Yes”. Legally, we are royalists because Cambodia is a kingdom. As it states in article 131, the constitution is the highest law of the land within which it devotes at least 23 articles defining the role of the king.
If all of us are legally royalists, it is safe to draw a conclusion that all political parties are royalists.
Be careful. Politically speaking, not all royalist parties are equal.
For a moment one would think that FUNCINPEC and or the NRP have the credential or even the blood line, if you will, to be the legitimate royalist parties.
If you think so, you couldn’t be further from the truth. CPP, as it turns out, is the most royalist political party of all. CPP leaders evidently were just handsomely awarded with honors and titles that are too long and complicated to state them here.
Do not be fooled by political rhetoric of last minute scrambling designed to achieve a short term gain.
If alliance to be formed, it would be natural for CPP, FUNCINPEC, and the NRP to be together.
Who are the democrats?
Well, technically speaking all political parties are democratic. All seem to adhere to a certain democratic process to run their parties. As far as alliance is concerned, without the alliance of royalists, the only main parties left are the SRP and the HRP.
I also want to be cautioned here. Not all democrats are the same even when they all claim to be one.
If one of the democratic processes requires a transparency of elections within a party structure, the SRP and the HRP would meet that requirement. In principle, both parties are advocate for more democratic reform within the government.
Although the HRP is too new to have any track records that can be used to evaluate its political performance, it is safe to assume that the party is in the same mold as that of the SRP.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense, and it is natural for both parties to form an alliance of democrats if the two parties can compromise and find common ground to work together.
Between the two camps - royalists and democrats, politically parties should reject any flaw and unnatural alliances because unnatural alliances only last right after the next election.
If natural alliances are formed, this would give Cambodian people a clear choice to choose in the next election. This also takes away the guessing game out of election politics.
The only question we need to ask is that will CPP be willing to work or the share power with FUNCINPEC and the NRP when it is conceivable that CPP may already have enough votes to meet the simple majority requirement to form the next government without both FUNCINPEC and the NRP.
If we are not examining the issue carefully, it can be very confusing. Politicians tend to use undefined political terms to confuse people.
I am going to focus on two operating terms that being tossed back and forth out there – “the Royalists” and “the Democrats”. Who are the royalists and who are the democrats?
Here are the main parties to be contested in the 2008 election: The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), The FUNCINPEC Party (FUNCINPEC), and The Human Rights Party (HRP).
Let us examine the term “Royalists” first. Under the current constitution, aren’t we all royalists?
The answer to that question is a resounding “Yes”. Legally, we are royalists because Cambodia is a kingdom. As it states in article 131, the constitution is the highest law of the land within which it devotes at least 23 articles defining the role of the king.
If all of us are legally royalists, it is safe to draw a conclusion that all political parties are royalists.
Be careful. Politically speaking, not all royalist parties are equal.
For a moment one would think that FUNCINPEC and or the NRP have the credential or even the blood line, if you will, to be the legitimate royalist parties.
If you think so, you couldn’t be further from the truth. CPP, as it turns out, is the most royalist political party of all. CPP leaders evidently were just handsomely awarded with honors and titles that are too long and complicated to state them here.
Do not be fooled by political rhetoric of last minute scrambling designed to achieve a short term gain.
If alliance to be formed, it would be natural for CPP, FUNCINPEC, and the NRP to be together.
Who are the democrats?
Well, technically speaking all political parties are democratic. All seem to adhere to a certain democratic process to run their parties. As far as alliance is concerned, without the alliance of royalists, the only main parties left are the SRP and the HRP.
I also want to be cautioned here. Not all democrats are the same even when they all claim to be one.
If one of the democratic processes requires a transparency of elections within a party structure, the SRP and the HRP would meet that requirement. In principle, both parties are advocate for more democratic reform within the government.
Although the HRP is too new to have any track records that can be used to evaluate its political performance, it is safe to assume that the party is in the same mold as that of the SRP.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense, and it is natural for both parties to form an alliance of democrats if the two parties can compromise and find common ground to work together.
Between the two camps - royalists and democrats, politically parties should reject any flaw and unnatural alliances because unnatural alliances only last right after the next election.
If natural alliances are formed, this would give Cambodian people a clear choice to choose in the next election. This also takes away the guessing game out of election politics.
The only question we need to ask is that will CPP be willing to work or the share power with FUNCINPEC and the NRP when it is conceivable that CPP may already have enough votes to meet the simple majority requirement to form the next government without both FUNCINPEC and the NRP.
17 comments:
Good analysis! It's worth food for thoughts. But I think it might be too early for them to form alliance. It might be better off to have them come of age before anything should take shape. There are still a lot of untrusted feelings among them and if them prove themselves genuine it will take a lot of time to do, to heal and build themselves alliance naturally.
The alliance will never works, especially with the royalists. You know it, I know it, most Khmer intellectuals know it. The royalists they never think of Cambodia, the SRP and HRP are just expendable commodities for the royalists in any alliance. So don't waste time SRP, and HRP. However there is hope if SRP and HRP can somehow resolve their differences between them.
I agreed with 5:21AM. WE ARE KHMERS! Having internal conflict is what Khmers all about! We are not working for the country or anyone else that's not what Khmers all about!
Everyone is his or her own head. This is why Khmers lose the land to the neighboring countries! WE ARE IMMORAL/EGOTISTICAL BEING ON THE PLANET.
Remember this we can live only 50, 60, or may be 120 years old. Depend on how we control our life,we can live longer or shorter.
Just stop and think when we all pass away, Who do you think you leave behind ?. Not thai either vietnamese that we left behind,
Your children, My chirldren, Our children and our people.
This is new begining of our new generations please don't let evil one laughing at us show them that we are Cambodia nice and kind from our ancestor, We can rebuild our country for our children for thier future.
Go CPP for Khmer democracy that work for Khmer people. The other democracy don't work. It is just bad, unrealistic, and unproven democracy that will destroyed Cambodia within a few short years.
To Jayakhmer from me KONG Hean,
Before giving my comment to Jayakhmer's article posted right above, I would like to define the two following words:
1- Royalist: a supporter of the monarchy,
2- Democrat: an advocate of democracy.
Considering the definitions of these two words, I think there is in Cambodia neither a royalist party nor a politically democratic establishment. To be perfectly honest, it was the CPP and its strongman Hun Sen who resurrected in 1993 the Second Khmer Monarchy. The First Khmer Monarchy had been killed by King Norodom Sihanouk since 1960 after the passing of His father King Norodom Suramarith. Why did King Norodom Sihanouk kill the Monarchy? Because He never wanted anyone in a higher position than Him.
As I've said, the CPP and Hun Sen have revived the Khmer Monarchy. Does it mean that the CPP and Hun Sen are royalist? Absolutely not. Not one communist in this planet earth likes the monarchy. They always consider the monarchy as either parasite or despicable pest. In orther words, the monarchy is their enemy. What did the CPP and Hun Sen resurrect the monarchy for? They need the monarchy for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only:
a- To give false impression to the world that they are no longer communists,
b- To escape the judgement by contemporary Khmer history which will one day point the index finger to them as the lackey of Hanoi, thus traitor to the entire Khmer nation.
Finally, are Funcinpec, NRP, SRP, HRP or whatever-P royalist parties? They are not. They are opportunists pure and simple. They do not support the monarchy, nor do they respect and defend this supra institution. They are simply making good use of the monarchy for their vested interests, period.
For me, none of the existing 30 or so political identities in Cambodia is a democratic party. Why? Because none of them including SRP and HRP really likes or supports democracy, let alone advocate this ideal. You do not need Albert Einstein to tell you this. Just look closely at the way their leaders handling the internal affairs of the parties and you will see that they behave exactly the same way as all despots do: listen to no-one, make no attempt whatsoever to promote the notion of fair-mindedness and do not give a damn about Cambodia and her people. They establish their parties to simply:
a- make money and wealth by acting as democracy window-dresser for the CPP and Hun Sen,
b- lift their social status and image whilst they are simply nobody when they lived abroad.
Taking account of these two aspects which spread across the whole political spectrum, there is absolutely no chance whatsoever for these paries, besides the CPP, to unite. They may unite for a short while, of course, but just to bite each other to death pretty much the same way as any dogs in a buddhist temple normally do.
Only People Power should be given high consideration if Cambodia is to be liberated from the iron grip of Vietnam. Anything else gives you only false expectation and hope, thus slams shut the window of opportunity for People Power to break out!!!
Yours KONG Hean,
Stop dreaming, 10:50, no one feels they are being griped by anyone, except for Ah Khmer-Yuons from Vietnam.
Even though the opposition parties will win the 2008 election, Hanoi won't let Ah Hun Kwak releases military and police forces to the winner anyway. So the results will be the same whether everyone likes it or not, still Ah Hun Kwak is the brutal Khmer leader because these forces are under Hanoi control.
Oh, stop blaming the CPP for all of your stupidities. If you are worry about Hanoi, then what you have to do is to build good relation with Hanoi before hand, that is all.
I can't believed that I have to tell you retarded people all these 3rd graders' stuffs.
It is hard to give credit HRP as democratic party or vice versa because this party is really new and immature.
But alliance of SRP and HRP happens only if HRP not set up any condition according their empty new party.
However, SRP should pay attention that alliance is good, especially alliance in the grassroots of the people...not alliance only for top leaders to use the chance to get power.
True alliance from SRP's perspective is at the grassroots of Cambodian people who want to see a change in Cambodia.
KY
Dream on, if you expect HRP to be SRP slave, 3:35. HRP has the right to be treated as peer, and it is time to nominate Kem Soka as PM to competete with the CPP. It makes no sense to run with the same loser (Sam Rainsy) over and over and lose everyone time.
Who is loser when SRP has been constantly increasing their MPs and communal members, while HRP is empty and nothing...so how can he become PM?
You should build your dream, but I will not join with you.
Yeah, but stealing chairs from FUNCINPEC when they are at their worse moment doesn't count, and you know it, 5:25. The CPP also got some chairs from them, but they are not bragging about it. Fact of the matter is there is no change in the SRP, and Kem Soka should be able to get a lot more chairs then Sam Rainsy can. Thus, the two should formed and alliance -- May be called it ADP (Alliance Democratic Party) -- and nominate Kem Soka as PM, and Sam Rainsy can be DPM if we wanted too. What is wrong with that?
Folks,
There have been endless talks about an alliance between the SRP and the HRP on one side and between the Funcinpec and the NRP on the other. These attempts are made out of a mere desperation amongst politicians who know full well that only unity can achieve victory over the CPP and Hun Sen. Nevertheless, they don't know how to achieve or command unity.
In fact, unity is so easy to command if and only if people put these 3 things above all else:
1- Our fatherland Cambodia,
2- Our Khmer race and
3- The Khmer civilization.
To concentrate only on these 3 things, people have to cast aside such destructive forces as:
1- Selfishness
2- Greed
3- Ambition
4- Arrogance
5- Stubbornness and
6- Autocracy.
We now come to these 2 critical questions:
a- Would those politicians put Cambodia, Khmer people and the Khmer civilization above all else?
- Answer: Absolutely NOT.
b- Would those politicians cast aside all the 6 destructive forces listed above?
- Answer: NO WAY.
Frankly speaking, I hear people say everywhere I go that people who do politics simply want money, social status and power. They don't give a damn about Cambodia, Khmer people and the Khmer civilization.
Therefore, I concur entirely with Mr. Kong Hean that only People Power can salvage Cambodia from the dire situation it is facing right now. Anything else is a mere illusion!
Yeah, but the people loves CPP, and they hated the rest; therefore, they can just relaxed and watch Khmer government for Khmer people in action. Cambodia will soon to shine brighter than ever before.
1.THE CAMBODIA PEOPLE'S PARTY (CPP)
2.THE SAM RAINSY PARTY (SRP)
3.THE NORODOM RANARIDDH PARTY (NRP)
4.FUNCIPEC PARTY (FP)
5.THE HUMAN RIGHT PARTY (HRP)
Hello my name is P.O.V,My definitions is "Point Of View", Be honest with all of you.I am so happy to see our people have Election 2008.But I want to remind all party please don't let evil one laughing at us play it nice and play it safe.
We are not all alone we have United Nations and all other country support us.
Thank to UN for gaving us a faked Democracy!
UN go get the thank from Hun sen and Shihanouk!
You all dog face!
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