01 November 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea Newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Samdach Akkak Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor Hun Sen, prime minister of the royal government of Cambodia, said that the king of Cambodia is a king that brings luck to Cambodia by bringing double digit economic progress to Cambodia for three years in the row.
Hun Sen made this statement during a diploma distribution ceremony to students on 30 October at the education institute, a date which coincide with the celebration of the anniversary of the ascent to the throne by the king on 29 October.
Hun Sen declared that people all over the country are celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the ascent to the throne by King Norodom Sihamoni, and they are also celebrating the double digit economic progress in the past consecutive 3 years in Cambodia. Hun Sen said that the king brings “good feng shui” to the nation.
Hun Sen added that, it is true that if we don’t put effort in, we wouldn’t reap such economic progress either, however, based on folk belief, the king ascended to the throne at the same time that the economy progressed by double digits: 10% in 2004, 13.5% in 2005, and 10.8% in 2006, and for 2007, the forecast number is 9.5% already, and Hun Sen said that he expects the 2007 number to be higher because of the large contribution from the agriculture sector also.
Hun Sen also shows the reason why Cambodia selected the monarchy regime once again rather than the republican regime. Hun Sen added that the monarchy was destroyed in 1970, but 23 years later, in 1993, the monarchy was born again.
Hun Sen said that it is not a joke that we selected the constitutional monarchy system. Examples in many countries show problems, such as in France and Ukraine, where the president comes from one political party, and the prime minister from another one, and this situation is not good for the country. This is why we (Cambodia) chose the constitutional monarchy regime even though the government was stalled in 2003, but the monarchy was not touched by this stalling.
This is an important point because, otherwise, we would have to pay the price twice: once to elect the president, and once to elect the prime minister who will form the government. However, this issue is not important, the major problem stems from the fact that this situation could bring strife: strife due to the president and strife due to the formation of the government. Therefore the selection of the constitutional monarchy was not done by accident.
Hun Sen made this statement during a diploma distribution ceremony to students on 30 October at the education institute, a date which coincide with the celebration of the anniversary of the ascent to the throne by the king on 29 October.
Hun Sen declared that people all over the country are celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the ascent to the throne by King Norodom Sihamoni, and they are also celebrating the double digit economic progress in the past consecutive 3 years in Cambodia. Hun Sen said that the king brings “good feng shui” to the nation.
Hun Sen added that, it is true that if we don’t put effort in, we wouldn’t reap such economic progress either, however, based on folk belief, the king ascended to the throne at the same time that the economy progressed by double digits: 10% in 2004, 13.5% in 2005, and 10.8% in 2006, and for 2007, the forecast number is 9.5% already, and Hun Sen said that he expects the 2007 number to be higher because of the large contribution from the agriculture sector also.
Hun Sen also shows the reason why Cambodia selected the monarchy regime once again rather than the republican regime. Hun Sen added that the monarchy was destroyed in 1970, but 23 years later, in 1993, the monarchy was born again.
Hun Sen said that it is not a joke that we selected the constitutional monarchy system. Examples in many countries show problems, such as in France and Ukraine, where the president comes from one political party, and the prime minister from another one, and this situation is not good for the country. This is why we (Cambodia) chose the constitutional monarchy regime even though the government was stalled in 2003, but the monarchy was not touched by this stalling.
This is an important point because, otherwise, we would have to pay the price twice: once to elect the president, and once to elect the prime minister who will form the government. However, this issue is not important, the major problem stems from the fact that this situation could bring strife: strife due to the president and strife due to the formation of the government. Therefore the selection of the constitutional monarchy was not done by accident.
19 comments:
You're right because monarchy is under the govn't's legs. The king has no right the same as constitutional codes.
Whar would happen to the King when the economy slows down or stagnates? Would he then seen as bringing "bad feng shui" to the economy and be deposed?
Let's not be so extreme: communist at one time, at another time royalist?
A royalist leader would invite the King to preside over important ground-breaking, inauguration and graduation ceremonies, and organise His visits to different places across the country, for instance. This is one way of instilling and embedding royalism in our people.
At the same time, the same leader would enact a law on the organisation and functioning of the Supreme Council for National Defence whose Chair is the King. Then our Commander-in-Chief would be accountable to the King,, the Supreme Comander of the Roal Cambodian Armed Forces, not to the Prime Minister.
The same leader would also enact a law on the organisation and functioning of the National Congress whose chair is also the King. Our people or some of them could then assemble in December every year to hear reports of their leaders in front of their King. We could hold that national Congress at our Olympics Stadium. Millions come to the water festival in front of the Royal Palace every year. Certainly, they could also come to participate in the National Congress. What a grandiose event! What a great nation cambodia would become when people from every corner of the realm could assemble together with all their leaders in front of their King to debates their national issues!
The Cambodian nation would then put into practice two of the seven teachings of Buddha to achieve prosperity and prove that, as stipulated in its constitution, Buddhism is indeed the religion of the State :
"First, people should assemble often to discuss conditions and to provide for the national defence. Second, in the consideration of national affairs people of all social classes should meet together in unity."
Furthermore such a leader would lead his government members to have an audience with the King twice a month to brief him on the situation of the country and what the government has been doing.
Both institutions above and this audience are provided for in our constitution.
Let's hope our prime minister will show his genuine royalism in his deeds as suggested above, and despel any doubt that his love of the monarchy might just be cupboard love.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Dear Dr Lao Mong Hay,
I know that you are very close to Kem Sokha and Son Souber. Could you please give some advices to them not to break the voice of democracy because at this stage as we have seen clearly that our beloved country is not completely independent yet. Sometime they are so blind and not able to think clearly. I use to know Son Souber and his father for example when they supported the king they just totally blindly support and never listen to any body nor dare to do any correction to the king at all, that is very dangerous.
Thank you so much in advance.
Fron KI's reader
CPP= Bunch of Morons
The King DO NOT have omnipotent power to control the outcomes of economy or the weather, or predict future of the countrymen! HUn Sen, why don't YOU go back to REM state!
HE FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE KING BROUGHT THE DARKENING CLOUDS OVER CAMBODIA. While he is having tea, good foods, and warm place and comfort from his love one, Khmers people are being displaced from their home. In the past 3 years, how many incidences that we knew that the citizens being evicted, NOT BY CHOICE. THE CITIZENS BEING COERCIVELY FORCED OUT LIKE THE KR STYLE! What or has the Norodom do anything to intervene?
The border conflicts among our neighbors are a HOT topic! Khmer people are abused/killed/terrorized on his/her soil by the VN/Thais/not much Laotians. But, What or has the Norodom do to intervene?
All I knew is that the King left the Country to have some more teas with the foreigners abroad. Are you telling me that the Norodom is "God King"? Come on people, wake up, Khmers people are DEPRIVED of his/her property ownership, no place to live, no basic needs for activity of daily living.
Last but not least, until I see the the able body in the CPP, then I shall believe that they are working the country. OTHERWISE HUN/NORODOM = LEECHES!(parasitic worms being)
Shut the f--k up! Ah Kwang.
Ah Kwang, the Father Mucker!
Mr.5:47PM,
Thank you so much for your request,but Their Excellencies Son Soubert and Kem Sokha are all grown up people. I think they are wise enough to weigh the consequences of their action.I can do very little to influence them, only by not joining them. I had tried to get all sides to continue their dialogues beforce the formal creation of the Human Rights Party. I failed.
I also tried to get the Ranariddh Party and FUNCINPEC to reach a settlement out of court before the actual trial of Ranariddh. Each party claimed to have all evidence to defeat its opponent. I failed too.
I'm not deterred by my successive failures though, and I will continue to do my best to help create a climate more favourable to dialogues between "democrats" and between "democrats" and "non-democracts". But I cannot promise anything.
It's a real shame for us Khmers when we still need foreigners such European MP Ann Clwyd to tell us what we need to do when we know very well what to do and we could do it ourselves.
Perhaps we all (myself included) still have slave mentality.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Mr.5:47PM,
Thank you so much for your request,but Their Excellencies Son Soubert and Kem Sokha are all grown up people. I think they are wise enough to weigh the consequences of their action.I can do very little to influence them, only by not joining them. I had tried to get all sides to continue their dialogues beforce the formal creation of the Human Rights Party. I failed.
I also tried to get the Ranariddh Party and FUNCINPEC to reach a settlement out of court before the actual trial of Ranariddh. Each party claimed to have all evidence to defeat its opponent. I failed too.
I'm not deterred by my successive failures though, and I will continue to do my best to help create a climate more favourable to dialogues between "democrats" and between "democrats" and "non-democracts". But I cannot promise anything.
It's a real shame for us Khmers when we still need foreigners such European MP Ann Clwyd to tell us what we need to do when we know very well what to do and we could do it ourselves.
Perhaps we all (myself included) still have slave mentality.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Ladies, gentlemen, king, queen and all, enough with the fluky theories, alright? Let the fact stand as it is, shall we?
No, you Viet troller's pretending-to-be-khmer @1:21 AM loitering/spamming/littering of KI-Media doesn't count.
KI-Media's readers now know who you are..so..
Go home Viet troller!
Re: Perhaps we all (myself included) still have slave mentality.
Being sarcastic [Loke Omm] Dr. Lao Mong Hay dear?
With the exception of just a very very few, the Killing Fields left over of your generation apparently abandoned us all...Either they give up on us altogether or perhaps they still cling on to this so-called stoical mentality that I, myself thus far, am unable to comprehend.
Is it just because of this so-called "Sangkum Reastr Niyum" demagogical politics of that once's cute Chasseloup-Laubat Viet school graduated known to us all as SIHANOUK the playboy?
Or is it just the way that you all are because of how the French had educated you to be?
It is not that Khmer does not have scholars, intellectuals etc...to say the least, but my question remains - where is their patriotism and nationalism?
Has Sihanouk succeeded in detroying it all?
Passer-by
And why are you looking for patriotism and nationalism, 8:39?
9:32 AM, I wish ong Ho was still alive, he could answer your question. Actually, his people are still carrying on his ambition.
Okay then, how much has ong Ho's people accomplished so far since ong Ho passed away?
Patriotism and nationalism does not always equate to quick achievement of high GDP or economic growth, but what Ho did was to unite his people, gave pride to them. His ambition to control Indochina is also working. And it is just a matter of time before we all see how those ambitions are realized. On the other hand, Cambodia is a good example of a nation where there is a lack of great vision, patrotism, and nationalism, where nothing, but chaos, tragedy, and misery thrive. The recent annual double-digit economic growths did not translate to alliviated living standard of the majority poors, but rather fattened a corrupted fews.
I disagreed, 12:04. No economical growth except for full growth economy will be able to take care of everyone. A 20% growth for example means it will take care 20% of the rich, 20% of the middle class, and 20% of the poor, not 100% of everyone. Thus, some of the rich, middle class, and poor are left out of the benefit until Cambodia is fully growth. What you learned is from a political biased publishers who focus on some the poor that has yet to see their share of the benefit and blow it out of proportion. It is just an all trick and every educated people know this. That is why tiptop organization like world bank, IMF, ... or UN is not very hard on our case.
Furthermore, I also dissagreed about the need of patrotism, and nationalism. It is not that we never had it. It is just that we are not exercise it justly or morally. What you suggested here is to take a preempted action based on speculation. And that is dangerous because that is exactly why Cambodia is the smallest nation in the region today.
Mr. 8:39 AM,
I very much appreciate your comment.
You know the phrase "intellectual" was first coined in France in the 17th century when French writer Voltaire had found justice for Jean Callas, an innocent man who had been sentenced to death by breaking all his bones while tied to a cart wheel: "An intellectual is someone who has the audacity to meddle with that which is none of his business", in original French: "Un intellectuel, c'est quelqu'un qui a l'audace de se meler de ce qui ne le regarde pas."
Have you come across such intellectuals in our country?
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
12:42 PM, I did not suggest any "pre-empted" or any what so ever action. I responded 9:32AM's (probably you) question why nationalism and patriotism are needed. My point is having patriotism and nationalism provides a sense of purpose and unity. Patriotism and nationalism does not mean extremism and paranoia, which it seems you may have tried to connect based on the KR example.
I also disagree with your conception of the spread of economic growth. For example, let's use the garment industry as a case, if the number of garment products exported this year is increased over last year's number by 20%, while the factory workers are still putting in the same number hours of work and getting the same amount of pay, that 20% increase does not contribute anything to the improvement of the living standard of these workers. You might argue that the increase probably resulted in increased number of people employed, but it would be better if, with a sense of nationalism, the government and the private sectors use the extra revenues and profits to invest in the betterment of people's well-being.
Again, the point here is that without nationalism and patriotism, even with good help from the economy, the system of evry-man-for-his-own will prolong the process and goal of eliminating poverty. It is not a comfort to see that after so many years of growth, only the same few people always get included in the numerator, and the same poors remain in the common denominator. I guess we have to wait until Cambodia achieve "full growth?"
2:24, if you are not talking "preempted action" why do you bring ong Ho in the first place. We all know about ong Ho's dream. Personally, I don't see anything bad about his dream, but whether it will come true is only a speculation. Anyhow, so long you are not paranoid about it like many others people in here, I am okay with it.
As for the garment 20% increase, it is true that the increase is in the number of jobs, and those who received job are those who benefited, and those who doesn't, they'll continue to suffer. Now, if you want to see the same employed people to increase their standard of living by 20%, then we must find a way for those people to increase their productivity by 20%, or find a way to increase the price of garment by 20%. Otherwise, they will never see better days.
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