Hun Sen Touts Road and Bridge ProjectsBy Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
14 May 2008
Prime Minister Hun Sen boasted Wednesday of creating more than 400 kilometers of roads and many new bridges in the last two weeks alone, in a move observers say is a kind of campaigning ahead of the election.
Campaigning is officially set to begin June 26 and will run through July 25, two days before the polls open for general elections. But observers say remarks by Hun Sen broadcast on local media are aimed at pulling in voters sooner.
Hun Sen had “inaugurated some new national roads and bridges of more than 400 kilometers, during the last two weeks,” the prime minister told a crowd gathered for the opening of 152 kilometers of road and four bridges in Koh Kong province. “This is a marvel in the 21st Century, in what the Cambodia government and the people are cooperating with development partners to make for our Cambodians.”
“The people have asked him to continue,” Hun Sen said of himself. “After the election, I will take the prime minister post.”
Hun Sen’s public appearances were part of a “very important election campaign,” said Human Rights Party Vice President Keo Remy. They also amounted to “demagoguery to capture ballots from the voters.”
Opposition Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General Eng Chhay Ieng called the statements “propaganda.”
“He is proud of the right things,” Eng Chhay Ieng said. “But he must tell the public how much the government has in foreign debt.”
Yong Kim Eng, director of the People’s Center for Development and Peace, said Hun Sen’s speeches were an “election strategy” to show the public the achievements of the government.
Campaigning is officially set to begin June 26 and will run through July 25, two days before the polls open for general elections. But observers say remarks by Hun Sen broadcast on local media are aimed at pulling in voters sooner.
Hun Sen had “inaugurated some new national roads and bridges of more than 400 kilometers, during the last two weeks,” the prime minister told a crowd gathered for the opening of 152 kilometers of road and four bridges in Koh Kong province. “This is a marvel in the 21st Century, in what the Cambodia government and the people are cooperating with development partners to make for our Cambodians.”
“The people have asked him to continue,” Hun Sen said of himself. “After the election, I will take the prime minister post.”
Hun Sen’s public appearances were part of a “very important election campaign,” said Human Rights Party Vice President Keo Remy. They also amounted to “demagoguery to capture ballots from the voters.”
Opposition Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General Eng Chhay Ieng called the statements “propaganda.”
“He is proud of the right things,” Eng Chhay Ieng said. “But he must tell the public how much the government has in foreign debt.”
Yong Kim Eng, director of the People’s Center for Development and Peace, said Hun Sen’s speeches were an “election strategy” to show the public the achievements of the government.
40 comments:
The constructions by debt borrowings is just the way that allows ah Hun Sen to do corruption secretly !
It is better than Lon Nol who borrowed US money and allowed US army to bomb Cambodia just to kill the Khmers and to destroy our national infrastructures. We need infrastructures as driving forces of investment and economic development. Do not blind yourself and other people just because of your political interest. Think about the people and nation if you really love this country. If Samransy was to be elected,he would need to borrow money to build infrastructure as well. If not how economic development could be achieved. Or Samransy had magic hands with which he could build infrastructures without costing any money?????
We do not blind ourselves as you do. You have blinded yourselves for so long that you do not even know that Hun Xen is a blind traitor installed in power by Vitnam after it invaded Cambodia. For thirty years the barbaric Hun Xen group cast aside all ntional value as Khmer, and instead they create all kinds of problems to spoil the Khmer society. I value Hun Xen as a dog, a dog of Vietnam. And those who value Hun Xen as their leaders are just Hun Xen's dog that lack complete moral and selfrespect.
Why can't Hun Sen boast about the progress? Heck, senator Clinton even mentioned her "Baghdad" war-zone experience! Didn't Rainsi also boast about how the economy was better when he was the minister of Economics?
Hun Xen has no qualities to be Khmer leader.
It is inevitable for any deveopping country to get into debts.
Every Cambodian politician is very egoist. There is no exception for Samransy, who always manipulate the Cambodia situation after the first general election supported by UN. Have you noted that the increase of foreign direct investment had a lot to do with political stability and the growing of the attentions from international community, which determined investor's positive views on Cambodia investment climate at that time. Actually, it was a macro phenomena and thus not just Ransy's contribution alone. Of course, Ransy did a good job. But if he would remain in the office as the Minister of Economy, he should have been overseeing some development project used money borrowed, seeking to improve infrastructure.
I said you blind yourself because according to what you said, you are so idealist. You are idealist in such a way that you use your imagination as as lens to understand contemporary Cambodia. You are idealist because you want to build the future of Cambodia on the basis of your extreme imagination.
Cambodia now as a nation is not the same as Cambodia you knew 20 years ago.There are tremendous changes going on. Therefore, your logic of politics which was suited with Cambodia situation 20 years ago or so,is expired now. For that reason, I said you blind yourself, because you are confused between myth and reality. You are blinded because you see no difference between constructive patriotism and blinded patriotism.
You said "I did not even know that Hun Xen is a blind traitor installed in power by Vietnam after it invaded Cambodia". But do you know the nature of international relation alway changes. Once Margarete Thacher said, state has no permanent enemy but it has permanent interest. I can agree with you Vietnamese are greedy. But in the situation where Cambodia has 14 millions population, while Vietnam has 80 millions, what you want to do? You need war with Vietnam? how many highly educated people Vietnam has? Be a realistic person. Fighting and discrimination is no a solution. Your political view is so much influenced by hatred connected to Cambodia political and cultural history. I think US did more evil things than Vietnam at least in the modern history of Cambodia, but you ignore it. The suffering we have had started with US geopolitical game in Korean war, then Vietnam war. But perhaps because US just bomb your homeland and then they returned home, leaving causalities which later could be easily eroded from your memory, while the Vietnamese who are there next to your house, as the memory of the past, your blinded nationalist mentality tell you that you must fight with the Vietnamese till the end of your life.
Come on blinded nationalists, we need peace and development in order to protect our motherland. We need to overcome our history marked by suffering we received from foreigners and the hatred we have toward them. If we would need to fight with Vietnamese in the future, we would need prosperous economy, smart and intellectual citizens and sophisticated technology. For that reason and the time being, we need peaceful international relation with neighboring counties. Perhaps by trading with each other, we get closer with each other, and perhaps because of this we can overcome our dark history so that all can live together in peace and prosperity.
I said you are blinded because just like most Cambodian, you know how to treat friends very well but you do not know how to treat enemy. This is a big problem in Cambodian mentality. For Cambodians, who like some politician, treat him/her as a god, about whom they never question nor they go against him. However, if they hate someone, they treat him seriously as the evil enemy, whom need to be get rid of.Actually, in term of moral politics, there is not real friend and enemy for the essence of human being keep changing all the time. Particularly, in the context of Cambodian politics, our people are not well prepared to deal with dualistic political system as that in the west. For that reason, why do we need to hate each other? Why we need to call this person or that person as such a dog a cat etc? Why don't we work together to build better future for our sons and daughters???
Dude 3:56PM, You need to analyze and study more about how the less population country and much greater population come about to confront each other. Not just size alone can achieve thing. Look at Isarael that is situated and surrounded by millions of Arab? Isarael only 5-6 millions. And for the 6-7 days war they defeated them all. Go learn some more history!
6:33PM,
I agree with you. It is pure patriotism of Israeli leaders that make Israel, a tiny country, strong among the big coutries.
3:56PM,
You blind yourself. Why don't you take just a glance at the qualities of your Hun Xen. There is NO country in this modern world has a leader as ignorant and arrogant as Cambodia does. Fools that applause and support such a fool are far worst than fools, they are imbeciles.
Don't be mistaken by thinking that I wrote my comment in defense of Sam Ransy. My clear position is that I support all patriots who persuit freedom, democracy, and social justice for Cambodian people. Hun Xen and his evil comrades are not patriots; they are Vietnam puppets, and puppet never understand what democracy mean. Puppet are worth as dogs that know nothing but to follow their master's command. This barbaric group have been intoxicated with power, pride, and money that blind them to reality. The reality is that Hun Xen and his cronies need to stay much longer in power in order to fullfil their duty-the duty of giving Vietnam what they have agreed upon when they singed contracts 30 years ago. This is not my imagination; it is the fact! The fact is that we will lose more land to our neighboring enemies.
Talking overmuch is a sign of vanity!
The real question is why do we have these CPP cronies supporter up in here saying all these bad stuff about taking the RIGHT PATH for Khmer?
Anything that's going to be good for Khmer in general will be attack and talk down. Hence this particular supporter is truly looking out for Khmer?
Heee hehe!!! Sound great!! Of course, you are right I am ignorant. But the question is how can you compare Khmer to Israel? Do you know how many powerful Jewish businessmen and politicians in US? US foreign policies toward Middle East is nothing more than that reflecting the interest of Jewish-Americans. How many highly educated Jews in Germany, France, etc. How many Jews have been nominated for noble prize? Jews in most rich countries are among the richest. Without these resources and the support from US, how can Israel survive? How about Khmer?
Do not be idealist, that what I want to say to you.
Did I say I like Hun Sen???
Who is blinded now?....??
.......??
Come on kids, in politics there is no
vocabulary as such "like" or "dislike". Emotion is the source of ignorance. We select our leader not because we like him. It is the rational choice which should be taken to serious consideration. So it is clear now that you blind yourself.
Heee!!! you guys are such great democrats! As democrats you are as great as US democrats. What you do not know is that to what extend you understand democracy??? Almost every part of the world has been polluted by American propaganda as such democracy. US bomb Iraq, killing civilians just to bring democracy there. US bombed Africa, Indochina, South America were just to bring democracy, so what kind democracy it is? You are ignorant because you could not see democracy as a sort of soft power which allow US to maintain its hegemonic power.
US helps Israeli because US see their patriotic commitment for their country.
Khmer proverb says: kom kheugn dom rey juh juh tam domrey
the meaning of your comment by itself indicates whom you like; we are not such dumb as you thought.
11:06 PM such a funny response ha haaa haas!!! Is US really a nice government? If not want to control natural resources namely oil,and ideological confrontation during cold ward would US involved with that war?
WAKE UO
And 11:08,
Never take proverb as your depenable truth; one proverb can give different
applications.
Yes, you are great and I am dumb.
hahaaaaa.......
Israel has oil for the US? it's kind of true that the US wants to control the oil business in the Middle East region, but not in Israel.
Wake up! Israel has no oil but Israel's geography is in favor of US geopolitical strategy. Since Israel is its ally, US can use its military base in Israel to protect its subjects. If US need to invade some Arabic countries, Israel is the ground from which its military operation is based.
Israel-Arab war during the 60s mainly was the manifestation of cold war marked by ideological confrontation between USSR and US.
Now no more cold war, but Middle East remain a strategic geography for US to maintain its hegemonic power. Some states in Middle East are not happy with US hegemonic power. This include Sadam's regime, Iran, Palestine.
PM has the duty to report progresses to the nation all year around.
Think about it. Why the US's rather take a tiny country as its ally, and why not big one? Perhaps their patriotism! Do our leaders from the 50's up to this last fool has patriotism?
yes, I agree with you. But it is not easy to change the cultural politics of our country. Looking back to our cultural history you would see power as understood by Cambodian leaders as something absolute. In their view, leaders they are always correct. It is really difficult if we want to change the macro mentality of a nation just within 4 years or so. It take more time. Enlightenment in Europe took almost 3 hundred years to realize its goal. In our culture which is completely different from some western culture, secrecy signify strength, while openness represent weakness. It is hard for Cambodian leaders to talk openly. Even in US, there have been evident suggesting that there are black business going on behind the scenes of US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Most important thing is economic development. When we become richer, we can change the order. See Taiwan , South Korean and Singapore as example. So for the time being we should think about the priority of reconciliation.
11:42 PM wake up! Ever you read the Bible? What the Bible said about the Land of promise? What kind of religions are in favor of American public opinion? Christianity or Islam?
Read books on history of Europe and Middle East, Most Muslim countries are seen as threads in Western super powers. More importantly, although Arabic countries are modernized somehow on the base of western modernism, but they are not westernized. This completely different from Israel, a westernized nation. Arab world remain another world different from
western civilization. Terrorism root from this cultural and political clashes.
5:36Pm,
Your point of view is inspired, however there are many crucial points that I like to add on which I hope you don’t mind. .
Cambodia is not an independent state, thus her economy and political sectors are being controlled and manipulated by Vietnam. Today, the transparency of Vietnam colonizing Khmer land is at full swing. The Vietnamese succeeded in gulp down large chunks of our land and they (hope) will continue to annex Khmer Kandal to one of its provinces by the end of this century.
Cambodia must be a democratic state and free from foreign control in order to attract more foreign direct investment and wealthy Khmer investors oversea. With strong and competitive economy Cambodia one day can and will juncture political influences on center stage amid the neighbors and allies, and thus far sustain its existence in the region.
Cambodia land is fertile and abundant of natural resources, for decades to come if Khmer population is doubling to 28 millions the food consumption from domestic productions itself show adequate. However, the growing of Vietnam population poses danger to our country; the North Vietnam plain is callous and sterile and only the rich soils in the South that yield sufficient agriculture output to feed its own people of 80 millions for now. The expansion into Khmer land is a must for Vietnam, not only for rations of food for its growing population but also become an economic might in Indochina peninsula.
We, Khmer, must set aside of our grudges with the Viet and the Thai, but remember the past experiences that our ancestors oversight. Khmer are bless with artistic abilities and intelligent, but must entail nationalistic and unity to glorify as a great nation once was. Cambodian one day can be the next Singapore or better if we work durably and intelligently.
From years of experience with various ethnic groups as a business partner and a friend, I can't highly value the Viet as a trustworthy race…though, they are smart
welcome to the community of nations, called the world. it's no different like in the USA, young or working people pay for the elderly in social security because when you get old, too, you can get the same benefit. it serves itself in the long run, hello!!
12:57 AM
I applaud your arguments.
Vietnamese as a genealogical subject is not smarter than the Khmer. It is the Khmers' extreme idealism and conservativeness which blind them. Just like the Chinese, the Vietnamese are less religious than the Khmers. This mentality and practice have lived in their cultural backgrounds for thousand years. It is the secular schools of philosophy of Confucianism and taoism which give the Chinese and Vietnamese some room to enjoy their non-religious lives. The Khmer want to devote their whole lives for religion. The Khmer see next life more important than this life. This is the consequence of misconception of Buddhist thought which leads to mis-imagination of the reality, which block the Khmer from developing creativity, while the Chinese and Vietnamese are more flexible than the Khmer. The Chinese and Vietnamese are smart not because they are so but because of way they perceive and select religious thoughts and the practices. Confucianism spread in China and Vietnam through elites who had attended formal Confucius schools,Buddhism spread in Cambodia through uneducated peasants. That is the point of difference. It is not a kind of discrimination against the uneducated, but it was a part of important motifs which determine the quality and direction of our culture, which determine individual's capacity. Let we work together to change the mentality o our people with regard to their attitude toward education and religion. Come back to our country bringing knowledge and resources so that we can restore our forgotten memory of the past when the Khmer were once the most highly educated race in Asia.
The Viet are fuckedup too, see if their country any better beside Khmere and loas that it play trick to?
And what the fuck is the Viet we do not want to have fucking war with the anomal but we need not afred and give every thing to it like Ah Kwack CPP is doing now!
The world have law use your brain!
If you think you are stupid than your fucking master Viet move out let other Khmere do the job! do not stay oppress and kill your own people and suck the Viet goat face thing for your own personal interest!
Go to hell parasites!!!!
Such an ignorant person
The world have law? What kind of law?
social Darwinism? Marxism? Or Idiotism?
Such an uneducated idiot! 4:32 AM
The point of arguement here is: is it okay for Hun Sen to boast about progress?
Is it an exploitation because the election is coming up soon?
And some say Rainsi would and should do the same. He can say positive things about how his ideals are better for Cambodia than Hun Sen's current governance, etc., which still remains as a hope/projection only at this point.
Bottom line is, Cambodia with either Rainsi or Hun Sen still has to play to big powers, and be dependent on donors at this stage of the development.
Although it is a hopeless hope, if all Khmers are united and constructively engaged with one another, we can achieve a lot.
In reality though, the current regime does not have the honest courage to allow fair participation, while the opposition knows not better than the politics of "head-butting" engagement.
It should now be the right time for Hun Sen to prepare the country to reach political maturity and allow some form of democracy and diversity in the make up of the government. It is far more beneficial in the long term if Cambodia rids itself of the absolute control of one group/party. It is much safer and more stable to have an independent system of check-and-balance, which means having independent legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the government along with the military whose devotion and allegiance are for Cambodia, the Ciuntry, instead of individuals/polical parties.
Cliche, but proven to work...
Could you tell me which countries in Asia have such a perfect democratic government? Singapore? India? South Korea, Japan?
"...some form of democracy..." not a "perfect" one.
Many of these countries in Asia do not have a a system in which a single party, let alone a single man running the country for multiple decades.
Singapore is ruled by one party. Singaporeans do not have political rights as the US have.
I'll take conservative, single party in Singapore over the current faked plural-parties democracy in Cambodia in a heartbeat! Are you really seriously compare current Cambodian regime to Singapore's?
Post a Comment