(Photo: TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/Getty Images)Mon, 07/28/2008
Foreign Policy
Sunday's victory by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) appears to be a landslide for Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power there for over two decades. The former Khmer Rouge guerrilla has elevated winning Cambodian elections to an art form, topping Cambodia's four polls since elections began in 1993. Here are some of his techniques:
1. Stoke the fires of nationalism: Hun Sen got a boost from a border dispute with Thailand over an 11th-century Hindu temple. After Cambodia's government secured re-election Sunday, the two countries agreed to pull back troops on Monday.
2. Ban beer: In the hope of ensuring a peaceful poll, authorities enforced an alcohol ban on Sunday. Reports say the election progressed "largely without incident."
3. Deliver economic results: Construction, oil exploration, and tourism are driving an upstart Cambodian economy. For many voters, economic success trumps democratic aspirations -- and Hun Sen happily takes credit for every piece of economic good news.
4. Rig the rolls: While the Cambodian People's Party hasn't shied away from outright violence to rig an election, this year's polls have seen a more subtle effort from the ruling party. Hun Sen's rivals claim the CPP deleted thousands of opposition supporters from voting lists.
5. Amend the constitution: A 2006 constitutional amendment replaced a requirement of a two-thirds majority to control parliament with a provision mandating only a simple majority. The CPP no longer needs the support of royalist party Funcinpec as a result.
6. When all else fails, control everything: Incumbents generally have the advantage, but after 23 years in power Hun Sen has entrenched his authority in all aspects of Cambodian politics. As Newsweek's Eric Pape sums up:
1. Stoke the fires of nationalism: Hun Sen got a boost from a border dispute with Thailand over an 11th-century Hindu temple. After Cambodia's government secured re-election Sunday, the two countries agreed to pull back troops on Monday.
2. Ban beer: In the hope of ensuring a peaceful poll, authorities enforced an alcohol ban on Sunday. Reports say the election progressed "largely without incident."
3. Deliver economic results: Construction, oil exploration, and tourism are driving an upstart Cambodian economy. For many voters, economic success trumps democratic aspirations -- and Hun Sen happily takes credit for every piece of economic good news.
4. Rig the rolls: While the Cambodian People's Party hasn't shied away from outright violence to rig an election, this year's polls have seen a more subtle effort from the ruling party. Hun Sen's rivals claim the CPP deleted thousands of opposition supporters from voting lists.
5. Amend the constitution: A 2006 constitutional amendment replaced a requirement of a two-thirds majority to control parliament with a provision mandating only a simple majority. The CPP no longer needs the support of royalist party Funcinpec as a result.
6. When all else fails, control everything: Incumbents generally have the advantage, but after 23 years in power Hun Sen has entrenched his authority in all aspects of Cambodian politics. As Newsweek's Eric Pape sums up:
But given Hun Sen's near absolute control of Cambodian television, radio, the courts and the electoral structures that validate elections, any meaningful decline in his power would amount to a stunning blow.
14 comments:
welcome to the era of communism. In fact, our brothers Chinese and Vietnamese are offering a warm welcome to the club. Now, the U.S. is threatened of the new domino effect.
The erosion of democracy is real!
"4. Rig the rolls: While the Cambodian People's Party hasn't shied away from outright violence to rig an election, this year's polls have seen a more subtle effort from the ruling party. Hun Sen's rivals claim the CPP deleted thousands of opposition supporters from voting lists.
"
That is sick, how can you tell who oppositions' supporters are? Did their names contained who they are going to vote for?
And even if the accusation is true, thousands will not change the outcome of the election when there are over 6 millions voters.
The democracy is threatened by ONE man show, and the U.S. and the international community must do everything in their power to prevent the democracy in Cambodia from further eroding, so does not fall into communism. Yes, the domino effect is real, and it needs to be protected.
#7 all cambodia land will be sold upon sun sen dead.
It doesn't matter what position an arrogant and ill-bred man hold, he still looks cheap in the eyes of the decent.
The people has spoken!
Lets go back to work, shall we?
Am not surprise, jealous with the ignorance whom won the election
In the country ,because in Cambodia none of them very intelligence
Except the one whom khmer rouge wiped out and the rest are nothing
Only know how to kill the innocent Cambodian with bare handed nothing
To protect, well the country with hallow head people whom are living in will no longer to survive
From Viet and Thai because they do not know how to decide to pick which is the good leader. OH Khmer
Min khmoch and min khmess like the old said.
Well well ! who is know ? May be five hundred more year like Mexico
Then they start to wake up from Spanish , not bad Cambodia just 30years under the
Dictator
6:46,
Yes! Let's continue our corruptions, killings and human rights abuse..... Shall we?
Well, you certainly not going to solve any of those issues by bickering our a normal election irregularities. That much is certain, 7:10.
What is wrong with all of these people, all talks and no action. If you feel the need to help Cambodia so much, go there, do something about it. Like all KHMERS.. baan tae mott ott pra-yoach!!! As for Cambodian politicians, there are no one better than another. No one show any solutions, all they do is pointing fingers at Hun Sen. Come on people, tell me something new, something I havent heard..Nuff said!
Just remember who gave those stars on your shoulders to you. Don't ever forget that!
cheyo Ah Hun!!!
Cheyo Ah Khvack!!!
but who is stopping all party from participating in the media etc? didn't they invite everyone to come back home to help the country develop or something? why are we complaining now? freedom means everyone can participate in all sectors of society. if you ask me, i don't think anybody is putting a chain lock around your necks or legs to prevent everyone from participating or anything. hello, wake up and see the entire world around you.
the way i see it is that it is product of the "waiting game". this is what happened if you waited for too long to do something. it's called being "proactive", as that would prevent some of these problems we see today. so, stop playing the "wait" game already. get proactive in cambodia, please.
7:34,
It's the truth!
That's what they do......... and they're good at it.
Let the Abusing, killing, land grabbing and corruptions resume. Back to the drawing board!
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