Monday, October 27, 2008

Independence or Paris?

Monday, 27 October 2008
Written by Sophan Seng
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

Dear Editor,

I am dismayed by the government's rehearsal for the national independence celebration (‘Bigger and better' Independence Day, October 23). Of course, Cambodia's Independence Day on November 9 is important as Cambodia gained full freedom from the French on that day, but I believe the Paris Peace Agreement on October 23 is equally important.

October 23 is considered a renaissance for Cambodia in both economic and political terms. Though Cambodia has encountered problems in terms of fully implementing the chapters of the treaty, the path to democracy in Cambodia lies in the treaty's stipulations.

While we already have full independence, Cambodia's political upheavals will end and its democracy will become genuine when it fully adheres to the October 23 Paris Peace Agreement. I would like to suggest that all Cambodian people and political parties remember the significance of this very important day. Political dogmas aside, October 23 should be celebrated and commemorated equally to national Independence Day on November 9.

Sophan Seng
PhD student in political science
University of Hawaii at Manoa

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

My beloved Sophan Seng, PhD!

Forgive me for my illiteracy and lacking of Khmer PoliSick....

Did we Khmer actually have full independence and its democracy will become genuine after the October 23rd Paris Peace Agreement?

Once again who are we Khmer going to be thankful? Samdech Hun SenVarman and his bloodsucking parasites' CPP?

You should simply give us more reasonable factors why are we Khmer be celebrated that day?

Anonymous said...

fta!

Anonymous said...

Okay Sophan Seng, 10:36 pm comment is correct.
Cambodia government so call CPP or the gangster CPP.
They never respected Paris Peace Agreement.
Why should be celebrate?

Anonymous said...

Dear 11.36PM & 10.36PM,

Let me me share my opinions. You both are right, that the government never respects Paris Peace Agreement. As you know the government does not care about Human Rights and PEACE that invested from the outside efforts and resources. They try to brandwash the people but manipulate the truth. I think that is why it is very vital to celebrate this day. We do not celebrate to thank the government but PEACE and HUMAN RIGHTS >>>>> or our people and country...!!!


Koun Khmer

Anonymous said...

Ah aka moha kbal ach youn Hun Sen

Ah Hun Sen is ah kgnom youn

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Anonymous said...

To all Khmers,

Our END as country and race will be very near and clear.

Thailand and Vietnam did, do, and will share together our KHMER PIE.

But by how to reach their goal ?
This is the quotation mark that Thailand and Vietnam are facing now.

The Preah Vihear problem is on this
Viet strategy to cover up the Vietnamisation of Cambodia, as Vietnam already finished in Laos, and almost 100% success at the Three common border of Khmer, Lao and Viet = small scale of Cambodian Vietnamisation.

For all Khmers!, how can we
contribute to save our motherland
from this Great Danger ???

The author of Norna Chea Kheatakor Reas Khmers.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you. Paris Peace Accord is the true time for the Cambodians to celebrate but the Youn's puppet want to erase it from the people's memory. That is the cowardice behavior.