3rd January, 2009
Opinion by Khmerization
The debates about the roles of the monarchy and the royals in politics have heated up again following the appeals by Prince Sisowath Thomico for all members of the royal family to stay out of politics.
It is no surprise for a member of the royal family like Prince Thomico to appeal to his peers to stay out of politics. For the monarchy, and the royals in particular, the last few years have been a turbulent time and the annus horribilis for them. The monarchy was on constant attacks from Prime Minister Hun Sen for meddling in politics and the royalist parties have faced their electoral defeats ignominiously. A call for a voluntary dignified exit from politics is the only option.
Cambodia has had a monarchical system of government for more than 2000 years. Since then, Cambodia has seen the ups and downs, the bad and the good of this feudal system. Some kings ruled well and had turned Cambodia into a superpower at their times, while others were clumsy kings who have relentlessly engaged in family feuds which have made Cambodia shrunk and reduced to its present size.
The Cambodian royals have engaged in politics, in one way or another, since the birth of Cambodia as a nation. But royal politics as we know it today has only begun to take shape in the 1950s when the then king Sihanouk abdicated in 1955 to enter politics and installed his father, Prince Suramarit, as king. Sihanouk’s actions have put the monarchy in the political firing lines ever since.
Sihanouk ruled Cambodia with an iron fist. Political activities or expressions contravening to his views were not tolerated. Political opponents were hunted down, jailed and, to some extent, executed.
Sihanouk’s repressive actions and his anti-American stance as well as his communist-leaning politics have led to discontents and angers within his inner circles that culminated into a coup against him in 19970 which has seen the abolition of the monarchy and the declaration of a republic. Since then, Cambodia has plunged into a civil strife that has caused irreparable political and national divisions until today.
On the other hand, with fairness, the monarchy, to a large degree, must be credited with the restoration of peace to Cambodia, the source of political stability and a focal point for all the political spectra to be united all around the monarchy, especially the person of a king.
Sihanouk, who angered many intellectuals with his repressive pre-1970 rule and who was accused to have been credited with helping the Khmer Rouge to come to power in 1975 and have been associated, to some degree, with the Khmer Rouge rule, has somewhat redeemed himself, when he spearheaded the Paris Peace Negotiations with the Vietnamese-backed government of Prime Minister Hun Sen that led to a comprehensive Paris Peace Accords in 1991. He was credited, rightly or wrongly, with a smooth transition of powers after the Untac-organised election in 1993, mediated the reconciliations between Prince Ranariddh and Prime Minister Hun Sen, post-1997 coup. He was also credited, again, rightly or wrongly, for averting political and military crisis after the elections of 1998 and 2003.
But, politics aside, is the Cambodian monarchy still relevant to the Cambodian society in the present political context? The answer is yes and no, depending on ones own monarchical or republican views.
To the republicans, the Cambodian monarchy is a tax-burdened irrelevant institution. To the monarchists, the Cambodian monarchy is a constant source of political stability that can unite the divided Cambodian nation and holds the warring political parties together.
Some views perceive the Cambodian monarchy as irrelevant in the present Cambodian political context that has outlived it’s purpose. To the proponents of the monarchy, the Cambodian monarchy is as relevant to the Cambodian society as 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
The following exchanges between the two heavyweight proponent and opponent of the monarchy are interesting. Some people, like Dr. Lao Mong Hay, believe that the monarchy is very relevant to the Cambodian society. He made an analogy between the past regimes with the following rationales: “As to the political regime, according to its recent history, constitutional monarchy (with the monarch as head of state) is best for Cambodia. Was the Lon Nol (1970-75), the Maoist (1975-78) or the Marxist-Leninist (1979-91) republics better than the constitutional monarchy which ruled Cambodia between 1953 and 1960?”
Dr. Lao Mong Hay’s comments have infuriated KJE (Klaus J. Engelhardt), which the latter retorted with these comments: “Dr. Lao is a monarchist, and many of those have lived in the past and don't realize that the world and paradigms have changed. The monarchy helped bring and maintain peace in 1993, no doubt, but in general, monarchies have outlived their purpose and will eventually fade away. What will happen when a single and childless Sihamoni leaves the throne? Although it will be a while, my guess is this is when the Cambodian monarchy will end.”
Who is right and who is wrong? Only the readers can judge.
To the monarchists, the Cambodian monarchy is the source of stability. They believe that, with the way Hun Sen ruled the country, the Cambodian political mess is not over yet. They believe that Mr. Hun Sen’s iron-fisted rule will one day cause political instability and some sorts of internal political wrangling will resurface, like the 1997 coup. They rationalised that some sorts of a political dogfight or even a factional street fighting will also resurface when Hun Sen is faced with a strong challenger or rival. This is when the king needs to step in to mediate.
So, the question is: is the Cambodian monarchy still relevant in the present Cambodian political context? Does Cambodia need the monarchy or the republic?
Only time will tell…..
------------------------
* Related article: Mr. Bora Touch: I Am A Monarchist.
Opinion by Khmerization
“To the republicans, the Cambodian monarchy is a tax-burdened irrelevant institution. To the monarchists, the Cambodian monarchy is a constant source of political stability that can unite the divided Cambodian nation and holds the warring political parties together.”
The debates about the roles of the monarchy and the royals in politics have heated up again following the appeals by Prince Sisowath Thomico for all members of the royal family to stay out of politics.
It is no surprise for a member of the royal family like Prince Thomico to appeal to his peers to stay out of politics. For the monarchy, and the royals in particular, the last few years have been a turbulent time and the annus horribilis for them. The monarchy was on constant attacks from Prime Minister Hun Sen for meddling in politics and the royalist parties have faced their electoral defeats ignominiously. A call for a voluntary dignified exit from politics is the only option.
Cambodia has had a monarchical system of government for more than 2000 years. Since then, Cambodia has seen the ups and downs, the bad and the good of this feudal system. Some kings ruled well and had turned Cambodia into a superpower at their times, while others were clumsy kings who have relentlessly engaged in family feuds which have made Cambodia shrunk and reduced to its present size.
The Cambodian royals have engaged in politics, in one way or another, since the birth of Cambodia as a nation. But royal politics as we know it today has only begun to take shape in the 1950s when the then king Sihanouk abdicated in 1955 to enter politics and installed his father, Prince Suramarit, as king. Sihanouk’s actions have put the monarchy in the political firing lines ever since.
Sihanouk ruled Cambodia with an iron fist. Political activities or expressions contravening to his views were not tolerated. Political opponents were hunted down, jailed and, to some extent, executed.
Sihanouk’s repressive actions and his anti-American stance as well as his communist-leaning politics have led to discontents and angers within his inner circles that culminated into a coup against him in 19970 which has seen the abolition of the monarchy and the declaration of a republic. Since then, Cambodia has plunged into a civil strife that has caused irreparable political and national divisions until today.
On the other hand, with fairness, the monarchy, to a large degree, must be credited with the restoration of peace to Cambodia, the source of political stability and a focal point for all the political spectra to be united all around the monarchy, especially the person of a king.
Sihanouk, who angered many intellectuals with his repressive pre-1970 rule and who was accused to have been credited with helping the Khmer Rouge to come to power in 1975 and have been associated, to some degree, with the Khmer Rouge rule, has somewhat redeemed himself, when he spearheaded the Paris Peace Negotiations with the Vietnamese-backed government of Prime Minister Hun Sen that led to a comprehensive Paris Peace Accords in 1991. He was credited, rightly or wrongly, with a smooth transition of powers after the Untac-organised election in 1993, mediated the reconciliations between Prince Ranariddh and Prime Minister Hun Sen, post-1997 coup. He was also credited, again, rightly or wrongly, for averting political and military crisis after the elections of 1998 and 2003.
But, politics aside, is the Cambodian monarchy still relevant to the Cambodian society in the present political context? The answer is yes and no, depending on ones own monarchical or republican views.
To the republicans, the Cambodian monarchy is a tax-burdened irrelevant institution. To the monarchists, the Cambodian monarchy is a constant source of political stability that can unite the divided Cambodian nation and holds the warring political parties together.
Some views perceive the Cambodian monarchy as irrelevant in the present Cambodian political context that has outlived it’s purpose. To the proponents of the monarchy, the Cambodian monarchy is as relevant to the Cambodian society as 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
The following exchanges between the two heavyweight proponent and opponent of the monarchy are interesting. Some people, like Dr. Lao Mong Hay, believe that the monarchy is very relevant to the Cambodian society. He made an analogy between the past regimes with the following rationales: “As to the political regime, according to its recent history, constitutional monarchy (with the monarch as head of state) is best for Cambodia. Was the Lon Nol (1970-75), the Maoist (1975-78) or the Marxist-Leninist (1979-91) republics better than the constitutional monarchy which ruled Cambodia between 1953 and 1960?”
Dr. Lao Mong Hay’s comments have infuriated KJE (Klaus J. Engelhardt), which the latter retorted with these comments: “Dr. Lao is a monarchist, and many of those have lived in the past and don't realize that the world and paradigms have changed. The monarchy helped bring and maintain peace in 1993, no doubt, but in general, monarchies have outlived their purpose and will eventually fade away. What will happen when a single and childless Sihamoni leaves the throne? Although it will be a while, my guess is this is when the Cambodian monarchy will end.”
Who is right and who is wrong? Only the readers can judge.
To the monarchists, the Cambodian monarchy is the source of stability. They believe that, with the way Hun Sen ruled the country, the Cambodian political mess is not over yet. They believe that Mr. Hun Sen’s iron-fisted rule will one day cause political instability and some sorts of internal political wrangling will resurface, like the 1997 coup. They rationalised that some sorts of a political dogfight or even a factional street fighting will also resurface when Hun Sen is faced with a strong challenger or rival. This is when the king needs to step in to mediate.
So, the question is: is the Cambodian monarchy still relevant in the present Cambodian political context? Does Cambodia need the monarchy or the republic?
Only time will tell…..
------------------------
* Related article: Mr. Bora Touch: I Am A Monarchist.
71 comments:
whether we like it or not, it's been proven that the monarchy was and is a symbol of national unity. It's been proven again and again that when there are political squabbling, the king has intervened to ease the tension and eventually resolved the issues. However, some kings have been very incompetent that Cambodia and the Cambodian people are in miserable state until the present day. Cambodia is not ready for a republic at this stage. Maybe at a later stage.
I am for the Monarchy,
Listening to all Khmer PM 3 and Karaoke
I just want to be a Khmer and my responsible keep Cambodia as we are. Am very proud to be one of the descent of the Khmer Empire.
Khmer empire were the master and super power country but not now,
can we learn how to live like Hong Kong after the rain everything luxury?.
I am proud of being Khmer. Having monarchy or not is not a problem, but having a responsible leader is important.
I want the Monarchy. Some people say the King is bad and a burden for the Country. But they Zeize power they become a President or New King who aws worse than any King.
Look at Lon Nol, Pol Pot, Kheu Samphan and the Moha Ach Decho Hun Sen, AH HOK Lundy......They were and are the worst Kings in Cambodia.
Current Monarchy is powerless and useless.
Khmer need no more King. Common khmer can take care of each other. Look at the current princes and princesses, they are a bunch of idiots.
When the monarchy became the focal point to ridicule, it is better not to have it.Cambodia should just have a real constitution that is the law of the land pure and simple ,and the cast system should also be abolished as well.Now,we have all kind of shit like ,SDACH,Somdach nis somdach nous,oknha,Chumteav , ah nis ah nous .....it's ashame.
You may call the leader whatever (King, PM, President), it does not matter. To have stability in the country, we need a leader that serves his/her people.
Khmer in the current predicament is due to most leaders in recent history uses his/her people to serve the elites (his/her circle). Please open your eyes and you will see that Khmers are suffering for the elites to enjoy their luxury lifestyle. A 10-years old boys/girls working to the extreme just to have something to eat, an elderly woman barely walked on her own no surviving relatives forces herself to maneuver around to find shelter and food, a 16-years old girl marrying to a 55-years old (elite) man, the have uses forceful language toward the have not. Please ask yourself, is this acceptable? These are a few examples resulting from the unfit Khmer’s leaders in recent history (monarchy, Lon Nol, the Maoist, or the Marxist-Leninist).
Sure, some of these systems have good intension of serving its people, but it is the people (leaders) using the system that caused the chaos for our generation and beyond. One of my mentors told me, “sa-ob (hate) lok (monk) kom (don’t) jay (bitch) preah (god). Sometime, it is not the system; it is the people using the system.
In summary, call him/her whatever you like, but Khmer people need a servant leader and not a leader with servants.
Cut out the bullshit and lets us
all lives in the present day,
Cambodia needs another Revolution in order to abolish the constitutional Monarchy. So khmer can live freely without fear of those Monsters!
LAO Mong Hay's monarchist stance is reprehensible and truly raises questions about his scholastic maturity.
One must understand that much of the abuses in Khmer society, including authoritarianism, class division, elitism, cronyism, and human rights abuses, stem from the monarchic system of governance where members of a super-privileged family enjoy entitlement, despite their qualifications or lack thereof, to leadership positions.
Monarchy is an archaic system thoroughly incompatible with the modern world that is best phased out from the Khmer society.
- Khmer Patriot, Ph.D.
Khmer Patriot, you are so brilliant. The Khmer people are very lucky to have you as our great thinker. Your logic and writing put Dr. Lao Mong Hay to shame.
You very same imbecile person @1:22 AM and @1:34 AM, impersonator with the fake Ph.D from Hanoi, self-proclaimed intellectual/thinker Viet slave must learn how to scratch your ass first...
Don't ever think that KI-Media readers are dumb!
Dear All,
To respond to Khmerization's analytical article about the King and the Republic, I am profoundly affected by the current appearance of new sort of a Political Crown in Cambodia.
To put it simply, the regards to present constitutional monarchy Cambodia is just a show. It is truly political show to having King but in reality Cambodia currently has no King. Present Cambodia has solely transformed into a new type of Political Crown.
The idea of this political crown has been witnessed by the transition of ancient feudal monarchy to cold war communist ideology. While communist blamed feudal and corrupted monarchical/elite system, they created new type of their own King (political crown) such as the Collectivism Camp, the Angkar or Top Commander...etc
As the result, we acknowledge the idea generalized "all communist political leaders or their poliburu are the new type of King, Crown, Feuds, or Monarch".
In Cambodia is not different from that transition. Hun Sen has gradually become the true King/Crown. This is the political shift which no one can oppose it in both academic debate and folklore communication.
In his longest primiership, Hun Sen and his cronies particularly under the galvanizing of his eternal friend the Vietnam, his gradually achievement to become Khmer King is clearly exhibited.
We might call new shift of Cambodia politic led by a man with no Kingship Blood like Hun Sen as Republic, but it is surely still relevant as a Political Crown.
Personally, I don't mind what Cambodia political system is going to shape. Or we can say the Cambodia Monarchy is abolished by Monarchical Members themselves to change Cambodia to republic, or we can say Cambodia in the future will become republic by Hun Sen's leadership; but the key issue is to keep Cambodia alive with true peace, stability, dignity and prosperity as all of us need.
However, our hope has been gradually derailed away because of continual Vietnam domination and puppet behavior of CPP.
Under Hun Sen's political leadership within CPP, Cambodia cannot move forward with brighter future. It has moved forward solely to satisfy his eternal friend, the Vietnam.
To articulate this argument empirically, we can conclude that:
1. Vietnam's new approach of expansionism and Vietnamization in Cambodia is by impersonating in free marketing, flowing of illegal immigrants and creating physical border demarcation by neglecting international laws...etc
2. CPP has been made by Vietnam. It is ideally to keep this machine alive in Cambodia.
3. Under CPP's administration, there are still hundred thousands of Vietnamese soldiers and policemen are hiding and impersonating as Cambodian.
4. In order to achieve its goal and to avoid the international condemn, Vietnam has arranged to maintain their agents to work as the Cambodian policemen entirely country.
5. Is it safe and free and sovereign for Cambodian people as well as their beloved nation, when their safety guards are impersonating Vietnamese agents?
6. Angkor Wat has been owned/concessed by Sok Kong, a Vietnamese businessman, are employing Vietnamese citizens and special agents.
7. Vietnam sees clearly that Angkor Wat is the icon of nationalism and cultural identity of Cambodia, so to keep controlling Angkor Wat will ensure their expansionism.
8. The day of January 7 has been reactivated by CPP again to celebrate as well as to manipulate Cambodian people to believe and trust in Vietnam. This is correct that, Vietnam can control Cambodia only when they can convince Cambodian people to believe in them.
9. The celebration of the day of January 7 has no meaning at all for Cambodian people because we celebrate this day in order to stop the coming back of KR, but currently will KR come back?
10. So the day of January 7 celebration is politically oriented and it is surely to celebrate in order to pay gratitude to foreigner.
11. Not only celebrate the day of January 7, CPP under Vietnam's spearhead has tried to create chaos in Khmer society, for instance the present news of laying bombs on the ground in the capital city of Phnom Penh, is the good excuse to blame all other dissents.
12. While general Cambodian dissents of the day of Junuary 7 are keeping silent, the CPP under Vietnamese spearhead will make this day overwhelmingly louder and louder.
So, how can we conclude that Cambodia's under new type of Political Crown, Hun Sen, can lead us to freedom, stability, peace and prosperity?
KY
KY, why do you have to write so much for just a simple thing? Do you think people take the time to read all that? Could you make it a bit shorter from now on...but please make it sweet, k? That's the art of blogging...join the program please? And thanks for your time, KY!
Does Cambodia need the monarchy or the republic?
Royal family members should answer to this question by themselves. Ups and downs of monarchy have depended on them. As a cambodian, I like to have king like Jayavaraman II, Soryavaraman II, Jayavaraman VII, Chean Reachea I, and also Ang Doung who saved Cambodia during its darkest moment. Kings like Thomoreachea, Chey Chetha II should be condemned strongly. King Sihanouk should be also praised by his achievements yet fairly judged for his mistakes also. To nominate a prince as equal rank of Prime Minister is ludicrous. By this, we can understand the perception of power of royal family. They still love power not necessary cambodians.
Monarchy should be a symbol. The fact that republicans of Lon Nol regime ignored and did not learned from Thailand and England or maybe they were ignorant of grassroot feeling vis-a-avis monarchy.
So, monarchy or not depends solely on royal family members themselves. By observing recent history, they don't have good reputation to serve the country and its peoples, there still significant room to look at for improvement including their power loving, elitism rather than meritocratism and community development.
Monarchy? yes, but only its serves Cambodia and Cambodians. Prince Yuthivong who loves his country, works for his peoples but could not live longer to serve peoples.
He works hard and he dies soon. Only shallow princes and princesses are still alive to destroy Cambodia and consider Cambodians as their slaves.
Neak Angkor
To articulate this argument empirically, we can conclude that:
1. Vietnam's new approach of expansionism and Vietnamization in Cambodia is by impersonating in free marketing, flowing of illegal immigrants and creating physical border demarcation by neglecting international laws...etc
2. CPP has been made by Vietnam. It is ideally to keep this machine alive in Cambodia.
3. Under CPP's administration, there are still hundred thousands of Vietnamese soldiers and policemen are hiding and impersonating as Cambodian.
4. In order to achieve its goal and to avoid the international condemn, Vietnam has arranged to maintain their agents to work as the Cambodian policemen entirely country.
5. Is it safe and free and sovereign for Cambodian people as well as their beloved nation, when their safety guards are impersonating Vietnamese agents?
6. Angkor Wat has been owned/concessed by Sok Kong, a Vietnamese businessman, are employing Vietnamese citizens and special agents.
7. Vietnam sees clearly that Angkor Wat is the icon of nationalism and cultural identity of Cambodia, so to keep controlling Angkor Wat will ensure their expansionism.
8. The day of January 7 has been reactivated by CPP again to celebrate as well as to manipulate Cambodian people to believe and trust in Vietnam. This is correct that, Vietnam can control Cambodia only when they can convince Cambodian people to believe in them.
9. The celebration of the day of January 7 has no meaning at all for Cambodian people because we celebrate this day in order to stop the coming back of KR, but currently will KR come back?
10. So the day of January 7 celebration is politically oriented and it is surely to celebrate in order to pay gratitude to foreigner.
11. Not only celebrate the day of January 7, CPP under Vietnam's spearhead has tried to create chaos in Khmer society, for instance the present news of laying bombs on the ground in the capital city of Phnom Penh, is the good excuse to blame all other dissents.
12. While general Cambodian dissents of the day of Junuary 7 are keeping silent, the CPP under Vietnamese spearhead will make this day overwhelmingly louder and louder.
So, how can we conclude that Cambodia's under new type of Political Crown, Hun Sen, can lead us to freedom, stability, peace and prosperity?
KY
Hi 1:34 AM!
Thanks for your support and encouragement.
Many people have accused me of being a fraud and a "fake Ph.D.".
I am not particularly concerned about their accusations because I have no doubts whatsoever about my own scholastic achievements and academic credentials.
A Ph.D. is "real" only to the extent that it reflects a breadth of knowledge and depth of analytical and critical thinking consistent with advanced study and research.
A Ph.D. does not have to be earned in the West to be "real"; nor does one earned in Hanoi necessarily "fake".
Furthermore, a Khmer intellectual does not need the proverbial "pat on the back" from Westerners to be considered legitimate.
A Khmer intellectual who is truly committed to his own people does not care what the white people think of him; nor does he seek approval from them.
The readers of KI-Media can assess my writings and come to their own conclusions about whether I am "real" or "fake".
I thank you.
- Khmer Patriot, Ph.D.
Evidentially (repeat the word - evidentially) the conclusion is that you Viet slave @2:51 AM and throughout here on KI-Media blog, an imposter self-proclaimed, self-made intellectual, scholar that has nothing in you deeply indoctrinated, and brainwashed head other than the mission to destroy Khmer, period (.)! In one word - you are a Viet-created psycho! Go back to Hanoi, now!
2:51AM
Real or fake PhD doesn't depend on the way of how good your writing is, but it depends on your thought and behavior.
So, you might consider your thought and behavior to legitimize your PhD
As I observed, your thought and behavior is worse than an idiot.
Well said 3:07 AM,
As a matter-of-factly KI-MEDIA READERS ARE SMARTER THAN THIS (if I may use your word 3:07 AM?) IDIOT AT 2:51 AM...way, way smarter than that idiot at 2:51 AM can ever imagine!
3:07 AM. Who are you to decide who is a real Ph.D.? Obviously, from your writing you have very little education and are not qualified to say who is a real or fake Ph.D.
I am not as gifted a writer as Khmer Patriot, and deep down I feel he is truly educated and intelligent. Dr. Lao Mong Hay, while respectable, does not strike me as someone as intelligent as Khmer Patriot.
Hi All,
It is a shame that we've turned this discussion into self-importunateness of an individual. This is why we are what we are today. We are too concerned with our status and lose sight of the issues at hands. We should share our knowledge to better our country. Knowledge is only as good as person applying it. Some of the Pol Pot’s top ranked officials possessed Ph.D., we lost 2+ million Khmers in the hands of those Ph.D’s as a result. The viets and siames are laughing their asses off when Khmers are fighting each other.
Let’s be United Khmers,
3:07AM and 3:12AM. Have you two Neanderthals ever picked up an academic journal and look inside to see how they're written. I guess not since they'd all look "Greek" to you. Anybody who has read these journals, written by scholars in their fields of expertise, can tell you the writing style, sentence structure and choice of words of Khmer Patriot are very similar to those in the journals. I don't think there is any question that Khmer Patriot is a real Ph.D., based on his writing and command of English.
3:26 AM, I agree. It looks like there are a lot of people here who are jealous of Khmer Patriot, and they stop at nothing to try to bring him down. They call him all sorts of names like "Yuon slave" and "motherfucker" and even make death threats against him.
i don't have any problem with cambodia having a monarchy as long as they don't keep the people ignorant, and as long as they are smart and clever monarchy, not the kind that cause suffering by making family feud and making cambodia to lose more lands and territory. if the monarchy is modern and reformed, then there shouldn't be any problem. the problem is if they are inexperienced and under-educated, then cambodian people have the right to voice their concern for the sake of the nation. royal members should think about the future of the kingdom of cambodia, not just their own family or personal interest.
That very same person 3:18, 3:32 and 3:50 is Viet psyho Ph.D out to destroy Khmer, period (.)! Any more questions? Don't ever think that we are dumb, you clown!
Now go back to your one-liner self trashing KI-Media some more, k?
Though I am not always in agreement with the way the monarchy handled the way they led the country in the 60s to 70s, I think we need to keep our country as modern monarchy, just for a symbol of the country. This is a stability for all khmers. At least we have now a good king who is neutral and just to serve the nation, a good symbol of Unity. The most important thing for khmers today is to have a smart / serving leader who should care for all khmers everywhere and respect the king.
1:22pm the self-proclaimed Ph.D, a respectable academic don't come to a forum and engaged in cheap shots with the people you called "uneducated". you self-proclaimed that you are a bright academic, but the way you discuss things show that you're a very lowly-educated person. Don't sit around and brag about your English. Your English is nothing more than a normal everyday English. And your thoughts are childish, undeserving of a learned man. Don't compare yourself to Dr. Lao. He is an internationally-recognized academic. His Ph.D was obtained from an internationally-recognized institution. If i'm not wrong he obtained his Ph.D from the London School of Economics. Please correct me if i'm wrong, Dr. Lao. He used to teach at a Canadian university. For you, where did you obtain your Ph.D? On what academic fields was your Ph.D awarded? And who supervised and marked your papers? Unless you tell us, we still say that your Ph.D is a worthless piece of paper obtained from the street/backyard universities that have mushroomed in Phnom Penh in the last few years. There are many people in this forum who are doctors, lawyers, professors, Ph.D holders etc. but they don't come and displayed their qualifications like what you did with your fake Ph.D. Self-proclaiming something is very cheap.
It's kind a troublesome and confuse when a Ph.D thought that CHINA is the best choice for our survival.In fact it was CHINA who had witnessed and wholeheartedly supported the atrocities committed by her satellite ,the khmer rouge.So,the self proclaim Ph.D here must be a Ph.D from hell.
That's what happened when you tomato pickers threat China, and it will happened again too.
Khmer Patriot, PhD
You should open your eye to see that Khmer royals these days have no more previleges than the CPP who controls everything since 1979. Nearly all abuses stem from the CPP, not the royals. What PhD are you when you fail to see this ? Do you need another PhD ? A PhD is only useful and honourable when its holder uses puts it to good use advocating the good of human society - not use it to support an authoritarian leader like Hun Sen.
Your argument that the royals are born with loads of previleges belonged to the ancient past and 1950s when past kings and King Ta monopolised power. The feudal past of the last 2000 years saw Khmer people treated as SLAVES, thus the prononce 'I' ( Khnom).
As Khmer Young said, the crown now is with Hun Sen. If he could turned back the time to 1782, he wouldhave put a crown on hisown head like Napoleon and Rama I.
Dear Readers,
After my article titled "Cambodia: The Monarchy Or A Republic" was posted here in my blog, I received a few replies in my emails. Among them, the comments from Mr. Bora Touch, a lawyer from Sydney, Australia have been very academic and interesting. His comments are below - Khmerization.
----------------------------
Learned friends:
I am too a monarchist, a Khmer monarchist to be particular, as I came to appreciate the Khmer monarchy as a symbol, if not the symbol, of the Khmer culture, tradition, civilisation and institutionally maturity.
For us Khmer, republicanism is not a new (exciting) conception.It has been around before the times of our Lord Buddha. Buddha, our Lord guru, after experiencing life, philosophically and practically, rejected, because of a pragmatic knowledge of human failings, the republicanism way of ruling. The Lord had this to preach:
" For as Long as there are bullies and liars, monarchs are needed. For as long as the poor look for hope and the rich seek excess, for as long as the wicked fight for dominion and other nations manoeuvre for control, for as long as evil men oppose the impulses of the good, we need to believe in a king whose power comes from above."
In this regard, I am with Dr. Lao Mong Hay.
Still in the relevant subject. We all know that India and Cambodia had the oldest/superior polity/political science treatises and teachings, Kaulya's Artharastra, to name one. Some dozen centuries later, ie in 4th century, Kamandakiya authored another significant treatise on political science called Nitisara (elements of polity). According to Khmer inscriptions, most if not all of Indian treatises, such Artharsastra and Nitisara, (Mahabatara, Mahayana, Buddhism included) etc. came to Cambodia before Angkor: ( KK Sarkar, Early Indo-Cambodian Contacts (1968). During the French colonial dominion, instead of teaching us the Khmer-Indian philosophies and polity, they taught us the western ones. Until today, we still are taught the same things at those universities because we/ the Khmer teachers are unable to teach our own thoughts. Lok Sar Sarun, through his Aryadharma ning Varpadharma Khmaer, (Khmer Civilisation and Culture (1972), arguing a long the line of Dr. Theos Bernard, Hindu Philosophy, (1947) gave us a starting point, but again we failed to pick his thoughts up and expand.
The French had also known that by the time they arrived in Cambodia in 1863, the later had a surviving constitution/Kram Srok (1693) which was older than theirs, older than the US's, and a rather sophisticated legal system and laws. The Khmer 1947 constitution, which most scholars wrongly called it the first constitution of Cambodia, was a copy of the draft constitution of the fourth French Republic. Again we ignored our own thoughts.
My Saturday's ranting.
Bora Touch.
4:59 AM. It's true that China supported the murderous Khmer Rouge. Americans killed about one million innocent Khmer civilians when they carpet bombed our country in the late 60s and early 70s, but I don't see a lot of Khmer people complaining about that. At least the Chinese did not kill Khmer with their own hands; nor did they intend to kill Khmer people through their support of the KR. Any educated and reasonable person will agree that the best survival strategy for Cambodia going forward is to forge a closer alliance with China. Why? Because Thailand, the main threat to our sovereignty, is supported by your Uncle Sam.
I 've been dreaming of having a jayavarman dynasty governing our country not pouch Ta Trasak Paem or General KORN. the two latest descents have been all
the idiots, traitors and selfish, greedy, womanizers (royal ballet dancers was their harem), The loss of Kampuchea krom, the complicity of Xihanouk with YUON communist and POL POTto invade our country. They've never have cared about our sufferingThe reason why the traitor Xihanouk prevented kone Khmers from learning the real Khmer history. Because of them our country is getting smaller and smaller. Without the French colonialist in Vietnam, our country would have already been swallowed by the two imperialist YUON and SIAM. and now you can see how they are, always the same greedy.
How some compatriots dare say this kind of monarchy have gathered us. They have always with the evil, but never with good people.
Cheyo Republic Khmer
Well, the one-line comment at 5:14 AM pretty much says it all and obviously it comes from you all guessed it - the Viet trash multiple personalities self-proclaimed, self-made so-called intellectual/scholar when he doesn't have to care much about his writings....Damn Viet slave!
ដឹងហើយឬនៅអាចុយម្រ៉ាយខ្ញុំកញ្ជះយួន???
Dr Khmer Patriot,
It is interesting when you admonished Dr Lao Mong hay about the relationship of democracy and meritocracy. Can I ask you one question. Didn't that what exactly happen to most of the current CPP leaders ? Did they get there through meritocracy or thuggery ?
Indeed Mornachy or republic is not a real important. The real important is the real development of social economic and cultural of Cambodia. The first republic of Cambodia was not a bad one but it was killed by Sihanouk himself who was a last king of Cambodia and has joined the communist to destroy the dream of all Cambodia. If during that republic, Sihanouk was not the main opponent of the Republic, Cambodian republic would have been prospered very well under the new modern khmer vision. The war between the republic and the old monarchy has not only destroyed the dream and the vision of all Cambodian but have destroyed Cambodia and Cambodian to ashes. That war has haunted all Cambodian until today. China is a great country with more than 1.4 billion people and with 56 nationalities, why China can unite together? Good leadership and good planning for the country. USA has been a republic for more than 400 years, Why USA can unite together?
The same principle, good leadership and good system.
France is also another example of glorious republic. why they can survive? People must give the regime a chance. If Khmer Republic of Marshal Lon Nol was destroyed by ordinary Khmer instead of Sihanouk then I can say that Khmer shouldn't dream to Republic again. Example of Somaly in which the country has divided into warlords.
We can also build a republic with a figurehead such as a Republic parlamentarian where the President has no political power such as Singapore and Indian. In many commonwealth countries, their system are almost republic already except they still recognised the Queen of England as their Queen. In reality they have their Governor General who have played their role like their President already. But each of them has no political power. They are just a figurehead of their country such as Australia and New Zealand. Therefore we cannot use the war in 1970-1975 as an example of the fall of the republic at all. That Republic was bornt in a bad time when the leader of that republic has to fight with a reknown monarchist of Sihanouk. Areak Prey
Why waste money on this bloody monarchy; they are useless. This group of monkies have caused a lot of trouble to our nation.
Australia
5:34 AM -
I appreciate your question.
Much of the abuses suffered by the Khmer people during the regimes of Lon Nol, Pol Pot, and Samdech Hun Sen are merely outgrowths and consequences of the monarchic legacy and mindset.
It's not possible to undo centuries of monarchy with a couple of generations of social change. It takes time, perhaps as many as 50 to 100 years.
Samdech Hun Sen should be applauded for relegating the monarchy to a nominal figurehead, without significant political power. This is the proper place for the royal family today. In the future the whole monarchy institution should be phased out gradually to make room for greater meritocracy within the Khmer society.
- Khmer Patriot, Ph.D.
"...outgrowths and consequences of the monarchic legacy and mindset"?
Baloney!
5:32 AM, I don't know why you are so obsessed with hating Khmer Patriot. I think he is a great intellectual and his writings easily rival those of Dr. Lao Mong Hay. It's sad that you're putting down a fellow Khmer. So sad.
6:19 AM,
Again, don't ever think for a minute that KI-media readers are dumb or stupid...
5:24am ! To say America's carpet bombing over part of Cambodia in the late 60s and early 70s had killed about one millions khmer lives is extremely exaggerate.In the late 60s ,the targets bombing were solely on the so-called HO CHI MING trails,and those trails were built inside khmer territory with Sihanouk knowledge stretching from Stung Treng all the way to kompot.No khmer citizen were allowed too close to those trails.So, your assumption was way out of line and purely political.
In the old day America viewed Thailand as her ally and Cambodia as a communist puppet state and she was right.We were a fake neutral.If there was conflict between CAMBODIA and Thailand , i don't believe Uncle SAM will be in either side.Cambodia doesn't need CHINA ,a country stained with khmer blood.China supported the khmer rouge to the bitter end and that we should reconsider.
On Bora Touch's posting. yes, it is true that in aancient times Asia had undergone a much more advanced system than that in Europe. But Asia had run to a standill during the Middle Ages, while Europe had caught up and developed a faster speed in a lot of fields. The modern system of government we have seen today around the world originated from Europe: mass education, standing army, judiciary, executive power, modern public service, etc. In ancient forms of government in the Orient, these modern methods of state building didn't exist. The king was everying - all in one. It would be ludicrous to apply this system of government in today's world.
For me, I would rather go to a state-sponsored public school than to a temple school taught by rattan-wielding monks.
Re:
" For as Long as there are bullies and liars, monarchs are needed. For as long as the poor look for hope and the rich seek excess, for as long as the wicked fight for dominion and other nations manoeuvre for control, for as long as evil men oppose the impulses of the good, we need to believe in a king whose power comes from above."
Please forgive me for intruding Mr. Bora Touch,
It is my understanding that you supported Dr. Lao's position and view on the manarchy and specifically Khmer monarchy. If I may impose on you to bear with me for just this one question please Mr. Touch, I would greatly appreciate it.
Wouldn't you think that your quotes above already antiquated, obsolete and/or even impractical this day and age?
Imaginons-nous donc que si jamais Prince Ranarith etait a la place de Prince Sihamonie?
Je vous remerci mille fois a l'avance, Mr. Touch.
Very truly yours,
AwK (អក)
I cannot believe for someone to say that Amerian carpet bombing in Cambodia from 1970-1975 has killed more than a millions Cambodians. This person is a pro-communist only to exagerate this killings. Indeed most of the killings were done by the khmer rouge instead of the bombs. We must remember during the war of 1970-1975, the majority of people were in the towns and cities around Cambodia and only a pockets of Khmer rouge fighters were in the areas bombed by Amerian. They may have killed a few thousands people, animals and trees. But during each attack, the khmer rouge have inflicted more killings and more destructions to Cambodian people and to human lives. They were all group of derachharn and antheapeal people. we have to blame to monarchy for those destruction because it was the monarchy who choose their people as their ennemy during that war. Areak Prey
You said it all Areak Prey,
And again, that's what they are all programmed to say and do here on KI-Media.
Ah tomato picker (7:44) is on drug.
And here Ah Ph.D from Hanoi Viet slave at it again as a one-liner @8:49 AM.
And the cruise missile is well under its way to where he's now.Enjoy the blast.
Some Cambodians on KI are not prepared to see their Cambodian counterparts having Ph.D. It's like a deja vu. One can kill his fellow cambodian only he wear glasses. When will Cambodians change to be a member of proud and civilized nation as Cambodia?
We should be happy and opened to every tendencies if we want to improve ourselves. Shit languages are mixture of jealousy, shame and singlemindedness. That's what we should change.
Devided we win, united we fail.
Neak Angkor
Correct:
Divided we fail, united we win,
Neak Angkor
Another one?
Neak Angkor,
You don't need to correct at all.
Devided we win, united we fail.
That's 100% true, That's why sihanouk and Hun Sen see that they cann't united with KHMER, they United with Chine, Yuon, N. Korea.
KHMER cann't win of anything, but addicted to power struggle every where they go and live at.
PingPeangPeuss.
Well, Khmer is a separatist. They love to divide and ask the neighbors for help.
Cambodia, not yet ready to become the republic....it is such the danger to collapse the monarchy because you don't know whoever is Cambodian or not who will become a president of this suffering country.
10:56, To correct it is correct.
We have to recognize that Cambodians are not united due to their different beliefs, their diversified knowledge and so on.
Cambodians are addicted to power is still correct because almost every Cambodians give too much value to power. We tend to be afraid a powerful man and to look down on fellow and normal people. We don't have government of the people, by the people and for the people yet.
It's for all Cambodian elites to change their mindset not only that of Prime Minister.
Neak Angkor
Well,you can say whatever you want 11:12am.Khmer can't mixed with yuon.Yuons are stink.
Another one?
But that's what that Ph.D from Hanoi is all about - Marry Yuon and Kiss Yuon's ass 11:23 AM, don't you know that?
DR Khmer Patriot,
It is beyond my belief to read your reasoning that current ongoing abuses resulted from past monarchic behaviors.
So Killings Khim Sambo and son, Pisith Pilika, Om Radsady, Chea Vichea, acid attacks on scores of yong actresses, countless of political opponents since 1993, etc, can be attributed to the royals ? Deforestation and land grabbing are done by the royals, are you telling me ?
Now I can see clearly you parrot whatever Hun Sen preaches. Blaming the victims is a well-known Hun Sen's communist, childish and irresponsible tactic.
Don't stop there, Lok Pandit, for often history has witnessed many bloodyminded PhD's like you, eg. Dr Goebel, Dr Chuon Choeun, Dr Chuon Prasith, Dr Mak Ben, Dr Khieu Samphan. These doctors often were willing perfectly happy accomplices or slaves of badly educated megalomaniacs like Hun Sen, Hitler, Sadam, Pol Pot.
As long as a donation of one sarong, a bottle of fish/soy sauce, and 10 kg of rice means divine offerings, Cambodia will continue to strive with demi-god kings and thugs. Don't you just feel awed when there are literally hundreds of school with a guy's name? It worked in Sangkum era, and is thriving in this current "je ne sais pas quoi" (puppet/thuggish/republic/authoritarian?) regime. Unfortunately, there are too many ignorants and only a few of elite-and educated-but-compliance at this point in Cambodia to make any leaping progress a reality. Republic, Kingdom, or whatever does not matter if we still beg for money every year to survive.
7:44AM/Areak Prey -
Estimates vary widely on the actual number of Khmer civilians killed by the American carpet bombings between 1969 and 1974.
What we now know are:
1. Recent declassified documents from the US government revealed almost 3 MILLION TONS of bombs were dropped on Cambodia from 1969-1974.
2. The bombings were far more extensive than initially believed and by 1974 encompassed more than half of the Cambodia. They were not confined to the Ho Chi Minh Trail as some had claimed.
3. The amount of bombs dropped on Cambodia by the U.S. between 1969 and 1974 was more than used in all of World War II, including the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
By comparison, about 2 million tons of bombs were used in all of World War II, and an estimated 50 to 70 million people died in the war worldwide.
So, it's EXTREMELY UNLIKELY that the 3 million tons of bombs indiscriminately dropped on Cambodia by the American B52s killed only "a few thousands (sic) people, animals and trees" as you claimed. I find it interesting that you mention Khmer people's lives in the same breath as animals and trees.
While the exact number of Khmer civilians killed by the US bombings is not known, most experts put it in the range of between 600,000 and 1 million.
I think a figure of 1 million is actually conservative based on findings from population studies and the sheer t of tonnage bombs dropped.
The bottom line is that your Uncle Sam had completed the first phase of genocide against the Khmer people, leaving Pol Pot to do the rest.
CPP stands for "CAMBODIAN PEOPLE's Party," and there are many reasons that the CPP is in control of Cambodia, one of which is that they do not equate the lives of the CAMBODIAN PEOPLE to those of animals and trees. Nor do they try to deny or diminish the destruction left by America.
If you live in the America, have a good life there. Your children will grow up American and may not even speak Khmer.
And as long as you continue to equate Khmer lives to animals and trees, you have no business commenting on Khmer issues.
Thanks for your cooperation.
- Khmer Patriot, Ph.D.
12:40PM
American bombing was truly incentivized the growing of Vietcongs and Pol Pot's sympathizers.
It is not a killing intentionally targeted by the US, it is a killing internationally targeted by Vietcong's spies...
Khmer Patriot, Ph.D.,
12:40 PM
At the beginning, I was wondering why there were numerous negative comments toward you and your Ph.D. status. After reading your last comment at 12:40 PM, I am starting to question your academic credential as well. An educated person of your level (Ph.D) should educate people rather than attacking and telling what people should and should not do. A person with Ph.D, you should know that education is a tool for people to express his/her opinions. Just because Khmers living abroad due to whatever circumstances does not mean he/she cannot comment on Khmer issues. You can take Khmers out of Khmer, but you cannot take Khmer out of Khmers. I admired people with Ph.D., that 8-10 years of studying should taught people to have an open mind towards everything. Please open your eyes to the current situation in Khmer; your CCP is not helping Khmers in needs. It is the Khmers living abroad that are helping Khmers less fortunate Khmers living in Khmer.
Please remember, there is a fine line between insanity and geniuses. It is up to the geniuses to do the right thing.
Khmer living abroad and proud of it,
Why this fucking khmer Patriot Ph.D is so dumb ?.
To the self-proclaimed Khmer Patriot or Khmer Parrot @12:40pm, the real Ph.D's don't come into this forum to engage in squabbling and personal attacks. They come here to engage in a meaningful and sensible discussion. your CPP-brainwashed mind has been so erratic that your thought and ideas are undeserving of any attention. Your CPP god is nothing but a leech that suck the blood of the poor Khmer and an international beggar. You are a kangkep knong andong "a frog that lives in the well all its life and does know what is happening in the outside world". The overseas Khmer, whatever their professions are, are the ones who really help the Khmer economy, along with international aid, with millions of dollars they sent to their relatives. Come one, please talk like a real Ph.D, not like a fake Ph.D.
Hun Manet is IT's Head group of Toul Krasaing.He had trained in the West to Eat Hog-Dog and drink Coke instead
he eats Dog-Dog as his master Hanoi.
I inform all khmer patriots ,the self proclaimed Phd
P=pussy H=hungry D=dog this animal born naturally the Viet nam under cover it job to split khmer or change khmer patriots out off their focus ,please ignore ill breed Phd or help each others to use the street language to that ill breed phd it will never response back ,this is the best result and technique to zip the viet dog.
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