Radio Free Asia
1st January, 2009
By Phan Sophath
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
An official of the royal palace, who is also a member of the royal family, has appealed to all members of the royal family to quit politics for the interests of the Throne and to help in the royal duties of the king.
Prince Sisowath Thomico (pictured with garland), advisor to the royal cabinet, has told Radio Free Asia that, currently, despite there is no laws to ban the royals from politics, the voluntary exit from politics of the members of the royal family would be the best option.
Prince thomico said: “as long as the members of the royal family stay in politics, serve political interests of political parties, the attacks on those members of the royal family is like the attacks on the person of the king or the Throne and that would make the position of the king and the Throne weakened. When people attacks the those members of the royal family it is like they are attacking the king and the Throne.”
Recently, there are some members of the royal family, including Prince Norodom Ranariddh who used to be president of the Funcinpec Party and ex-Prime Minister, had announced their retirements from politics.
After their announcements to stay out of politics, Prince Ranariddh and a certain numbers of princesses have been appointed by the king to be his personal advisors and advisors to the royal cabinet, the positions that are equivalent in ranks to the prime minister, ministers, secretaries of state and under-secretaries of state.
Mr. Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, said that it would be good for the Throne if the royals leave politics voluntarily. He said: “In short, if we want to consider the king as a symbol of national unity, if the royals engage in social works, I believe that we can preserve a better monarchy and the people will respect them more. If they involve in the dirty politics of state, we can see that their actions will affect the monarchy because our nation has just ended civil wars which have severely wounded the monarchy.”
Cambodia has restored the monarchy in 1993, after it was dissolved by a coup in 1970 that declared Cambodia a republic and after that the monarchy was continuously persecuted by subsequent communist regimes.
Under the present constitution, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy whereby the king reigns but does not rule. At the same time, both the Throne and the state laws did not prohibit the royals from involving in politics.
-------------------------------
One day after Prince Thomico made this appeal, Prince Sisowath Sirirath told the Phnom Post that he remained committed to politics.
1st January, 2009
By Phan Sophath
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
An official of the royal palace, who is also a member of the royal family, has appealed to all members of the royal family to quit politics for the interests of the Throne and to help in the royal duties of the king.
Prince Sisowath Thomico (pictured with garland), advisor to the royal cabinet, has told Radio Free Asia that, currently, despite there is no laws to ban the royals from politics, the voluntary exit from politics of the members of the royal family would be the best option.
Prince thomico said: “as long as the members of the royal family stay in politics, serve political interests of political parties, the attacks on those members of the royal family is like the attacks on the person of the king or the Throne and that would make the position of the king and the Throne weakened. When people attacks the those members of the royal family it is like they are attacking the king and the Throne.”
Recently, there are some members of the royal family, including Prince Norodom Ranariddh who used to be president of the Funcinpec Party and ex-Prime Minister, had announced their retirements from politics.
After their announcements to stay out of politics, Prince Ranariddh and a certain numbers of princesses have been appointed by the king to be his personal advisors and advisors to the royal cabinet, the positions that are equivalent in ranks to the prime minister, ministers, secretaries of state and under-secretaries of state.
Mr. Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, said that it would be good for the Throne if the royals leave politics voluntarily. He said: “In short, if we want to consider the king as a symbol of national unity, if the royals engage in social works, I believe that we can preserve a better monarchy and the people will respect them more. If they involve in the dirty politics of state, we can see that their actions will affect the monarchy because our nation has just ended civil wars which have severely wounded the monarchy.”
Cambodia has restored the monarchy in 1993, after it was dissolved by a coup in 1970 that declared Cambodia a republic and after that the monarchy was continuously persecuted by subsequent communist regimes.
Under the present constitution, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy whereby the king reigns but does not rule. At the same time, both the Throne and the state laws did not prohibit the royals from involving in politics.
-------------------------------
One day after Prince Thomico made this appeal, Prince Sisowath Sirirath told the Phnom Post that he remained committed to politics.
81 comments:
Sisowath Thomico is a man with so many idea. None of his idea work. From Prince to Mr., and back to Prince, this man is not doing any good for both himself and his monarchy.
Norodom Sihanouk is the one who suspended Khmer monarchy in 1960 and becoming Chief of State. The bad omen continues to 2003 when he violated his pledge by becoming king again. That bad omen exists today.
When Sihanouk dies, Khmer monarchy will die with him at the same time or a little later because there is no stability and righteousness.
Then Prince Thomico will become Mr. Thomico again.
Khmer Republican
6:24pm, Your comments make a lot of sense. Thomico should be dubbed a "flip-flop prince" for changing his positions to many times. If I am not wrong, just a few weeks ago, he was saying that royals should be allowed to serve the nation in politics. Yes, he is a man if many ideas, but most of his ideas are shallow and did not work. I have a premonitions that the monarchy will die when Sihanouk dies or little later or when Sihamoni dies.
These royal family aka blood sucker of the khmer people,have no constructive idea for the country except for their own welfare as always since the beginning.
They could do anything even slugging their own family and betray the country as long as they can hold on to their position.This is nothing new.Now ,as they been outplay by ah kwack , they all line up to suck ah kwack cock and kiss his ass to get some shit from this low life traitor.
I agree with prince Thomico. But its' amazing that the same prince who had change his stance many time, moving from one party to another. Hope this is his last stance.
May Buddha Srey Aar Metrey,Emerald Buddha save all people khmer,leu,krom,surin,borey ram,thai,laos,burma,people Us,fr,Europe...ect , to live in peace!
http://fr.youtube.com/user/maitreyaproject
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=axCSr7U3tBE&NR=1
And we people khmer,we are very sorry that communism destroyed our Buddha since century!
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=KHb_K_tOS6k&feature=related
"VACHHAPVEA VACCHATOR AK.VACHHAKPVEA AK.VACHHATOR,SAMATITHI SAMA TEATCHA SATTA KACHHON.TI,SOKAKTAING"
"KNOWING WRONG AS WRONG AND KNOWING RIGHT AS RIGHT,THEY EMBRACE RIGHT VIEWS AND GO TO A HAPPY STATE"
http://www.bangkokmag.infothai.com/emeraldhistory.htm
thomico is a tru dog
why d'ont he return in france to
find a job because he can live by the money of a chkè sihanouk ...
It is high time that Thomico shuts up. He is an embarrassement to the Royal Family. If he wishes to remain a public commentator, he should leave the Royal Palace all together and stop getting a salary for spitting nonsense from his mouth. His utterances only help Hun Sen and his clique.
Next time Prince Thomico will perhaps appeal to his fellow members of the royal family not to do any business as they will do harm to our August King and the monarchy when they go bankrupt.
Why can't we respect the constitutional right of all members of the royal family to participate in the political life of the country like any other citizen?
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 Marxisr-Leninist (1979-91) republic better than the constitutional monarchy which ruled Cambodia between 1953 and 1960?
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Hello Mr. Thomico,
My question to you is that Why are you chicken?. what is for the Royal monarchy when you withdraw from politic?. Just watching Cambodian land become IndoChina, or Khmer people die and you all suck bebefits. Look!, Vietnamises from civilians to high Ranking Military every where in Cambodia, why are you checkin not be a roster?. Many-Many Khmer Civilian people die for Cambodia. Why are you afraid of your famous Royal name?. Think again and again, OK. After J-VII, none of the king, and present King would die for Cambodia. Be a role-model royal family of the King, Khmer people would prove of you.
Internal issues are just our own internal issues. whoever act badly,we have the rights to criticite, but when you, Mr. Thomico declair all this shit, I conclude you are working for Boss, Hun Sen and arYoun.
I give you a role model to learn from:"Red-Ant and termite", they are stronger than you. Vietnamise use use Baboo roots, what about you? keep withdraw all the time like this?
From Khmer USA advice you, and Khmer-Smart in Cambodia to act for the safety of Camboda. Thanks.
If I may intrude Dr. Lao Mong Hay,
Is is not the 50's and the 60's the time during which Samdech Sihanouk were left alone, sung to sleep by the Viet in exchange for the eastern region of Cambodia land to be used as Ho Chi Minh trail and the deep sea port of Cambodia at Sihanouk Ville as weaponry transit to support the Communist North Vietnam?
Is it not the time when Samdech Sihanouk was left alone to fool himself and the entire country to being an OASIS, "l'ile de paix" or "Koah Santepheap"?
Is it not the time when Samdech Sihanouk was duped by the Viet to forget the simple thing such as "Pour avoir de la paix, il faut preparer la guerre"? And instead Sihanouk turned into making movie, singing, dancing ...etc
If that was not qualified as fake peace, Dr. Lao Mong Hay, I don't know what is...
How many were truly benefiting from it besides the very few such as yourself Dr. Lao?
Please entertain us for I wasn't born yet at that time. Thanks a million Dr. Lao.
AwK (អក)
is is not should read Is it not*
The mentality prince or flip flop prince and the dusk of Cambodian royalty?
Thomico needs to be evaluated by Psychiatrists for his multiple personality syndrom.
yes, agree that politics is dirty for the royal. they all should away and out of politics and serve the people and country in the social services, instead, which is better for royal because people will love and respect them move when they don't get involve in the dirty politics. remember, in politics, people fight or disagree with each other a lot, that is just a typical style in the political world/affairs anywhere in the world or in cambodia. so, when royal members stay out of the dirty politics, then they will slowly win people's hearts and minds again that the civil war seemed to have destroyed already. i think it is very smart and clever if the royal members can do this. after all, royal deserve highly love, admiration, and respect from the people and to stay in the dirty politics is not good place for this.
cambodia has changed a lot since the end of the KR era, so, royal can't have both ways like in the old days when a certain greedy royal held many offices of the past. nowadays, more and more young people are educated highly and they, too, can help develop the country, not just royal anymore. it is better this way for cambodia. it's called royal reforms; please help to preserve the utmost respect and admiration for the khmer royal members by staying out of the dirty affairs of politics, please. thank you and god bless cambodia.
Every country seems to have public library to educate the public. Does Hun Sen provided a Library to a community in Cambodia?
If Hun Sen lacked motivation to educate Khmer citizens, what has he done with the funds provided by the donors in Billions of dollars over the years?
For a country to prosper, I believe EDUCATION SHOULD BE FIRST JUST LIKE ONE NEEDS AIR TO BREATHE!
All the royal families, both Norodom and Sisowath are dramatizing with political syndrom.
These royal families will die down quickly... when Sihanouk's last breath. Cambodian people are living better without these Royal families who try sneak into political involvement.
Down to the royalist!
Be the Red-Ant to fight with termites, but don't be termites let bamboo's root block our nest.
Be the Red-Ant to fight termites, but don't be termites let bamboo's root block our nest.
6:24
My thoughts exactly.
11:20
Ditto
Dr. Lao is a monarchist, and many of those live 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 single and childless Sihamonie leaves the throne? Although it will be a while, my guess is this is when the Cambodian monarchy will end.
Yes, I agree with you. If anyone really care of the country, they don't care who you are. who you are is just outside, but to work out for country, this is the real one of who you are.
Politic is a playing game of course. Anyone sitting to play the game is equal, but the point is the game is strong because everyone is interested.
I agree with you Mr. 1:30 AM
This is the way of you look at thing, and the thing looks at the ways to change.
I hope politic don't care of who you are. Look at nowadays, even the Buddhist monk, Tep Vong is in politic too. who can tell him to stop?
Yes, Cambodian People at all level, I hope you become the Red-Ant like me.
Khmer say ………………
Ladies and gentlemen and all the khmer patriots. Ph.d from Hanoi is the tricky disguised man who is playing several different personalities to lead us Khmers to a particular state of mind and thinking. Nevertheless, let me take this opportunity to give my humble recommendations to tackle with the current “confusing-complicating-splitting-conquering strategy”:
Let us Khmer consider this: at our level intellectual with critical thinking and reasoning skills, we can absorb the flow of information so comfortably and in the meantime make judgment and evaluation for the source of reliability and truth of the information and to explore and discover “the root of the causes.”Or simply put, we are smart enough to realize whether the truth is true or it’s some kind of propagandas or can be “traps” and we will make attempt to grasp the root of the problem. (I take the stance of criticizing the ruling gov.t: bigger, yet incapable and corrupted with the least conscience demonstrated by “the ministers of councils”-about four hundred larger, yet with gross deficiency compared with governments in the world next to Burma and Zimbabwe.)
In addition to the unstoppable flow of information and the undying desire to learn, we intellectuals can shed light over the darkness by bringing about the discussion and provoke more debate with elaboration of details so that people involved can understand all aspects and angles of the problems. To put it frankly, however, it is rather hard to convince, guide and lead people to walk on the same path. Nevertheless, by their instinct and growing intellectual, people likely to select wiser, trust-worthy and more prosperous paths of sustainable livelihood. (Consider Pol Pot Regime: though with armed soldiers, millions of Khmers were thirsty and dying to rebel against the regime. The then-leaders of liberation would only buy weapons as the “means” and people would fight till their last breath. Or if then-leaders could form more net-workings to support and supply, the volunteered people would destroy the structures and organization of Pol Pot regime.) These are the strategies, though a bit abstract, but are effective to play against the current gov.t.
Eventually, my advices are:
-empower each individual of Khmer to have critical thinking and reasoning skills—to provoke more discussion and debate to discover the solutions for all; I mean the constructive ideas to steer the country ahead and not bowing and ceding land as concessions to neighboring countries like VN and Siam.
-Remember that not all people will want to walk on one path of life. Nevertheless, ISN’T IT WISE TO SEE PEOPLE ABLE TO MAKE DECISION FROM THEIR OWN WILL WITH THE LIGHT FROM THE FLOW OF INFORMATION? OR you say that people make wise decision in the darkness or with their ignorance of what happened? Think twice of this strategy!
-Raise awareness by establishing more networks to spread the information&Policy and to provide “Service of guiding, setting good examples and if possibly implementing”. The Ruling gov.t still stays in power coz it can fool people around backward and forward and by shutting up the media and broadcasting through its propaganda machines. For this reason, we need to bring to people the better images of their villages&communes and to educate them how disastrous the corruption is…just to name a few.
By this line, I fade from writing and God bless us all.
From KHMER
To Mr. Khmer Republican!
You have your chance when Mr. Lon Nol was in power which represents the Republican Party. Your Republican Party is the most corrupted party in Cambodia which led to the down fall of MR. Lon Nol himself!
Beside the point, the Cambodian monarchy family needs to stay away from politic if they want to be respected!
I have said many times already that Cambodia shouldn't divide her people into many social classes such as;
-Royal family class
-Ek Odom Class
-Chum Tiev Class
-Oknha Class
-Business class
-small people class
-Karaoke girl Class
-Lance girl class
so and so on.....
We must put all the people into two sectors. Public sector and private sector. Both sectors are all working for the country and has equal right in front of the law.
-Public sector would take salary from the state provided by tax payer. Public sector has also need to pay tax according to their income level. They should serve the people. Each of them must has a manual of their work description and their salary included.
-Private sector for all people working for salary, wage earners and all self employed.
The Royal family should be limited to only to the children of the regn King. Other members who their parents were not the direct king shouldn't be titled as royal family. As I have said before, if we still recognise all the members of the royal family without a strict limited of their blood link we will end up to set up a Human Zoo to display them so that we can earn income to feed them. In most countries of Anglish speaking countries everyone will be called by name regardless their level of their position. each of them is happy to be called by their name and nothing is being insulted. Areak Prey
I am reading a lot of republican point of views here. I dissagree with you guys . Some old monarchy stuffs are still good (like tradition, religion, palace words that Thai people are using today) . Just remmember our old Angkor times . It was the Khmer kings that ruled the whole Indochina peninsula. Don't knock it down .
I agree with 2:13AM .One bad appple prince cannot be considered a bad monarchy. England has these same bad situation with its monarchy also( Queen does not pay tax! ..). England did not take its monarchy down for any reasons.
C'm on people, it's 2009! Haven't you learned?
What does everyone wants for our motherland, Khmerland? Do you want to see srok Khmer be annexed to Vietnam or Thailand?
Definitely not! I say. Well. The government needed to work on strengthening the EDUCATION SYSTEMS! That every education credential should be granted based on individual effort, not bribery or buying from a pawn shop.
Yes, Mr.1:55 AM, I agrees with you, but Khmer people must learn from Red-Ant strategies which is fighting any termite that destroy our Homeland.
Frm Red-Ant,(Sror-Mouch Ploeung.
In its expansionist and genocidal strategy dated centuries back, yuons targeted (eradicated) true people, family, true Khmer and intellectual ones, they keep the stupid and killers to use as tools to expand its territory and policy specially among monarchic cronies
Khmer maen taen trev yuons somlab os heuy nov tae pouk ah chhkout, pouk ah pleu, ah occass niyum ning pouk ah sroveng cheam khmer del bantor pouch pong kbot ning ohkrot robos vir leur cheat sas khmer. The last ones were killed in during lonnol war with yuons and after yuon khmer rouge victory of 17 April.
now it rests yuon heritage race ( produce/waste race) in Cambodia as the khmer rouge clan that reign over Cambodia since 17 April 75
Curiously, Lao Mong Hay surfaces on KI-Media a day after I announced that I would away on a trip to Vietnam.
Guess what, I'm in Vietnam and there is internet access everywhere.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to write much at this time because my Khmer wife and Vietnamese girlfriend are having a big fight, and I have to try to keep the peace.
Women...can't live with them...can't live without them.
- Khmer Patriot, Ph.D.
Oh shut the fuck up and go screw yourself you freaking multiple personalities/identities fake Ph.D from Hanoi! Don't you ever for a second, think that KI-Media readers are that dumb, you Viet slave ass hole!
Read this you freaking Ph.D Viet slave:
អាចុយម្រ៉ាយ ៥:៥៦AM ខ្ញុំកញ្ជះយួន កន្តបឯងកុំស្មានថា ខ្មែរល្ងង់ដល់ម្លឹងណា៎
អាចុយម្រ៉ាយ!
We must remember that after world war II cambodian population has stated at 3 millions people as some of them have been killed by both sides Khmer Issarak and Khmer french. Cambodian have rebuilt the population again in 1970 with 6.8 millions but has again killed by pol Pot and his gangs about three millions again. When I left Cambodia in 1979, Cambodia has less than three and half millions people with thousands of empty villages and empty town. The present 14 millions of population is made up by influx from Vietnam and baby boom after 1979. Areak Prey
Dr Loa, stop play dumb. The political life in Cambodia has been and will be "winner take all, and loser stay out." Don't tell me you don't know the rule. Therefore, Thomico is doing the right thing by asking the losers to quit.
Communism!
HO and MAO
China jails Hu Jia, human rights dissident
Jane Macartney in Beijing
The most prominent civil liberties activist in China, a young father who has spent much of the past 12 months under house arrest, has been jailed for three and a half years for subversion in a verdict that is likely to draw international criticism before the Olympic Games.
Hu Jia, 34, was convicted of inciting the subversion of state power. The charges against him cited comments that he made during two interviews with foreign media and five articles he wrote that appeared on the internet.
The US Embassy voiced dismay at the verdict and the EU called for Hu’s immediate release. Human rights activists said that the sentencing called into question China’s promises to the International Olympic Committee to improve its human rights record before the Games open in Beijing on August 8.
Li Fangping, one of the defence lawyers, said that the sentence was far too long. “It’s the defence position that citizens have the right to free speech,” he said. “The law on inciting subversion of state power doesn’t have a clear boundary, but the Constitution guarantees citizens’ freedom of speech.”
Related Internet Links
* Human Rights in China and the Beijing Olympics - Amnesty International
Related Links
* Tibet unrest spreads to Muslim separatists
* Stop blocking web, IOC tells China
* Pelosi urges Bush to boycott Olympic ceremony
Hu was described as calm and poised as the sentence was read out at the Beijing No 1 People’s Intermediate Court and was prepared for the verdict. China routinely uses the nebulous charge of subversion to imprison dissidents for years.
Hu is a long-term environmental activist and advocate of rights for Aids victims, as well as a supporter of self-determination for Tibet.
Last month another dissident, Yang Chunlin, who called for human rights to take precedence over the Olympic Games, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for the same crime.
Hu was confined to his apartment in a complex called “Freedom City” in Beijing for more than 200 days before he was taken away by security agents on December 27. The verdict held that he had spread “malicious rumours and committed libel” in two articles on the internet, one of which was entitled One Country Doesn’t Need Two Systems.
Hu’s wife, Zeng Jinyan, 24, who gave birth four months ago to their first child and is also a prominent rights activist, wept as she left the courtroom and said that the verdict was the culmination of four years of harassment by the authorities. “He’s been put under surveillance, kidnapped. He’s been put under house arrest and now they have sentenced him to three and a half years. This is irrational and unfair.”
She, too, has in effect been living under house arrest and activists have described their baby as the world’s youngest political prisoner. She told The Times: “I can’t accept such a sentence for writing a few articles. China said it would protect human rights, but this verdict goes completely against that.”
In one article he wrote with Teng Biao, a fellow activist, that was published by Human Rights Watch, Hu told visitors coming to Beijing for the Olympics that they would see “only the tip of an iceberg” and “not the whole truth” about China.
* Have your say
I'm a friend of China but jailing someone for exercising
free speech is not going to help China's image in the world.
Khmer Patriot, PHD
Do you have any more yuon girlfriends for me ?
Let's barter the parrot beak for the yuon pussy.
Corruption of half-baked intellectual.
11:20pm, Dr. Lao Mong Hay was just comparing the 4 regimes to date. Since you weren't born yet may be you haven't enjoyed the benefits of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime. Of course there were political repressions at that time, but on the social and economic levels it was the best regime out of the 4 regimes to date.
----
to KJE at 1:26am, welcome back, long time no see. You have run away or have hidden behind the curtain because you can't stand the barrages against you. but welcome back anyway.
I agree with you that the Cambodian monarchy might end when Sihanouk dies or when the childless king Sihamoni dies. But I don't understand your rationale of saying that the monarchy helped to bring peace in 1993 but then said that the monarchies have outlived their purpose. Your rationale doesn't make any sense to me. What you are saying is that because they are not needed now that they have to be chucked away or just dumped like that? The monarchy might be an old-fashioned system of govt. around the world, but certainly they are the source of stability, in particular in Cambodia. With the way Hun Sen ruled the country, the Cambodian political mess is not over yet. Mark my words for it. Political instability will resurface and some sorts of internal political wrangling, like the 1997 coup, will also resurface when Hun Sen is faced with a strong challenger/rival. This is when the king need to step in to mediate.
KJE is such ashow off. His measure of success is MONEY. As if he is so successful himself.
8:19PM, what can harm a person the most, a belief, especially a blind one can do the same. I saw you wrote like that many times; you know what: if read alound, it sound silly. Your comment makes me thing you're one of the new foolish Chuon Nath's clowns at Tuol Preah Raja (reachea). Are you?
KI-Media's foes: 7:36 AM and KJE and the clique of
about-cambodia.blogspot.com never left KI-Media. It's just that they are operating anonymously and under such nick as "Khmer patriot, Ph.D" and a few others...
One thing for sure guys, KI-Media readers are NOT dumb!
War and Peace base on righteous people lead the Nation.I believe our Kingdom of Cambodia will be best place on earth.
Cambodia has always been the best place, that's why these two neighboring agressors want to invade her so much.
Well the Thai/Siem encroaches on while the Yuon/Viet is moving in.
Where will Khmer end up, everyone guessed it...
Bravo you freaking one-eye gangster Viet slave HUN SEN and cronies!
Where will Khmer end up?
One thing for sure is a lot better than Ah tomato pickers oversea who live in roach infested government housing and begging for food stamps.
Bravo, Ah Scam Rainxy.
The Khmer Rouge were toppled by Vietnamese troops and not Hun Sen troops or So-called Khker Ranakse Trop , on 7 january 1979.
Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim Pen Sovan " TRROPS", an very insignifiant small number of soldiers, were just used by the Vietnameses as a FACADE to cover up their invasion into Cambodia.
DR My Samedi called it in his book a " Humnitarian intervention"> What a shame!.
After 7 january 1979, Cambodia became a Colonie of Vietnam.
It's then the troops of Prince Sihanouk, Son San and the remaining KR, backed by Foreign Countries, who liberated Cambodia from Vietnam, puting a halt to Ho CHI Minh's Dream of Great Indochina.....
Please look at the fact. Sihanouk has done a lot of good thoings for the Country.
The Ameriac system that provides assistance to the people is much better than the Hun Sen system that robs the people everyday.
The royal family is best taking humanitarian role and being as an advisor to King/gov. Also all is required to carry a four years degree in college to a minimum. It could be in Cambodia or outside such as in Europe America or else where. No degree from Communist Country is acepted. Please do not forget that Cambodia is Buddhist country. What else must you do your highnesses?
I agree with you. The Royal family members must be respected Models for Cambodian people.
They must be highly educated in or Outside Cambodia.
After my research,the Khmer king after Ta trasak phaem never have last mane such as Ang Chan,Ang Mei,Ang Phim,Ang Doung,Norodom,
Sisovath,monivong, until French took over then they promote last mane like Norodom Sihanouk etc..Two # kinds of Royal families,one side is Norodom family enjoyed so much sex involted with girls or boys.The second one is Sisovath family enjoyed so much gambling such as Sisovath samonmeth,Sirimatak,
sirirath etc.But luckly we have last Khmer emperor enjoyed
nothing but just Nepanna.
10:10 AM,
I guess that you'd never made it passed the roaches infested government housing and food stamps huh? Because it appears that's all you know. Am not even surprised if you got shipped back because of your criminal background and then joined those Viet slaves just to get by eh? You're one sad individual 10:10 AM. I feel sorry for you, again because you're just a waste!
If you read the book about the Thai RAMA kings how many children they had? : From Rama 1 to Rama 8 (the present King is Rama 9), each king had from 50 to 70 children.
So don't blame our kings for their private life. They are human beings. At least they
"helped" those women, Contrarily to Hun Sen and other High Ranking officials who killed them, like Piset Pilika and others.....
Catherine the GREAT, the famous Russian Imperatrice, had in all 24 Husbands. Please Read the book...
So, Be realistic....
11:23am, she must be a sex maniac. I love to be in her shoe, I'm a man though.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Khmer Monarchy ended by Sihanouk in 1960. What appears in 1993 is a half-baked institution that won't last long. It is not a curse or an insult, but is true situation. Khmer monarchy won't last long because of Norodom Sihanouk's association with communists.
No one else destroy Khmer Monarchy beside Norodom Sihanouk.
---
Khmer Republican
Dear AwK (11:20PM),
I'll try to satisfy some of your curiousity about the constitutional monarchy and its benefits to the cabodian people in the past.
I did mention the constitutional monarchy that ruled Cambodia between 1953 and 1960 when the monarch was head of state. This monarchy was but name after 1960 when Prince Sihanouk was made head of state without being king and Queen Kossamak, his mother, was not head of state but the symbol of the throne.
As from 1960 the regime was increasingly autocratic when the head of state had executive power like an un-elected executive president. A check on such power (the constitutional monarch) was lost. The situation of the country went from bad to worse, ending up with the formation of the royal government of national salvation before the regime finally collapsed from within with the so-called Lon Nol coup in 1970.
However, the 1953-1960 period was a good one. The French left behind a basic structure of statehood, with a functioning justice system, a functioning public administration, a functioning police force, and basic economic and social infrastructure. The Buddhist ethics was basically there and some monks were very knowledgeable about the teachings of Buddha.
National unity was being consolidated. Quality, meritocracy-based, education was expanded benefiting many in rural areas, with monks and villagers building schools and the ministry of education providing well-paid and conscientious teachers. Health services were also expanded, run by conscientious nurses and doctors, although they were not many of them. All civil servants were then paid enough to live on.
The Cambodian people enjoyed security of their person and property basically 24 hours a day with proportionally less police force around.
There were some crimes, corruption and a degree of repression but they were restrained by the prevailing ethics as well as the basics of the rule of law the French left behind.
The present constitutional monarchy is not as good as one would wish. But still it is acting as a check, though a weak one, to abuse of power.
This constitutional monarchy and liberal democracy are permanent for Cambodia. They cannot be changed according to Article 153 of Cambodian’s constitution - unless there is a coup.
The above was just a tiny number of developments under the constitutional monarchy and may not satisfy your curiosity. But to close, I wish to assured you that Cambodia is not the first country in the world that has restored its monarchy as some have unfortunately claimed. Spain restored its own in 1975.
The Buddha's law of impermanence (anicca) has applied and continues to apply.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
DR Mong Hay, et al
AS long as the royals quit politics andstay in the palace, the law of impernance will take a long time to take effect. The moncrachy will regain some sort of legitimacy. This what happened to the Thai monarchy in the 1930s when they were forced back intio thrit royal residence en-masse but has regained much respect or god-like status since, and has acted as third force bewteen the executive and opposition can't settle their differnces. I think in time Khmer monarchy will be in the same position. If it were to end, it will take longer.
On another note regarding change. If Khmer people wish to see any change, we must stop wishful thinking by reverting to karma, anica, etc. I have heard Khmer talking like this for all my life, even among intellectuals like Dr Lao Mong Hay. We are too fatalistic. When we talk about anica we also talk about karma. So Hun Sen and repressive associates must have done somethibngnright in their previous to merit such high lives, where as the majority of the downtrodden Khmer who are suffering now had committed sins ? I suggest we leave this religious link out and stop seeing life is suffering. Khmer leadership for the last 2000 years has used the concept of karma to justify/legitimise their existence. And it has worked to disastrous effects.
That is not the way we empower Khmer people for change. Stop talking karma, se-ah metrey, anica nonsensensicals, but get to real things like education, skills, get them to imvolve in community and political processses. It is a slow process but it will be more powerul and effective.
Leave Buddhism where it is because it has had too much negative impact on Khmer society - it is the way Khmer practice it, not the religion itself. Together, lets rework Buddhism to our benefits. Buddhism is too intellectual for ordinary Khmer ( who are farmers and peasants lacking basic education) to understand. We must find non-religious alternatives to cause change in Khmer society.
Dear Mr. 1:11PM,
You said, among other things:" I suggest we leave this religious link out and stop seeing life is suffering...Leave Buddhism where it is because it has had too much negative impact on Khmer society."
The Khmer Rouge had already done precisely what you suggested, and they caused great suffering to the Cambodian people during their rule and beyond. We seem to quickly forget our recent history.
Jayavarman VII was a Mahayana Buddhist, and he has been known as Cambodia's greatest King and many have worshipped him.
You seemed to praise Thailand's King and suggested our August King to emulate him. But you did not mention that the Thai King's leadership is actually Buddhist kingship itself. In an article on Buddhist Kingship, an author wrote: "Perhaps one contemporary example of the righteous ruler might be Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 80, who has worked selflessly behind the scenes for the welfare of his people. Another is surely His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who might be said to be a dhammiko dhammarāja, keeping his spiritual integrity while wrestling with the ruthless, resource-greedy power politics of Chinese Communist apparatchiks."
I hope next time you will not be proposing the removal of the provision "Buddhism shall be the religion of the State." from Artcile 43 of our Constition?
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Lok Lao Mong Hay,
I think you only read selectively my writing.
I hope you will keep preaching anica and karma to the Khmer people and Khmer leaders so that they will become good Buddhist.
Don't hold your breath, Dude. Dr Lao only preaches Western's ideology to Khmer people. He doesn't know much about Asian as he think he does.
Lao Mong Hay's stance on this issue is incorrect. Let me explain.
As a Western-educated intellectual, Lao Mong Hay should realize the close relationship between democracy and meritocracy.
A member of the royal family enjoys a distinct advantage when it comes to running for a public office against someone without royal blood, due to the former's bloodline and the reverence and authority traditionally associated with the monarchy.
Therefore, the participation of a royal family in politics poisons the atmosphere of fairness and meritocracy essential in a democratic system.
Further, as Prince Thomico points out, the fallout from such complications could undermine the dignity and public respect for the royal family.
- Khmer Patriot, Ph.D. (currently in VN)
Well put, 3:45!
Mr 3:19PM,
I appreciate learning more about Asian ideas, values and systems of government through your comments. Tell me more about them with some concrete examples to illustrate.
Mr. 2:59PM,
I'm not so sure whether Cambodians are Buddhist as they claim.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
For me, I am not really opposed to royals'participation in politics. But history has shown that most Khmer royals were the builders and destroyers of their own nation at the same time. While I don't pin all the blames on him, but Sihanouk and sons have been responsible for a lot of the disasters in modern Khmer history.
The exchanges between Dr. Lao and his detractors are interesting. With due respect, both sides have their points. However, Cambodia's monarchy has proven that Cambodian political stability depends on it. The Sihanouk years were a bit repressive, but on the social and economic level, it was the best regime comparing to the other regimes afterward. I don't support any laws banning the royals from politics, but I do hope that the royals exit politics voluntarily so that the monarchy would not be dragged into the political mud-slinging.
Khmer are being stuffed up big time. While we are arguing about the merits/demerits of Khmer royals involving in politics, we tend to overlook the fact that the yuons have been actively playing Khmer politics to more potentially worse conseqeuences for Khmer society.
Why the yuons have more rights to involve in Khmer politics than the Khmer royals ? Millions of them have the right to vote, their associations keep popping up, Khmer economic lives are being controlled by the yuons ( see Soc Cong's Angkor monoly, Sokimex, etc ).
While I am quite happy that the royals are, one by one, being cantoned in their their residences, it will not mean fun for Khmer society as a whole. Don't laugh yet, Khmer people. We are clearly moving toward a one party rule with a false sense of stability. 2009 will see the death of Sihanouk, and will most Khmer people feel cold feet ? No vacuum to fill because it has been fully filled.
4:50pm, great comments. I concur.
OK, let's see this time of royal departure from politics as the time for them to do soul-searching among themselves and to revive and uplift the monarchy.
After the senior CPP leaders die out, let's hope a whole new generation of Khmer people, alongside a new generation of Khmer royals, will reclaim Cambodia. But the work starts now. Education is a must for development. Gradually education will lead to development and to freedom. Development and freedom are complimentary elements, and Buddhism is only an ethical force to a check, as Dr Lao so much loves to claim. The law of anica will not see Comrade Tep Vong set in stone. Till then, I am no karma believer.
THOMICO IS A PSHYCOPATH MAN!!!!!!
ទ មេគោ ជាមនុស្សមិនគ្រប់ទឹក មហាជនខ្មែរ មិនដឹងទេឬ ?
[Je vous remerci mille fois (loke Omm) Dr. Lao pour avoir jete un peu plus de lumieres sur mes questions concernant Samdech Sihanouk durant les annees 50/60s J'espere de vous revoir ici sur KI-Media avec d'autres questions n'est-ce pas? Bonne 2009 (Loke Omm) Dr. Lao!]
Thank you for having shed some more lights on my questions concerning Samdech Sihanouk during the 50's and the 60's (loke Omm) Dr. Lao. I hope to see you again here on KI-Media for some more questions. Until then, Happy 2009 (loke Omm) Dr. Lao!
[Khmer - ខ្ញុំសុមអរគុណយ៉ាងច្រើនបំផុតដល់លោកអុំដុគទ័រ
ឡៅម៉ុងហៃ ដែលបានឆ្លៀតពេលសរសេរឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺ
នូវសំនួររបស់ខ្ញុំអំពីសម្តេច សីហនុ ក្នុងរយះឆ្នាំ ៥០ នឹង ៦០ បាទ។ សូមលោកអុំ ដុគទ័របានសុខ
សប្បាយគ្រប់យ៉ាង ក្នុងឆ្នាំថ្មី ២០០៩៕]
Awk(អក)
7:36
As you can yourself, there are just too many posters with a lot of bluster, they rant and rave but have nothing worthwhile to contribute. Why waste my time? This subject just caught my attention this is why I left a comment.
What meant was that in 1993 after Funcinpec won the election, and I was here at the time, the CPP threatened with secession of the Eastern provinces. Sihanouk brokered the deal for that ludicrous but peace-keeping concept of government-sharing with dual premiership and ministers. In my mind that was Sihanouk's greatest lifetime achievement. I know from my Khmer friends, all a little older, who grew up in Sihanouk's time that times were good then despite repression and widespread corruption. Yes, monarchy can play a stabilizing role but so can a strong leader. I am not advocating that the current PM is the right person for the job but Cambodia at the present time does not have such a strong personality. Maybe one will grow out of the current 30 to 40-year old generation. And as I mentioned the King is still young so there is a lot of time left. I am not saying that the monarchy will end but might end if the circumstances at the time are conducive.
8:03
Do you know me personally? If yes, please send me an email. Maybe I can clarify a few things for you.
Oh shove it up your ass KJE! You have never left KI-Media nor has your clique. You're just being bitter and grudgeful for KI-Media did not give you the time of day! Am I right?
But then again, an opportunist like KJE is always an opportunist.
It's his true color...
Dr Lao, who are you trying to kid? You know fair well that one can't learn about Asian when one is too obsess with westerner.
And why do u live in the west ?
Who said?
Mr. 5:21AM,
I believe your comment is a very original Asian idea. Thank you very much for enlightening me. I look forward to leaning more Asian ideas from you.
I've been working and continue to work with people from different Asian countries (Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and I've been to all these countries (except Nepal and Burma), and two other Asian countries (Brunei and Bhutan) once or many times in each of these countries, at times in my capacity as a Cambodian official. (At one time I had a face to face audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan).
I'm sure those Asian colleagues who are currently working with me will confirm the Asianness of your ideas.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Mr. 5:21AM,
I believe your comment is a very original Asian idea. Thank you very much for enlightening me. I look forward to leaning more Asian ideas from you.
I've been working and continue to work with people from different Asian countries (Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and I've been to all these countries (except Nepal and Burma), and two other Asian countries (Brunei and Bhutan) once or many times in each of these countries, at times in my capacity as a Cambodian official. (At one time I had a face to face audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan).
I'm sure those Asian colleagues who are currently working with me will confirm the Asianness of your ideas.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
This Asian Value is nothing but excuse for corruption, abuse of human rights and dictatorship.
But, all of them want Werstern money badly. Their kids are in Western uni and live like Westerners.
Dr Lao, let's get real, corrupted officials (Western influenced people) don't represent real Asian. The problem with you is that you assuming too much.
If you are serious about learning about Asian, stop hanging around with corrupted people and spend some serious time with the real Asian people.
No matter what part of world we are come from,Because we are have only one planet to live.
Please take care each other,The corrupted people and righteous person are depend on their heart.I believe they are known their consequent...May God Bless the Kingdom of Cambodia!
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