By Heng Thal Savuth
Khmer Sthabna news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
[KI-Media note: In Khmer, the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-chhaing” – which literally translates to the “fighting party” – is used to designate the “opposition party”.]
Since 1979, following the demise of the cruel and inhumane Democratic Kampuchea regime of Pol Pot, Ieng Sary, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Kaing Keg Iev, etc… our small and pitiful Cambodia should have found peace, but quite to the contrary, we only met a meaningless war between Khmer people: one side accused the other side of being the puppet of the Yuon Hanoi regime, while the other side accused the other of being the gang of the Pol Pot genocidal group.
The intense war between Khmer people continued on for another decade, and it finally ended with the help of the International community, in particular, that of the UN under the aegis of the [1991] Paris Peace Agreements. Following this event, constitutional monarchy was formed in Cambodia following its prior topping by the Lon Nol regime on 18 March 1970. After 1993, Khmer people from all political tendencies agreed with each other to rebuild the country under the aegis of the king and they were all determined to steer Cambodia towards a plural democracy.
Since then, several Cambodian political parties were formed, but, nevertheless, at the end, political bumps also started and they continued on until the present. In truth, since 1993 and until now, Cambodia never became a democracy, i.e. our country is inching toward democracy, but whether this process is long or short, reachable or unreachable, depends entirely on whether Khmer people from all political tendencies clearly understand the meaning of the word “democracy” and their willingness to unite and understand each other to achieve this common goal.
As a Cambodian, even though I live overseas for more than 20 years, I still think about the destiny of my birthplace, in particular, I was interested in the word “Pro-chhaing” which has an opposite meaning to its English counterpart, known as “opposition party.”
After 1979, all Khmer citizens faced many problems, both physically and mentally, due to the cruel Pol Pot regime, and Khmer people from all political tendencies fought (“Pro-chhaing”) each other for decades to see who won or lost. Therefore the word “Pro-chhaing” carries a bad connotation for those Khmer people who are holding onto power, they consider the “opposition party” (“Pak pro-chhaing”) as their personal enemies.
While Cambodia is inching toward true democracy, the use of the word “Ka-nak-pak pro-chhaing” (the fighting party) or simply “pro-chhaing” is considered as the tip of a sharp weapon or a sharp spear used to pound and break through the ruling party instead.
Therefore, at a time when Cambodia is moving along the democratic path, “nationalist” Cambodian parties should not use the word “pro-chhaing” at all, we can use this word only when our country reaches full democracy, such as the USA.
The use of the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-cheng” (rival party) and “Ka-nak-pak Chum-toas” (opposition party) carries a better connotation than the word “pro-chhaing.”
Those who consider themselves as wonderful “democrats” just because they live overseas, and they look down, undervalue other parties, are not true democrats because they have extremely wrong and bad views in a circumstance when our country needs to unite together to build the country.
The official use of the words “Ka-nak-pak Pro-cheng” or “Ka-nak-pak Chum-toas” on radio, TV and newspapers is a good gesture and it is tantamount to a magical pill that can cure the illnesses of all Cambodian politicians, and this will lead them to unite, to truthfully love each other to build our small and pitiful Cambodia, and bring her to prosperity and turning her into a true democracy, just like any other country in Southeast Asia. This will also pull Cambodia out of the influence and the unwholesome greed of all our neighboring countries that plan to swallow our Cambodia.
Since 1979, following the demise of the cruel and inhumane Democratic Kampuchea regime of Pol Pot, Ieng Sary, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Kaing Keg Iev, etc… our small and pitiful Cambodia should have found peace, but quite to the contrary, we only met a meaningless war between Khmer people: one side accused the other side of being the puppet of the Yuon Hanoi regime, while the other side accused the other of being the gang of the Pol Pot genocidal group.
The intense war between Khmer people continued on for another decade, and it finally ended with the help of the International community, in particular, that of the UN under the aegis of the [1991] Paris Peace Agreements. Following this event, constitutional monarchy was formed in Cambodia following its prior topping by the Lon Nol regime on 18 March 1970. After 1993, Khmer people from all political tendencies agreed with each other to rebuild the country under the aegis of the king and they were all determined to steer Cambodia towards a plural democracy.
Since then, several Cambodian political parties were formed, but, nevertheless, at the end, political bumps also started and they continued on until the present. In truth, since 1993 and until now, Cambodia never became a democracy, i.e. our country is inching toward democracy, but whether this process is long or short, reachable or unreachable, depends entirely on whether Khmer people from all political tendencies clearly understand the meaning of the word “democracy” and their willingness to unite and understand each other to achieve this common goal.
As a Cambodian, even though I live overseas for more than 20 years, I still think about the destiny of my birthplace, in particular, I was interested in the word “Pro-chhaing” which has an opposite meaning to its English counterpart, known as “opposition party.”
After 1979, all Khmer citizens faced many problems, both physically and mentally, due to the cruel Pol Pot regime, and Khmer people from all political tendencies fought (“Pro-chhaing”) each other for decades to see who won or lost. Therefore the word “Pro-chhaing” carries a bad connotation for those Khmer people who are holding onto power, they consider the “opposition party” (“Pak pro-chhaing”) as their personal enemies.
While Cambodia is inching toward true democracy, the use of the word “Ka-nak-pak pro-chhaing” (the fighting party) or simply “pro-chhaing” is considered as the tip of a sharp weapon or a sharp spear used to pound and break through the ruling party instead.
Therefore, at a time when Cambodia is moving along the democratic path, “nationalist” Cambodian parties should not use the word “pro-chhaing” at all, we can use this word only when our country reaches full democracy, such as the USA.
The use of the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-cheng” (rival party) and “Ka-nak-pak Chum-toas” (opposition party) carries a better connotation than the word “pro-chhaing.”
Those who consider themselves as wonderful “democrats” just because they live overseas, and they look down, undervalue other parties, are not true democrats because they have extremely wrong and bad views in a circumstance when our country needs to unite together to build the country.
The official use of the words “Ka-nak-pak Pro-cheng” or “Ka-nak-pak Chum-toas” on radio, TV and newspapers is a good gesture and it is tantamount to a magical pill that can cure the illnesses of all Cambodian politicians, and this will lead them to unite, to truthfully love each other to build our small and pitiful Cambodia, and bring her to prosperity and turning her into a true democracy, just like any other country in Southeast Asia. This will also pull Cambodia out of the influence and the unwholesome greed of all our neighboring countries that plan to swallow our Cambodia.
49 comments:
Stop killing each other kaun khmer,
learn the truth!
L` Ignorance est la source de la souffrance.
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=sVLTFmWX4VE
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2009/04/9-lives-of-norodom-sihanouk-part-1-in.html
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2009/04/9-lives-of-norodom-sihanouk-part-2-in.html
"attahi-atta nor-nearthor ,attahi-atta nor kati,tasma-saing yamak atta naing,sasa yaing phak taraing vak vea-ni-chho"
"Oneself is one's own protector,oneself is one's own refuge.Control,therefore,your own self as a merchant,a spirited charger."
Ki-Media: Your translation of "kanak pak prochhaing" as "fighting party" is totally wrong. The translation of "kanak pak prochhaing" as "opposition party" is correct. The word "prochhaing" means "to oppose". "ka prochhaing" means "opposition".
If you want to translate as "fighting party" you would have to say "kanak pak chbaing" or "kanak pak chambaing" in Khmer. "chbaing" means "to fight" and "chambaing" means "fighting" or "war".
5:48 PM
WHO GIVE A HOOT!
For being such a smartass, you're now get promoted to server your master.
--Janitor
This Janitor can not understand Khmer properly that is why someone in this forum call him/her as a viet at one stage, may be it is true or are you a confuse person?
Ki Media, momma has spent of this money to send you to school and look what you have to show, embarrassment. Forget about your English proficiency just your Khmer literacy. You still miss it by a mile and your credibility also goes down the drain with it.
Prochhaing = to oppose
Proyout = to combat, to fight, to struggle
In the formal, editorial, and newscast writings, you often find these two words used, sometimes together, to express the higher purpose.
Janitor, this is why you are a janitor or not that good of a janitor. Because you can't even clean up after anybody. If I were you, I just shut my trap up on this one.
Ah mokh, tuos chea vea deung tha prochea thipatey mean niy tha reas chea thom ko daoy, ko vea kit tha chea thom tae trov kraom amnach robos vea, pruos vea chea neak deuk noam. Puok ah ach
I agree with 5:48PM. "oppose" can also mean "chumtoas" in Khmer, not "chhbaing".
correction:chbaing
It is a wrong translation. I don't know if Cambodian has its standard of translating words. How come they create a standard of the translation??
We need to be more professional.
I think we cannot give all perfect translations to all English or other foreign words. Sometimes, even if we know the meaning of an English word in our mind, we still cannot express it right in our language.
. . .and our Khmer language is very good if one tries to compare a its sentence structure to the English, even if Khmer language consists more consonants and wovels. It goes very close to eacher other in words arrangement and meaning.
correction: vowels
8:44PM – Agree. It is not always possible to find the exact word. But I think the translation made by KI was a poor choice of word, or perhaps it was intentional. KI should be more generous in its wording, i.e. give some benefits of the doubt to those it criticizes. Finally, KI should learn to promote love rather than incite hatred. Be more conciliatory! It’s good for us and our nation.
No, we can not literally translate Khmer to English and vice versa word for word. It would be awkward and incorrect half of the times, especially in complete sentences.
For example:
(Khmer) - Som nikyeas mous mous (pardon my Romanized Khmer) - Please speak slowly
(Literal translation to English from Khmer) - Beg or request speak one one
It's just not understandable to the English speaker. But this is besides the point being discussed here. Just want to point something out and not being a smart pants.
kanakpak prochanng meant opposition party in khmer pauvre con,nothing else
chaul trolaok
9:04 pm, with you on the promote love, not inciting hatred, and more conciliatory aspects. To be honest, sometimes so fed up with the incitements for the infighting here, I go to other Khmer blogspots for better news, civilized discussions, and good brainstorming.
I think I see her point. Literally speaking, it doesn't make much sense. However, she seems to convey the meaning around the context which reflects some Khmer mentality that "pro chaing" may refer to "fighting against...", which is different from the word " oppose". Though I can be wrong.
After all, it's great to see things in different lenses.
9:17PM,
I think you give the wrong Khmer sentence to your English translation:
"Som niyeay muoy muoy" cannot be translated into Englis as "Please speak slowly."
If you mean to speak slowly, you should say, "Som niyeay yeut yeut."
Again, English sentence structure and Khmer sentence structure go in almost paralellism: I go to school.
I want to eat rice.
what would you say in Khmer?
9:33PM - can you share with us the URL of other Khmer blogs. Thanks.
Would love to hear her response and clarification though.
Com'on sister. Don't be shy. The ball is in your court. Let's hear some intelligent arguments.
9:45 pm, it is highly inappropriate for me to give out URL's for other Khmer blogs here. Eventhough sometimes I find a few things objectionable in this forum, I still respect that this is their domain. Nevertheless if you go the right and some on the left side this blog homepage, you'll see many other Khmer Blog links listed there by KI Media themselves. You click one of those. That Khmer blog would have other links to other Khmer blogs and so on and so on.
10:07 pm correction: I meant to say "go to the right and some on the left side of this blog..." this is the problem of writing without proof reading.
9:44 pm, that is my colloquial Khmer for "Please speak slowly". Yes, you are also correct to say "Som niyeay yeut yeut". So based on you, the translation from Khmer to English would be "Please speak slowwww slowww". How does it sound to you now? The English speakers might get the drift but they would chuckle at you or not saying anything at all because they don't want to embarrass you. By the way, I did NOT say the parallel translations can not occur all the times, but half of the times. So yes, sometimes is possible and sometime is not.
Once again, since I am languorously illiterated in both languages, English and Khmer, I am unscholarly concerning about the KI's incorrection translation. Therefore, despairing over my weakness and inability to be truly or totally understood of Khmer poliSick, we can't conscientiously reach any kind of qualified understanding of one another, because each of our beloved boastful leaders, Sihanouk, Lon Nol, Pol Pot, and Hun Sen, brainlessly pursues his mission with a sinple-minded zeal based one principle and a concern for punishing or killing the opposition party.
I can tell, by the way you use English alphabets to spell Khmer wodrs, that you are not good in Khmer language. But as I said before, English sentence and Khmer sentence are close in words arrangement and meanings. Some parts of Pali grammar are comparable with the English, both in grammar terms and analysises.
Khmer ery ruob ruom knea lerng...stop cursing, blaming and killing each other teat tov.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Executions
Massacres
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Human Abuses
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leader of the Free Trade Union
Attempted Assassinations on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Attempted Murders on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders members and activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Killings
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and others military official on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Remove Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leader of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
If Kanak-pak-Pro-chhaing fighting each others and take the wife one of their members to whom they Pro-chhaing in side the party or cpp?
Why should people stop using any name for their party?
Just because Cambodian translated the CPP's opponent as "Ka-na-pak prochhaing", does not mean it is a bad party for Cambodia.
The SRP can say the same thing to the CPP party as is Ka-na-pak prochhaing against SRP.
Using opponnet's party to make a stupid case, it makes no sense.
CPP is Ka-na-pak prochhaing agaisnt SRP, and SRP is Ka-na-pak prochhaing against CPP, and so WHAT? Isn't CAMBODIA a democratic society? So Beat it!!
The same thing to the parties in the US. The Democrat party is Ka-na-pak prochhaing against the Republican, and the Republican is is Ka-na-pak prochhaing against the Democrat.
Trees of democracy have been planted in Cambodia since 1993, but all trees of democracy have resisted to grow. They just cannot grow in a country who ruler is blind both physically and spiritually. It's a pity indeed for someone who is physically blind, but it is an utter evil who is spiritually blind.
Most you above are moron. You should focus on the subject not the mispelled, misleading, and/or incorrected translation... you attacked each others for that? is that all you can contribute to this discussion? (sic!)What a moron.
What the fuck with the words? Use your fucking brain! FOOL!!!!
What the fuck with the words? Use your fucking brain! FOOL!!!!
If you call your shit right would your mother eat it! Do not fucking dumbo!!!
2:01AM,
You forget to color yourself as the most stupid moron, dude. The meaning of mistranslation is matters. Mispelling is ok since we do not publish our comments as lessons for school subjects anyway.
i know this term is so out of sync with its purpose which i believe to give gov't and cambodia constructive criticism, etc. however, the present meaning sounds like they are fighting for their own maverick way or political gain or what have you. it is out of context in its true meaning. no wonder people think less of them and their true cause. i think they odd to reexamin the real meaning of their party's name, really. this is a suggestion. opposition is like they always against everything the gov't or anybody does anything, which is so miscontrued in meaning, so deviated, to say the less. it shows they are the trouble-maker, the extremist group, the ones who do no respect the law, etc... its real meaning is misunderstood all along due to a trivial thing such as naming their party. imagine in the USA, there's a political candidate party called the "opposition party" instead of the democratic, the independence, the republican, etc... see what i mean, so misleading! it shows they are not clever and smart at all because they are so self-absorb in self-interest and so forth. wake up, people and learn from the world! be smarter for a change!
wake up and be smartly, please!
2:14 AM,
If you try to compare the system of the US government to that of Cambodia, I think your comparison is not at all appropriate, because all the three different Ameriacan political parties are engaged in their arguments for the construction of their nation, while CPP fight for a group of robbers and the absolute dictator to stay in power for the rest their lives. And the extremists are the CPP. The laws violators are also the CPP, because the CPP has every right to criticize its opponents. Their laws have been weaven in accordance with their corrupted intention to be some comfortable mats for them to sit on.
correction: woven
2:01 am & 2:14 am (same indi.), the discussion has been normal and civilized but as soon as you jump in with a flame thrower, it begins to nose dive. People start to curse again left and right without making any coherent responses. They react to you. Now what started all of this discussion, it is not a misspell. It is a misuse of the word completely. It takes the meaning to a total different context. To oppose is one thing where dialogue is still possible. But to fight, that's it we are back to Lon Nol against Khmer Rouge and Heng Samrin/Hun Sen government against other Khmer Liberation factions and KR eras. I think we have enough of the killing, don't you think?
My opinion is that CPP ought to allow other parties including SRP much rooms and leeway for constructive suggestions and inputs and reasonable objections. CPP, the ruling party now, also needs to listen attentively and closely to what SRP and other parties have to say and compromise. SRP and others in turn need let in a little on petty bickering. This is all for the sake of Cambodia and the people. In the way, it is good that there are still multiple parties there. Because it is a form of check and balance. But it is still far from perfect and deteriorating. In the US, the Democrat party keeps the Republican party in check and vice versa. The same thing for the three branches of government. None of the branches can have the absolute power. One can veto, impeach, and adjudicate the others.
12:27 AM,
It was the UN's faults for failing to disarm the CPP backed by the Vietnamese. It was the UN's faults for taking the bribes from Vietnam. Why Vietnam bribed some of the UN's members, because of the land the Vietnam wanted from Hun Sen.
5:48PM
Stop being so wacky . Your English translation doesn't impress me or anyone but it shows me that you are not a very smart person . If you see something coming to you you won't dodge untill you got hit in the head , that's what you are .
4:19 AM . how can you have a dialogue with CPP about whatever if they always say they are right and if you don't agree with them you are not just wrong but stupid too ?
The word pro chhaing is chum tors , the word chum tors is pro chhaing , so what is the difference ? if you know khmer well you will know that those 2 words mean the samething.
5:35 am, your frustration is well perceived. I too have a difficult time understanding the hardline that CPP is taking. It all probably boils down to power and greed that have rooted in the society for so long. We have to be persistent and don't give up. Let's look at a lighter side, we have come a long way from Khmer killing Khmer in battle fields and in streets. Meanwhile, many nations were laughing their heads off.
maybe some of us read too much into the meaning of opposition. it not such a bad meaning. it's sound like a negative connotation, however, it just mean an opponent party. well, maybe they should look into calling it a democratic and republican parties, and the third one should be the independent party, like that in america. how's that for a change! we never heard in the USA they called their political party "opposition party", maybe, it's time for cambodia to wake up for real! learn from america, we will never go wrong, trust me on that! i live in the USA and i know for sure! we all love the american way, the freedom to travel, the safety, the rule of law, the wonderful opportunity for all, justice and equality and fairness for all. it's all in the american blood. cambodia can adopt and learn from my beloved america for real! wake up, cambodia. look to america for idea and growth. god bless cambodia.
the problem with opposition party is they don't know how to stop fighting, even after the election is done with and over! imagine political parties in the USA are doing just that even after election, we would not have america as strong they are today. hey, my point is, wake up cambodia and learn from america for a better life and changes! learn, learn, learn and don't stop learning, ok! wake up!!!!
I agree with you 8:20AM.
There are times to disagree but there are times the Republican Party of Samrainsy needs to think of a bipartisanship.
Post a Comment