Top: A family of "haves"Bottom: A family of "have-nots"
October 7, 2009A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
Pacific Daily News
Modern-day Cambodia is a land of haves and have-nots. There is prosperity among the first group, but those in the second group suffer deprivation and oppression.
Those who could be counted among the "haves" demonstrate some level of allegiance to Big Brother Hun Sen and are rewarded with employment. He controls the primary employment center in the country, the Cambodian People's Party Inc. Those who are less privileged, the "have-nots," are victimized by uniformed authorities who come to evict them from their property, which is awarded to a favored individual or business entity for development.
The haphazard installations of modern infrastructure, tall buildings and expensive villas stand in stark contrast to the scavengers who roam the city's dumps looking for food and the many who live in the open air in rickety shacks with tin roofs. A third of the population lives below the poverty line.
Human Rights Watch describes the situation this way: "The gap has widened between wealthy city dwellers and impoverished farmers in the countryside, exacerbated by large-scale forced evictions of tens of thousands of urban poor, illegal confiscation of farmers' land, and pillaging of the natural resources on which people in the countryside depend for their livelihood."
Most of the country's wealth is generated from trade with countries willing to do business with Hun Sen's government -- the legitimacy of which is very much in question -- to acquire Cambodia's natural resources. Cambodians who don't benefit from these international arrangements rely on NGOs and human rights groups to advocate for them domestically and internationally.
A day before the Sept. 10 public hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission by the U.S. Congress on the violations of human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia, the royal embassy of Cambodia in Washington circulated a statement declaring Cambodia's "democracy and human rights are fully guaranteed by its 1993 Constitution (which) recognizes the freedom of expression and other fundamental rights."
At the hearing, Cambodian lawmaker Mu Sochua told the Commission she was "stripped of my parliamentary immunity and given a criminal conviction for openly criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen." Sochua affirmed, "My situation is not unique," and warned, democracy in Cambodia "is experiencing an alarming freefall."
But the Embassy noted the existence in Cambodia of 600 newspapers, journals and magazines, 40 radio stations and seven TV stations, and "thousands of civil society organizations, as well as free press and trade unions" -- what more does anyone need to prove Cambodia's commitment to freedom?
A testimony by Human Rights Watch provided to the Lantos Commission: "The U.S. has provided training, material assistance and even awards to military, police, counter-terror units or related individuals with track records of serious human rights abuses."
Eight congressmen wrote a letter on Sept. 18 to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, requesting a response to charges of "serious abuses by members of the Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit, Brigade 70, Special Airborne Brigade 911 and Brigade 31 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces."
Three days later, Gates met at the Pentagon with Sen's defense minister, Gen. Tea Banh, who was on a four-day visit "to strengthen cooperation" between the two militaries.
Banh brushed off accusations of rights violations and told reporters of Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America that the congressmens' letter to Gates has "false" information. Yet Banh slipped, saying, "Truthfully, right now, there are a number of (Cambodian army) officers who are refused entry to the U.S."
The Sept. 24 Phnom Penh Post reported Banh as saying that Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg "addressed concerns about human rights issues in Cambodia," but that Banh "clarified that while some concerns are valid, each country has its own law."
Does Cambodia's law differ from the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights?
University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner's "Think Again: International Law" in the Sept. 17 Foreign Policy Online states: "Governments respect international law only when it suits their national interests. Don't expect that to change any time soon."
Posner writes: "Academic research suggests that international human rights treaties have had little or no impact on the actual practices of states. States that already respect human rights join human rights treaties because doing so is costless for them. States that do not respect human rights simply ignore their treaty obligations."
On Sept. 23, the Voice of America broadcast opposition leader Sam Rainsy's told the Bangkok press club: "Grassroots activists, politicians and village leaders have been killed, jailed, and forced into hiding for disagreeing with the ruling party."
Sen's Council of Ministers' fired back and said Rainsy has no "dignity as a politician." The hundreds of press media and thousands of NGOs working "freely in the kingdom" are in contrast to "accusations by a group of immoral people."
Abraham Lincoln's words are worth recalling: "You may fool all of the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time."
A Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. Write him at peangmeth@yahoo.com.
Those who could be counted among the "haves" demonstrate some level of allegiance to Big Brother Hun Sen and are rewarded with employment. He controls the primary employment center in the country, the Cambodian People's Party Inc. Those who are less privileged, the "have-nots," are victimized by uniformed authorities who come to evict them from their property, which is awarded to a favored individual or business entity for development.
The haphazard installations of modern infrastructure, tall buildings and expensive villas stand in stark contrast to the scavengers who roam the city's dumps looking for food and the many who live in the open air in rickety shacks with tin roofs. A third of the population lives below the poverty line.
Human Rights Watch describes the situation this way: "The gap has widened between wealthy city dwellers and impoverished farmers in the countryside, exacerbated by large-scale forced evictions of tens of thousands of urban poor, illegal confiscation of farmers' land, and pillaging of the natural resources on which people in the countryside depend for their livelihood."
Most of the country's wealth is generated from trade with countries willing to do business with Hun Sen's government -- the legitimacy of which is very much in question -- to acquire Cambodia's natural resources. Cambodians who don't benefit from these international arrangements rely on NGOs and human rights groups to advocate for them domestically and internationally.
A day before the Sept. 10 public hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission by the U.S. Congress on the violations of human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia, the royal embassy of Cambodia in Washington circulated a statement declaring Cambodia's "democracy and human rights are fully guaranteed by its 1993 Constitution (which) recognizes the freedom of expression and other fundamental rights."
At the hearing, Cambodian lawmaker Mu Sochua told the Commission she was "stripped of my parliamentary immunity and given a criminal conviction for openly criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen." Sochua affirmed, "My situation is not unique," and warned, democracy in Cambodia "is experiencing an alarming freefall."
But the Embassy noted the existence in Cambodia of 600 newspapers, journals and magazines, 40 radio stations and seven TV stations, and "thousands of civil society organizations, as well as free press and trade unions" -- what more does anyone need to prove Cambodia's commitment to freedom?
A testimony by Human Rights Watch provided to the Lantos Commission: "The U.S. has provided training, material assistance and even awards to military, police, counter-terror units or related individuals with track records of serious human rights abuses."
Eight congressmen wrote a letter on Sept. 18 to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, requesting a response to charges of "serious abuses by members of the Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit, Brigade 70, Special Airborne Brigade 911 and Brigade 31 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces."
Three days later, Gates met at the Pentagon with Sen's defense minister, Gen. Tea Banh, who was on a four-day visit "to strengthen cooperation" between the two militaries.
Banh brushed off accusations of rights violations and told reporters of Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America that the congressmens' letter to Gates has "false" information. Yet Banh slipped, saying, "Truthfully, right now, there are a number of (Cambodian army) officers who are refused entry to the U.S."
The Sept. 24 Phnom Penh Post reported Banh as saying that Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg "addressed concerns about human rights issues in Cambodia," but that Banh "clarified that while some concerns are valid, each country has its own law."
Does Cambodia's law differ from the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights?
University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner's "Think Again: International Law" in the Sept. 17 Foreign Policy Online states: "Governments respect international law only when it suits their national interests. Don't expect that to change any time soon."
Posner writes: "Academic research suggests that international human rights treaties have had little or no impact on the actual practices of states. States that already respect human rights join human rights treaties because doing so is costless for them. States that do not respect human rights simply ignore their treaty obligations."
On Sept. 23, the Voice of America broadcast opposition leader Sam Rainsy's told the Bangkok press club: "Grassroots activists, politicians and village leaders have been killed, jailed, and forced into hiding for disagreeing with the ruling party."
Sen's Council of Ministers' fired back and said Rainsy has no "dignity as a politician." The hundreds of press media and thousands of NGOs working "freely in the kingdom" are in contrast to "accusations by a group of immoral people."
Abraham Lincoln's words are worth recalling: "You may fool all of the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time."
A Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. Write him at peangmeth@yahoo.com.
23 comments:
Dear All,
Cambodia is at present blindly building a few new dynasties of Cambodian such as;
-Hun Sen dynasty
-Hor Nam Hong Dynasty
-Cham Prasith dynasty
-Ly Yong Phath Dynasty
-Yeay Phu Dynasty
-Kiet Chhon Dynasty
THe building of these new dyansties by the expenses of all Cambodians in Cambodia. These small Cambodians from all public servants such as police, military, school teachers and health professionals are working day and night with slavery salary for the sacrifice to build these above new dynasties hopefully their personal assets can be competed with Mr Bill Gates.
Everyone must live by having enogh food for day to day so that the new dynasties are wealthier.
Areak Prey
Areak Prey was experienced analyzer, human being.
Signed,
Hun Xen, Sok Xan, Keat Xhong, Hor Nam Xong, Sar Xheng.
Hanoi, Vietnam, on october 7, 2009
Areak Prey, when you are rich and powerful but you don't help your own brothers,sisters, aunts, uncles,cousins and in-laws, what would your mom say to you ???? Can you answer that ? It is a normal human behavior. Everybody will do the same when they are in that position. The only politician who did not do that is Pol Pot (also some others KR leaders)and you how that turn out. Do you want Cambodia to be like that ????
Thank you Professor. I always enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work!
This is so pitiful, The government seemed to ignoramus. I'm liked them 30 years ago, let me give you details about my sibling we all illerated just worked seven days week selling what we found trade and sell. No running water, electricity, nor transportion also our restroom would be latrine in our backyard. Even myself never owned a pair of shoe just flip-flop. Now I lived in the land of FREEDOM speech, religious, nor nationalities.
A PITILESS RULER WHO MADE ALL HIS PEOPLE SUFERRED DAY AND NIGHT. MAY OUR CITIZENS LIVE IN PEACE.
5:38AM,
"Everybody will do the same when they are in that position," is wrong if you mean all Khmer peole are in the category of Hun Sen and his family. I think you know as well as I do: Khmer Rouge lack sympathy, comapssion, generosity, and mercy. Hun Sen's family were and are the Khmer Rouge still. Their conducts prove that; therefore, they lack the above qualities. When they lack the above qualities, they cannot see the suffering poor Khmer living around him. They won't share fortune and happiness with the people. Leaders who are compassionate, kind, merciful, sympathetic won't be in same position as Hun Sen is, because their moral standard and the way they think is quite different from Hun Sen, his family, and his criminal clique do. People like Hun Sen and his comrades won't be able to make Cambodia a prosperous country because their personal interests and greed completely obliterates the national ones.
As ethical morals scale down the evil acts scale up. The two groups of Khmer Rouge have degraded the Khmer's moral value. The former degraded it to zero; the later bring it up a little bit just to fool the public that they are actually traditional or religious, as most Khmer are.
Let face the reality and rebuild our Nation instead.
To rebuild a Nation, we need good system in place to amke sure that everyone is below the law.
To do that all politicians need to work together to enact good laws. such as election laws as from the start.
Before we go to General election, we need to put up rules and laws for all Candidates to follow and for all elected members to respect.
NEC has the duty to do that. First, NEC must put laws requirement for Candidate. What kind of Candidate can stand for each General Election.
1-No criminal record succh as as corruption, taxation problem, marriage problem, No position in any public office etc.
2-Elected by their party to be National candidate.
3-Each party must produce a ranking list of Candidate.
After receiving list of each party candidate, NEC must send to each candidate, all the renumerations, their privilleges and allownaces if they are going to be elected such as
1-Salary
2-Holidays
3-Secreatry
4-Housing
5-Transportation locally and internationally.
They should clearly state between, Member of parliament ( from one term to maximum terms to gain maximum perks,) Minister, main opposition party, opposition party, Prime Minister etc.. and etc..
These are the most important factors before each election so that all elected members will not abuse their power after election.
Once they have rules for them, they will create rules for others.
Areak Prey
Ah Khvang Ka Khak Lourk Srok Khmer
Oy ChorYuon Hue Phlon khmewr kroub Yang
Rorb Lean Dollar Chol Khlaing Khvang
Ph'chal Khmer oy Reang Thoeu Kh'nhom Hue
7:29AM,
You can't apply your ideas in a country dominated by Yuons. They won't let you do that.
The outside appearances of this government show you that this country of ours is ruled in accordance to its constitutional laws, but the hidden fact is that it is ruled in compliance with the Yuons' orders. The Yuons draw a clear line for Hun Sen to follow through. Everything must meet Yuons orders gradually.
RIGHTS ARE GUARANTEED ONLY BY EACH AND EVERYONE IN THE ABOVE PICTURE.
EVERYONE ELSE CAN GUARANTEED THAT THEIR RIGHTS WILL BE VIOLATED BY THE VERY SAME PEOPLE.......THE ABOVE PICTURE.
They steal money from the donors to live in such a glamourous life style. It is not a normal behavior. What a cold heart cowards!
keep in mind too that this kind of things we see all over the world as well. anyway, it is good to make cambodia aware of such unequality in society, though. perhaps, once people are aware of this, they will demand and fight to make a difference for cambodia. we need it most, really!
tveu lah or ban ach tveu akrark ban leerp!
8:05 AM,
Yes, Yuon Hanoi had controlled Hun Sen's government to the bottom line of all ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS.
Hanoi's core are hiding behind every ministry, especially Interior, Defense,, Finance and Trade,...etc.
Every thing is ran with the accordance and orders from Hanoi.
The Vietnamisation of Cambodia is almost complete, except one thing, Haoi will wipe out Khmer Identities.
When Khmers lost their identities,
we will cease as a Race, as a Nation, and as a Country.
Khmers will be Vietnamese slaves in the very near future like Laotians, on their ancestors' lands.
Shame to Ah N.Sihanouk, Ah S'dach Sold Cambodia to Vietnam, and khmer people murderer leader.
It is an eye soring...pictures! I am ah Youn is happy to see these pictures! MF.
Mr. Gaffar Peang-Meth,
I thought a man of your qualification would have a better understanding of the root-cause of current situation in Cambodia than the average Sokha. I would also expect that a man of your background can make real and tangible contribution to the nation beyond your endless anti-government rhetoric.
One does not need to be told by a Ph. D to realize the problems in Cambodia. May I also remind you that these problems are neither CPP nor Cambodia exclusivity. Such problems have been in the making for hundred of years, and will take a long time to unwind.
You should help to educate people to be creative, value hardworking, and demonstrate determination and perseverance. These are the key elements that will improve their living conditions. Your anti-government view, though valid, does not solve any problem. It only intensifies the anger and frustration, and create more disharmony.
Finally, may I suggest that you read some articles or documents that French colonialists wrote about Khmer and Vietnamese people. You will see why we had and continue to have so much problems in the country.
Yearning
Untrustworthy
Obliterate
Numerous
I believe that this article is most accurate about the current situation about Cambodia. I too know of Hun Sen evil sins. He murdered people during the Khmer Rouge era. HUN SEN stage A SCHEME TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE TO ANGER BOTH HANOI AND POL POT to fight each other so he can use them both to gain power.
I believe that someday HUN SEN will be put to KR TRIAL. MY PARENTS KNOW WHAT YOU HENG SAMRIN AND HUN SEN DID IN 1979. THAT WHY WE RAN AWAY. MASS MURDERERS AS MOST KNOW HE tell people me HUN SEN GOOD, BUT ONLY FOR YOUR MONEY AND WIFES PANTS.
ALSO HUN SEN WAS PEEPING TOM AT A GIRLS TAKING BATH THATS WHY HIS EYE WAS POKED BY KHMER ROUGE LEADERS AND HE EXAGGERATED THE STORY PORTRAYING HERO AND ALL.
Do you think the Sihanouk's days, Lon Nol's days or Pol Pot's days are better than Cambodia's today? Think again!
To the Poster 8:20PM,
All oppositions ideas and all anti-government doesn't means Anti-National interest. Without contribution of anti-government ideas and anti-government policies, the country will not be able to develop in good shape at all.
Think again,
Without sweet, each person is needing sweet. But when we have plentifull of sweet, people do not like sweet anymore. It can cause diabetic.
A free society, require opposition ideas to stop the government to be self-fish. Without opposition parties and anti-government, these government officials will only do the job to favour their own families only.
Regarding poster 12:45AM,
offcourse Sihanouk and Lon Nol were far better than today. A lawless Nation.
Areak Prey
Areak Prey
12:45 AM,
Agreed that Cambodia today is better than Pol Pot year, but to say it's better than Sihanouk and Lon Nol year is a joke. Under Hun Sen leadership, despite the fact that aids donation keep pouring in for almost 30 years, the majority of people are poorer and poorer. No where in Cambodia that we don't see the beggars, and that's a proof that Hun Sen and CPP are inept in leading a country to prosperity. To better the country, leadership change is needed.
correction: selfish (CPP)
MUK ANEH DOCH NAKTAUS!
ANH THUGN MEAL MUK VEA NASH!
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