November 25, 2009By Gaffar Peang-Meth
Guest Commentary
UPI Asia.com
Washington, DC, United States, — A “progressive and systematic overhaul” of its society is what Cambodia needs, according to Dr. Naranhkiri Tith, a specialist in country risk analysis, former civil servant with the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development and a former professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Overhaul Khmer society? Tith says that only by freeing itself from its past can Cambodia gradually resolve its economic, institutional, legal, political and social problems.
Cambodia has been a monarchy since the first century A.D. – except briefly under the 1970-1975 Khmer Republic under Lon Nol, and the 1975-1979 Democratic Kampuchea under Pol Pot. That is the legacy Tith refers to, although he knows that criticizing something that has been the only way and the only thought of a people for 2,000 years will not make him popular.
Yet Cambodia is the land of his birth, he insists, and no one is going to prevent him from thinking and applying his best thoughts to help bring change, even if he has to step on toes.
Actually, that’s what leaders do, says bestselling author, entrepreneur and blogger Seth Bodin. Leaders have curiosity, they ask questions, they challenge what is, and they commit to working to bring about change.
From the standpoint of former Czech playwright and dissident Vaclav Havel, who became the first president of the Czech Republic in 1993-2003, that’s what an intellectual does: to “constantly disturb … bear witness to the misery of the world … be provocative by being independent, rebel against all hidden and open pressures and manipulations … be the chief doubter of systems.” An intellectual “stands out as an irritant wherever he is,” says Havel.
And to borrow Burmese human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi’s words, it is important for a person to have a “questing mind” that is always questioning and always seeking for ways and means to get out of and solve problems. For Suu Kyi, a questing mind is necessary to help withstand violence and oppression, especially in a society in which people are generally conditioned to obey without questioning the situation.
Khmer-born and Western-educated in Europe and the United States, Tith migrated to the United States in 1960-1961 because “I felt that I was not allowed to be myself,” he says. In other words, he could not grow.
Tith sees the “pervasive and crushing role of the monarchy,” combined with the conservative nature of Khmer society – “such as the belief in prophesies and the rigidity in social organization and behavior” – as contributing to the “inertia and the inability to allow new ideas and capable leadership and entrepreneurial spirit to emerge.” In the final analysis, this keeps Cambodia “perpetually underdeveloped,” he says.
For nearly five decades now I have reflected on Cambodia, which is also the country of my birth and of my primary and secondary education. I have thought about Tith’s descriptions of inertia and the inability to allow new ideas, capable leadership and entrepreneurial spirit to grow in Cambodia.
I remember reading a Cambodian statesman’s political analysis of Khmer history while doing research for my doctoral dissertation in the early 1970s, about Khmer valor, the Khmer Empire and the builders of Angkor, the Khmer “warrior race,” when Hindu influences were paramount. Then Buddha’s doctrine of peace, kindness, compassion and acceptance came to replace the old ways.
I have asked myself if there is a dichotomy within a person with an inner tug-of-war between the combative warrior personality and the peaceful Buddha-like personality.
I have read the late Khmer professor Sar Sarun’s “Proloeng Khmer” (1973) – and re-read time and again the translation, “Khmer Mentality,” in Tith’s website. Sarun describes the Khmer mentality as insensitive to social and legal rules except where there is coercion; an artistic spirit in a soft, fanciful and romantic state with a tendency to be confused about commitments.
I have asked myself, who and what is this Khmer whom Sarun was describing?
Visna Sann, author of “Who is Khmer?” (2005) wrote in Tith’s website, “Some Cambodians adhere to a policy of exclusion in which only 100 precent ethnic Khmers may be considered Khmer.” He described prejudices recounted by a Cambodian of Chinese heritage.
"I am disturbed by these examples of exclusion,” he wrote, “We cannot afford to exclude our own people.” Sann charged that Cambodia’s “policy of exclusion … has contributed to our country’s decline in the same way as Khmer fighting against Khmer.”
Tith includes in his website Marie A. Martin’s “Cambodia: a Shattered Society” (1994). She writes that, “respect for elders and for hierarchy remains sacrosanct” in Cambodia, and reminds us that, “In the traditions of Khmer moral training, to protest against a parent’s decision, to criticize one’s boss or spiritual master, to rebel against a husband is inadmissible.”
"It is understandable how such a mentality can lead to an abuse of power but also how dangerous a lack of wisdom and scruples can be, for once the link of confidence is broken, the divorce is irreparable and the authority is forever rejected. Younger persons must keep quiet,” wrote Martin.
"And adolescents have no chance to express themselves, much less to argue. It is not surprising if later they allow themselves to be trampled by an ‘elder’ who is in the wrong or less competent than they are, if they remain defenseless in the face of a national tragedy or prefer to let a foreigner speak or act in their place,” said Martin.
Of course, all these are not really pleasant to hear. But Tith isn’t afraid to confront them.
As the saying goes: “The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present is here, live it.”
--
(Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. He currently lives in the United States. He can be contacted at peangmeth@gmail.com. Copyright Gaffar Peang-Meth.)
Overhaul Khmer society? Tith says that only by freeing itself from its past can Cambodia gradually resolve its economic, institutional, legal, political and social problems.
Cambodia has been a monarchy since the first century A.D. – except briefly under the 1970-1975 Khmer Republic under Lon Nol, and the 1975-1979 Democratic Kampuchea under Pol Pot. That is the legacy Tith refers to, although he knows that criticizing something that has been the only way and the only thought of a people for 2,000 years will not make him popular.
Yet Cambodia is the land of his birth, he insists, and no one is going to prevent him from thinking and applying his best thoughts to help bring change, even if he has to step on toes.
Actually, that’s what leaders do, says bestselling author, entrepreneur and blogger Seth Bodin. Leaders have curiosity, they ask questions, they challenge what is, and they commit to working to bring about change.
From the standpoint of former Czech playwright and dissident Vaclav Havel, who became the first president of the Czech Republic in 1993-2003, that’s what an intellectual does: to “constantly disturb … bear witness to the misery of the world … be provocative by being independent, rebel against all hidden and open pressures and manipulations … be the chief doubter of systems.” An intellectual “stands out as an irritant wherever he is,” says Havel.
And to borrow Burmese human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi’s words, it is important for a person to have a “questing mind” that is always questioning and always seeking for ways and means to get out of and solve problems. For Suu Kyi, a questing mind is necessary to help withstand violence and oppression, especially in a society in which people are generally conditioned to obey without questioning the situation.
Khmer-born and Western-educated in Europe and the United States, Tith migrated to the United States in 1960-1961 because “I felt that I was not allowed to be myself,” he says. In other words, he could not grow.
Tith sees the “pervasive and crushing role of the monarchy,” combined with the conservative nature of Khmer society – “such as the belief in prophesies and the rigidity in social organization and behavior” – as contributing to the “inertia and the inability to allow new ideas and capable leadership and entrepreneurial spirit to emerge.” In the final analysis, this keeps Cambodia “perpetually underdeveloped,” he says.
For nearly five decades now I have reflected on Cambodia, which is also the country of my birth and of my primary and secondary education. I have thought about Tith’s descriptions of inertia and the inability to allow new ideas, capable leadership and entrepreneurial spirit to grow in Cambodia.
I remember reading a Cambodian statesman’s political analysis of Khmer history while doing research for my doctoral dissertation in the early 1970s, about Khmer valor, the Khmer Empire and the builders of Angkor, the Khmer “warrior race,” when Hindu influences were paramount. Then Buddha’s doctrine of peace, kindness, compassion and acceptance came to replace the old ways.
I have asked myself if there is a dichotomy within a person with an inner tug-of-war between the combative warrior personality and the peaceful Buddha-like personality.
I have read the late Khmer professor Sar Sarun’s “Proloeng Khmer” (1973) – and re-read time and again the translation, “Khmer Mentality,” in Tith’s website. Sarun describes the Khmer mentality as insensitive to social and legal rules except where there is coercion; an artistic spirit in a soft, fanciful and romantic state with a tendency to be confused about commitments.
I have asked myself, who and what is this Khmer whom Sarun was describing?
Visna Sann, author of “Who is Khmer?” (2005) wrote in Tith’s website, “Some Cambodians adhere to a policy of exclusion in which only 100 precent ethnic Khmers may be considered Khmer.” He described prejudices recounted by a Cambodian of Chinese heritage.
"I am disturbed by these examples of exclusion,” he wrote, “We cannot afford to exclude our own people.” Sann charged that Cambodia’s “policy of exclusion … has contributed to our country’s decline in the same way as Khmer fighting against Khmer.”
Tith includes in his website Marie A. Martin’s “Cambodia: a Shattered Society” (1994). She writes that, “respect for elders and for hierarchy remains sacrosanct” in Cambodia, and reminds us that, “In the traditions of Khmer moral training, to protest against a parent’s decision, to criticize one’s boss or spiritual master, to rebel against a husband is inadmissible.”
"It is understandable how such a mentality can lead to an abuse of power but also how dangerous a lack of wisdom and scruples can be, for once the link of confidence is broken, the divorce is irreparable and the authority is forever rejected. Younger persons must keep quiet,” wrote Martin.
"And adolescents have no chance to express themselves, much less to argue. It is not surprising if later they allow themselves to be trampled by an ‘elder’ who is in the wrong or less competent than they are, if they remain defenseless in the face of a national tragedy or prefer to let a foreigner speak or act in their place,” said Martin.
Of course, all these are not really pleasant to hear. But Tith isn’t afraid to confront them.
As the saying goes: “The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present is here, live it.”
--
(Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. He currently lives in the United States. He can be contacted at peangmeth@gmail.com. Copyright Gaffar Peang-Meth.)
61 comments:
Another great insight. I totally agree with you Prefessor. But change of this magnitude requires you or Dr. Tith or anyone else like minds to create change from within. That's the challenge.
You propose destroying the foundations of Khmer culture. What do you suggest should replace the monarchy and visions of the past as the anchors of Cambodian society? Perhaps you believe Khmer people should be taught the worship of money and consumption, like the soulless and cultureless mass of Americans?
I couldn't agree more however these social issues can be solved once Cambodia is govern by a righteous leader independence from Vietnam. At this time, the pressing issue is to get rid of Vietnam and their cronies out of Cambodia and we don't have any problems with other ethnics group in Cambodia whether it's Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham etc.... as long as they agree to build the country and society all together but it's the Vietnamese Communist Vietming that we are having problems with?
Phnom Kulen,
No one on earth above the law especially natural law and the law of action's kamma.Suffering's ignrrance is caused by desires/unsatisfactoriness.
12:59 AM,
Yes, I do agree with you, the communist Hanoi is creating khmer problems.
We, all Khmers inside and overseas, should concentrate our effort by all means to root the Vietnamese invaders and colonialists from Cambodia, so our Khmer people can live free from Vietnamisation in the near future.
Everything Hun Sen had done, is doing, and will be doing, only by Hanoi's dictation.
Hanis and his puppet monkey HUn Sen considered Khmer people as monkeys, not Human Bieings at all.
To Mr. Gaffar:
Another excellent article written by a great man. A 2000 years of history which fills with absolute ruling of the Monarchy and to expect a certain change in a fragile society...is very hard to achieve, nontheless it can be done if we try hard enough. A country of less than 15 millions people with the size of Oklahoma who said it cant be done? In addition to that, there is a saying, " Too many chieves and not enough Indians." This would imply properly to the scenario of our current problems in Cambodia. Many of Cambodian leaders think that their opinions matter most than others, but they didnt realized that some of them have ruled Cambodia in the past still have blood on their hands yet they claim to have the full understanding of how to change Cambodia onto the right course. It is very sad when a person makes a mistake and wont admit to the publics that he or she has failed in leading the country, thus resigns from the post and leave it to others to run the country as best they know how.
French has publically claimed during their Protectorate of Cambodia that "Khmer is a weak race and encouraged Vietnam to rule over Cambodia." This statement issued by the French ought to scare the living day light out of all Khmers, but we are too stupid to notice that we are a doom country not to mention the danger that can actually destroy our country. We must learn to think like Western countries if we wish to protect and serve our nation into the future.
ST
Wisdom's Power: Without the Power Of Dhamma"Righteousness"everything is permitted."THE GREATEST OF THE KHMER EMPIRE TOOK PLACE DURING THE REIGNE OF KING JAYAWARMAN VII AFTER ITS DAY OF GLORY THE EMPIRE BECAME WEAK AS A RESULT OF INERNAL CONFLICTS AND FINALLY FELL TO THE THAI AND VIETNAMESE."
Be weak enought to know that you can not do everything alone.
Phnom Kulen
Cambodia will never be a strsightforward country, unless Mr Hun Sen willing to step down. But i don't think so. Believe me, in long run Cambodia will lose more land to Vietnam not Thailand. Corruptions will be intact, the powerful will continue to oppress the poor. What is good about Cambodia this day? I don't see any signs of hope for Cambodians, it's so unfair.In order to have a good future for Cambodia we need to have a regime change.For example, last month a person tried to protect the land from the theif, and instead he was accused of a criminal acts.I just don't understand!!!!
Cambodian people who can get access on the internet should read articles from the real Khmer Scholars like Dr. Peang-Meth, Dr. Lao Mong Hay, and some other scholars who are real educated with the politics, and don't read the propagandas from the Viet spies like Ly Ngoc Dinh/Yiep in LB. He was never a Khmer Krom but a Vietnamese.
Dear Lok 2:43 AM,
Once a Smaov Vaing always a Smaov Vaing. Cursing me will not help Sdach
Sihanouk. Please write your own article or create your
own newspaper then state only the truth about Sdach Sihanouk.
Regards,
Ly Diep
Hey, dumb Ben,
what do you mean by "Khmer culture"? Do you think ah Hun Sen maintain Khmer culture? If you think so, go to hell, fool!
In Cambodia you have two currents, one antikhmer and another pro khmer. I rather see, tith and co, even claimed to be Khmer and care about Cambodia as they advanced, belong to antikhmer group. During sihanouk reign, you can also see two groups of intellectual and monks, one antikhmer (keng vann sak and monks rouge/monk vietminh) and another group pro khmer that of Samdach Choun Nath.
17 April 1975, keng vansak and yuon clan took power in Cambodia till tody while they have that pleasure to kill another group of Khmer. Before his death, keng married to a young lady known as his niece, a viet lady, you say it. If keng niece is a yuon, who is keng then? somwhat, yuons can deeply infiltrated into Khmer society to better to destroy it. Keng is the one who presented salot sar to yuon Vietcong network in paris, the thioun group and another Vietcong from Hanoi.
Claiming that policy is exclusively khmer is TOTALLY WRONG. You just look into the face of those actual so-called Khmer politicians. They are so little khmer but rather of chin yuons. If you look into khmer info, you barely know who is khmer or chin yuon until they speak out. Among them you rather feel you lost in srok yuons. For so long, Khmer policy, administration and intelligence are yuon domain while economics belong to Chinese. While you see a dark skin politician or trader, they are rarely khmer but of yuon or Chinese of dark skin like heng sam rin, tea banh etc
I agree with Dr Peang, “warrior skin” with dominated doctrine of Buddha of peace and passivity omnipresent in Cambodian life is two conflicting concepts which didn’t reflect reality of Cambodian people. It is rather a mockery while Cambodian people are passive people with absent or little revolt soul. I don’t blame them, because they are being risen in that ideology since their childhood generation to generation. We already suppress ourselves, kill our humain resource with that culture before being killed physically by enemies.
Khmer deadly need “questing mind and revolt soul”. Always request, never satisfy. It is not conform to Buddhism but it is what Khmer need. Thank Dr Peang
Fthk
I lived half of my life in a small country. I found many professors and accademic people are not good politician at all. They choose their good lives rather working for their people. Many leaders of my country are mostly of ordinary people but are working extra-ordinary for their believes.
A good leader must be able to prove to their citizen to follow them and be able to demonstrate the best outcome for their citizen from their policies. We cannot use a Nation and people lives for their own experience at all. Pol Pot and Hun Sen have used people lives for their experiences from collectivities lives to communism lives and then from communism to colonialism.
People must have freedom to choose how live in their lives freely for all their decision making. They must be free from choosing who is going to represent them.
We must decentralise both economically and socially. Full democratic system is the most important process for human development. Unpopular person cannot be a role model to all. First, he must gain heart from others before he can be a good leader otherwise he will not be different from Pol Pot at all.
Areak Prey
One should never assume that all scolars/PhDs are always right. Living in human society, the one who "Deng-understands" is better than the one who "Ches-educated" Here lies an example: On the accasion of a Bon at one Wat, there is parking space long enough for two cras on the street right in front of that Wat. It is reserved for elders. Later one Dr. who drives a new Lexus to that Wat, parking ritht in the middle of that parking space. No one can park behind him nor in front of him. A moment later one elder comes, hoping to park whrere he's supposed to, but unfortunately he cannot. Since he cannot walk far to the temple, he retunrns home. He miss his sila day. This is what I mean some well-educated are not decent enough. Being decent is better than being educated.
I appreciate Dr. Tit's perspectives. However, Changes require goals, education,discipline, focus,sacrifics, and good moral judgement. Manipulation is one of them. Dr. Tit appears to have none. Earn my respect and my attention and may be other Khmers think Dr.Tit is doing right things.
Prof. Tith is making a leitmate statement regarding to the "CHANGES." The "CHANGES" AND NOT THE "ABOLISHMENT." It all depends on the Leaders and Civil Society Councils....! 12:58 AM, please don't be concern and over emphasize on the "CHANGES," takes it as it comes and it is great for Cambodia. If we are going to have sucessful "CHANGES," we must therefore blend the new with the old in order to preserve the old and allow the new to progress and prosper. Cambodian society has constructed by the Monarchs and simply put, one rules and the rests are the followers...much similar to Feudalism which decentralizes sociopolitical structure in which "attempts to control the lands of the realm through reciprocal agreements with regional leaders." We all see our Khmer history repeats itself today under Hun Sen poor leadership. If Cambodia needs to be cured from this kind of social stigma, we must seriously consider the "CHANGES," otherwise, Cambodia will continue to be weak and will NEVER be INDEPENDEND....!
I appreciate Dr. Tit's perspectives. However, Changes require goals, education,discipline, focus,sacrifics, and good moral judgement. Manipulation is not one of them. Dr. Tit appears to have none. Earn my respect and my attention and may be other Khmers think Dr.Tit is doing right things.
Yes, folks can appreciate Dr. Tith; that's their opinions upon reading his comments. As for me, from what I heard of him speaking in public, I feel refrained from joining him even though I am many miles less educated than him.
Gentlemen,
Is this your way of inspiring our future generations? Please give me a break and stop being so negative about our past. There is no doubt that we had some dark moments in our history, but there were also heroic and glorious instants in our history that make us all proud today And I firmly believe that we need to capture and “mythicize” those glorious moments to give our people hope and confidence in their ability to face the enemies. When people believe in and trust the nation, the nation will survive. When people loose hope, the nation will be extinct.
Khmer Academy
Considering that his father and himself had served the monarchy loyally in the past, it is not sure if Dri. Tith Naranhkiri's proposal of a change from the monarchy to a republic is borne out of his genuine desire belief that the republic can serve Cambodia better, or his dislike of the monarchy now is borne out of some sort of a revenge.
The republic regime has proven very disastrous for small and unstable country like Cambodia. In fact the Khmer Republic (Lon Nol), Pol Pot Regime (communist but a republic and Heng Samrin regime (socialist but also republic) have proven to be very disastrous for Cambodia.
For a small country and unstable state like Cambodia, only a well-established institution like the monarchy can ensure stability for the country. Republicanism/communism/socialism will bring too much instability and havoc into the country.
Monarchy model (constitutional monarchy) like Thailand, Japan, England, Denmark and Sweden are examples of good monarchy that have thrived very well.
Under the unstable political environment, condition is not conducive for Cambodia to change from a monarchical regime to a republican regime.
3:56 AM – I think I am in the same boat as you (I never met Dr. Tith though and I don't mean to disrespect him).
There are many Khmers who are very successful as an individual. But sadly, that’s all they are – individuals. They are unable to turn their personal success into a collective success. Unless those Khmer elites are able to transform their personal successes into a collective success, the nation will continue to face an uphill battle against the neighbouring states.
Khmer Academy
One of the flaws of khmer mentality is " min chanh chet".
It's not "min chanh chet", but it's one's own decency.
Khmer Academy,
I am agree 100% with your comments, you sound like a real professor who want Cambodians to unite and feel courage, unlike these other who always wanted to divide Khmers and done nothing to help Khmers.
measthes@yahoo.com
I advocate change in our Khmer society, big one, really. But we must be selective. Overhaul doesn't mean everything must be changed. It is a bog issue requiring great debates and inputs. Good that Dr Tith raised the issue. I had often thought about it for the last 15 years myself.
There are other models to look at - Japan, even Thailand, Yuon. If Khmer society is to survive we must be courageous to dissect it from socail, political, economic perspectives.
If one had read Dr Bit Seang Lim's Warior Heritage, he/she would be better aware of of strengths and weaknesses, and learn to change from there. We Khnmers are so conservative in just about everything. Althoug some people here don't like Dr Tith, but I think he his idea has some merits.
Any overhaul of the Khmer society must not go the way of the Pol POt.Let not reinvent the wheel and start with what we have...
yes, cambodia needs to look at other system in order to revamp or overhaul our social system. people often blame only the leaders for all that gone wrong in society, however, we also must look into reforming the society in the country as well. no one person has the magic pill to cure cambodia of its social-ills due partly to stupid KR atrocity and KR dark age mentality. of course, cambodia should look forward into reform our future while at same time help to preserve some of our old culture and tradition as well. glad to see someone or everyone is being proactive about making changes in cambodia. yes, everyone can help to make a real difference in cambodia once and for all. god bless cambodia.
KhimTith Narankiri has changed from Khmer to French then from French to US and now from US, he wants to be idolized as Khmer once again.
Samsara overhauls KhimTith world big time.
Remember,he who can't learn but teaches -he who preaches but can't do.
Baby Doc KhimTith has been and is a sayer but had never been and never will be a doer for Cambodia but himself.
Say say all can say likes Beattle song.
Khmer society is highly individualistic, not collective, despite Khmer love to parrot Khmer samaki, khmer min slab, khmer angkor, etc. But inreality, Khmer are so selfish, compared to other races. We rather kill our own people and embrace foreigners. Look at what Hun Sen and CPP are doing ! As him who he hates the most - Sam Rainsy or the Yuons ? but ask the yuon or siem s who they would prefer to see dead-khmer or Thaksin ? They would say -Khmer.
Change is easier said than done. With Hun Sen's grip to power, does he agree to change for the better? Facts prove that Hun Sen is listening to no one. As long as Cambodia is still run by a clan don't dream about changing anything.
Dr. Gaffar's article is more of a tribute to his good friend Dr. Tith than to what Dr. Tith really stands for.
Like the previous poster said, Dr. Tith is more of a sayer than a doer.
Some say he has the best analytical minds Cambodia has ever had, but his analytical minds have never been put into use, but has only put into attacking others.
Dr. Tith preaching about changing the monarchy? Well, his father had served Sihanouk loyally for many, many years and Dr. Tith had also served Sihanouk and Ranariddh for some years as well. This is a case of sour grape, after he cannot get what he want from the royalist party? may be.
to 2:43 I am from 12:59, don't bash Mr. Ly Diep as he's a true khmer nationalist and I bet you can't even speak Khmer correctly let alone write! and to the rest: This is not the time to argue to distinguish about who's right or who's at fault! no one is perfect and at this time we need to unite to come up with a plan to get rid of Puok Ah Khbot Cheat! so get to the point instead of waisting our time to analyze for there is nothing to analyze it's obvious and we all know that.
This is me 12:59 again, Here is the plan: we need to designate a committe and assign a person as our representative or leader whether it's Sam Raingsy, Mu SocHua, Dr. Peang Meth, Dr. Khim Tith, or Mr. Ly Diep, etc.... and have that person approach some politician lobbyist of both parties in major western country as well as China to support our cause to resurrect the 1991 accords or border demarcation(I am not well verse of the details. Mr. Diep can fill you on that)and ask China to supervise the next election instead of the west instead of arms struggle? just an idea instead of protesting which lead us nowhere with all these protestations in the last 18 years??????
As reader, I am interested in each individual viewpoint only and I have no interest in hearing personal fight between the accusers and accusees. As for Ly Diep I don't know him personally, however, his viewpoint and his anti-Viets, anti-Hun Sen, anti-Sihanouk stand via his analysis in Khmer make it hard to believe that he is Viets' agent. Just because people have different views they are not warranted to be called traitor or Viet until you can prove it.
we shouldn't tie changes to anything, especially not politics. people are individuals, there have to be laws and order for society to function; otherwise, it would be like the dark ages under the stupid KR regime again. let that be a once in a life time lesson for all to learn. society can't function justly without the rule of laws, code of conducts, ethical laws, etc, etc., really! of course, changes won't be easy like overnight or something, it will take time and take everyone's proactive or involvement without being cruel or selfish.
Dr. Peang-Meth looks so old, dang it. We need more good looking doctorates. I can't stand looking at these old people. We need some fresh new blood.
It so easy to say it is so wrong when looking back in Cambodian history for the past 100 years!
What if Pol Pot did a great job in rebuild Cambodia into a great powerful country? What Pol Pot did to change Cambodia with a stroke of brush at such a break necking speed and Cambodian population are not ready to change and accept...But what if Pol Pot did it differently by changing Cambodia gradually which take a very long time...
Well! The fact is Khmer leaders or even Pol Pot have no choice to change Cambodia in a way they wanted and where all Cambodian population can embrace and accept because Khmer leaders especially Pol Pot was in competition with the Viet, Siem, and Loas...For Pol Pot it was a race against time to take control of Cambodia before the Viet so everything was done in a hasty manner without a careful planning and think of the unintended consequence of his action!
Don't get me wrong I do like competition especially among the Khmer leaders to rebuild Cambodia into a great country! But I know too damn well from Cambodia history and it is not the competition from within Cambodia but it is the competition from outside Cambodia! The competition between world powers and big neighbors seek to influence a small country like Cambodia to change direction in term of country development which too often cause war, hunger, killing, and suffering because some Cambodians leaders and some Cambodian people will not accept the change!
Just remember! Hun Sen got over 30 years with hundred of advisers to rebuild Cambodia into a great country and to get thing right and to this date it is still not right! It is because China,Vietname… are competing to gain influence over Hun Sen government.
By the way, Pol Pot got 4 years to rebuild Cambodia from the years of zero! ahahhahahahhahahahh
yes, talk about social ill. there's still a lot of works to be done in cambodian society. stop blaming on leaders, how about society get education and help change this mentality as well, ok!
Of course, all these are not really pleasant to hear. But Tith isn’t afraid to confront them.
Are you ready for this, KY?
Hun Senn has 30 years to build cambodia into a great country ? And still not right. Does i mean that he should for younger generations, and better brains to take over ? Clanism will see cambodia into a pariah state, whcih is going that route.
Those that laud hun sen , I urge them to re-thinbk, re-look, de-learn, re-learn.
i would think hard about you, Sam Mak Mit @ 8:35AM.
good luck to you with your dream!
I NEVER SEEN DR. Meth gave his own thoughts on the "CHNAGES." He always quoted someone else point of thoughts....
well, it's ok because he's in academia. in academia, of course, you always quote from someone else; that's how we all learn, really! nothing's wrong with that, really, as long as you cite the source and give property credit to the original writers, etc, really! if you been in college, you should know this already, ok! so, don't be so selfish, ok!
Dr. Meth,
The "ripple effects?", and the law of "motion?" by Newton.
I. "Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it."
I challange your argument base on the derivitive ideas of the "ripple effects", and the law of "motions" by Newton. Dr. Meth, your rephrases are NOT fully addressed the positive aspects of "CHANGES." and slightly touch on the "status qou" of a no "CHANGE." However, you failed to recognize nor take it into the consideration, the NEGATIVE IMPACTS of the "CHANGES." is greater than it appears to be.
If you may allow ME to interject my personal view as how I look at the "CHANGES". The "CHANGES" have negative effects as they ripple through the savannah.....you may also wish to survey collateral damages deeply aftermath with respect to physically, mentally, and environmentally effects. You pointed out that Newton's three law of "motions." and one of which I quoted below.
I. "Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it."
This qoutation from Newton...demonstrates AS IS....! First, Newton was talking about "OBJECTS" then "APPLIED." IF A SPONGE GOLF BALL places IN BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND INDEX FINGER...if YOU SQUEEZE (APPLIED PRESSURE)it, YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY THE ROUNDED BALL NOW IS IN A DONUT SHAPE...AND AS SOON AS YOU RELEASED IT; THE law of gravity then pulls the BALL back together and to ITS ORIGINAL round SHAPE.
Dr. Meth, when we talk about the "CHANGES" in civil societies....DO the "CHANGES" in civil societies HAVE THE SAME DEGREE AS THE LAW OF PHYSIC WHICH YOU DERIVITIVELY MENTIONED? As for the "RIPPLE EFFECTS".(theory?)..if you float a piece of popcorn in a bucket of still water and you then drop a piece OBJECT in the bucket as it touches the surface of that water..., the ripples will either move that piece of popcorn as it ripples through or remain at the same position and uniformly. The question now whether the ripples carry that popcorn always to the internal side of the bucket...is still uncertain. Having said, I respectfully disagree with your argument due to many flaws in your stimulus. The anthropologist claimed that the "human species could not survived prehistoric times if the species had not evolved the ability to cope with diverse ntural environment." Dr. Meth, would you assume that this is the reason of your argument and/or close to at least?
8.52am, samak mit, i think you've got a long way to go, man. keep learning and continue to worship your god hun xen. i can blame you if you drink his pee and eat his pooh for supper. you will be trash doeng soon.
Prof. Tith is making a legitimated statement regarding the "CHANGES." The "CHANGES" AND NOT THE "ABOLISHMENT." It all depends on the Leaders and Civil Society Councils....! 12:58 AM, please don't be concerned and over emphasized on the "CHANGES," takes it as it comes and it is great for Cambodia. If we are going to have sucessful "CHANGES," we must therefore blend the new with the old in order to preserve the old and allow the new to progress and prosper.
Cambodian's society had constructed and ruled by the Monarchy and simply put, one ruler and the rests are the followers...much similar to Feudalistic system in Europe which decentralizes sociopolitical structure in which "attempts to control the lands of the realm through reciprocal agreements with regional leaders."
We all see our Khmer history repeats itself today under Hun Sen poor leadership. If Cambodia needs to be cured from this kind of social stigma, we must seriously consider the "CHANGES," otherwise, Cambodia will continue to be weak and will NEVER be INDEPENDEND....!
As Dr. Martin once said, it does not take education to participate in change/politics. All it takes is the heart which motivate and commit to the change.
9:08 AM,
So, you already ate ah hun kwack's shit and drank his pee for breakfast? Did it smell and taste like your mother, wife, and duaghter pussie? If that is the case then I want some...hahahahah...stupid ass hole...!
9.14AM, good comments. Khmer society is divided into two classes only: rulers and slaves. The people are basically the slaves to be consumed, used and abused by their rulers. It has not changed one iota for the last two thousand years.
This hierachy of power structure has shaped Khmer mentality and mores. Generally, Khmer are downrodden, submissive, gentle, generous, stuborn, bragging, gullible, selfish, egoistic, but igonorant.
Pointedly Havel, the Czech dissident then President, is wellworthy of his native language which people learned of and loved him for.he wrote books for his people thirst of knowledge to reach his goal and dream of change.
Unfortunately Doc KhimTith can't barely speak proper Khmer not to mention proper writing or reading that will put his position not too far from heng Samrin or Hun Sen 8 years schooling.So far no book published under his pen in Khmer to outreach to lowly educated Khmers.
Doc KhimTith is niay Chak Smok neuv leu jong thnaut. He has never slept in Khmer mentality so how could he dream changes for Khmer?
too exteme to compare tith to hun sen, heng xamrin.
most khmer intellectuals don't write but talk, talk, blame, but not walk.
Folks,
Now that everyone has a chance to express his or her opinion, can we agree and commit to some practical action plan?
Sure 10:21 am,
First, Do we want to CHANGE? and do we agreee on the "CHANGES?" What are our exspectations from the "CHANGES?" Are the "CHANGES" worthy and adequate to satisfy a need both the young and old? If we are, what are the next steps? Otherwise, we are making fool of ourselves....and let alone wasting precious time.
I want those who infavor of changes to start thinking from the "Community and Economic Development Approaches." JOT DOWN WHATEVER COMES UP WE WILL THEN DISCUSS THE VALIDITY OF THOSE POINTS.
Knhom Jea Khmer
Changes?
What are to change for Cambodia to be strong and powerful?
Economic or political power or what?
9:35 AM,
You are absolutely right! ultimately....that how the civil societies in the World are being projected by, and eventually adopted....
The US has reshape her dervitive Democratic System to fit her civil society. Many more nations on this planet earth are in the process of changing their political structures and civil societies.
Laos,French, Russia, China, Vietnam, and other nations alike abolished their Monarchy System, because they were JUST SIMPLY DID NOT WORK.
Today, a handful of Constitutional Monarchs: Cambodia, Thailand, England, Others adopting this new approach to preserve the Monarchy.
In case of Cambodia, we have a Civil incompetent leader, who is pretty much still adopting the Monarchy system...or more so to the LEFT WING OF the POLITICal sprectrum....ONLY him who can shoot straight and others must alter. This is a symbol of Dictatorship and/or Authoritarian gesture of leadership....that is NOT HEALTHY for Cambodia nation. The old Khmer social stigma and praedicamentum are still lingering over Cambodia....as Dr. Tith pointed out that Khmer must "free themselves their past and gradually work to resolve its economic, institutional, legal, political and social problems." With so doing, all Khmer must participate in political and social changes...UNTIL THEN KHMERS ARE STILL LIVING IN THE DARK AGE....!
Knhom Jea Khmer
8:35AM,
Can you tell me who taught you English, dude? I will go to kick his butt and take your money you paid him back.
11.34 am, me laerned englit in kao i dhang outside clat, becaut me had no money to pay titchers.
7:09 AM,
Ly Ngoc Diep is no longer trusted by too many Khmers. They already knew he was born in Vietnam and he was not a Khmer Krom, he is Vietnamese. There are too many speculations circulating through e-mail across the world, that he is a spy of Hanoi and the ways he writes many observers believed he is Viet spy. Khmer people prefer to have real Khmer to run the Newsppaer not the Vietnamese. You can't change people's mind that already made up about Ly Ngoc Yiep. More and more don't trust Ly Ngoc Diep.
Just because one is born in Vietnam that doesn't mean he's a Yuon agent? look at our Khmer Kampuchea Krom? during the Khmer Republic, just because most of them speak Khmer with a Vietnamese accent and we think they are Vietnamese but in reality they fought harder than our so called Khmers? I have a lot of Vietnamese and Chinese friends when I was a teenager and most of them they identify themselves as Khmers as well because they were born in Cambodia! so if we alienate everyone i.e. Chinese and Vietnamese (the nationalist one not the Communist/Vietcong/North Vietnamese that infiltrate to Cambodia) then we cannot govern rightfully. So open your mind we are against the bad people and not everyone are bad! same as black people, not all of them are bad? o.k.
too many educated people in this comment blog. each of them seems to declare that he/she knows than the others.
god/buddha bless khmer
to 2:01 you're right in a way as to how do we want our 2nd country i.e. France or U.S or Australia and Canada treat our us and our children? what if they still think that we are 3rd class citizens which is o.k. if we don't have the education or if we are criminals but what if we have a degree and is a good citizen and yet we don't get the job or the opportunity that we deserve? how do we want other to treat us? well, in that context it maybe the same how we want to treat the Vietnamese and Chinese who lived and who were born in Cambodia with the exception of those Viets Communist! and as a new leader we have to embrace the whole population all together whether we like it or not? like R Reagan said "trust but verifiable" as long as we can verify the Vietnamese population in Cambodia with whatever criteria or means that the new leader come up with including the rappatriation of illegals ones.
Cambodian Immigration needs to be more sterned! for national security purposes
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