In a recent lede to a post you characterize me as an ardent supporter of Hun Sen's leadership and policies. Although it is true that I posted a few articles that gave credit where credit is due, as all is not bad in Cambodia, my main thrust of my political comments was directed at the dismal failure of the leader of the SRP in formulating clear alternatives and programs, thus failing to contribute to a more rational approach of bringing about more rapid change in the development of Cambodia. That I am not alone with this opinion is demonstrated through comments by Ou Virak of the CCHR, among others. SR;s policies and tactics are counterproductive and will not improve the lives of those he purports to fight for. What has been missing, especially on your website, is a more realistic assessment of his role in Cambodian politics and more balanced reporting. If that view makes me an ardent supporter, so be it, but it would also be obvious that most of your radical, nationalist contributors, such as Khmerization, don't quite understand where I am coming from and don't comprehend the concepts of realpolitik.
Additionally, I replied to Alberto Rodas' comment as follows: "I do agree with your comment 100%. This post was not meant to romanticize life in rural Cambodia. As I said above it is limited in scope and not representative. It is a glimpse, nothing more, nothing less. That should be clear from the article itself."
In the spirit of objectivity I would be grateful if this email were posted on your site.
KJE
Additionally, I replied to Alberto Rodas' comment as follows: "I do agree with your comment 100%. This post was not meant to romanticize life in rural Cambodia. As I said above it is limited in scope and not representative. It is a glimpse, nothing more, nothing less. That should be clear from the article itself."
In the spirit of objectivity I would be grateful if this email were posted on your site.
KJE
16 comments:
ហ៊ុនសែននិងបណ្ឌឺតហែកកំពុងឈ្លក់វង្វេងនឺងអំណាចខ្លួន,
អ្នកនៅក្រោមខ្លួននិងរាស្រ្តខ្មែរទាំងអស់សុទ្ធតែជាកញ្ជះដាច់
ថ្លៃ,សូម្បីឯកឧត្តមពួកអាផ្កាយមាសបួនអីៗ ក៏ហ៊ុនសែនមិន
ទ្រដែរ ឲ្យតែទាស់ចឺត្ត ហ៊ុនសែន ស្តីបន្ទោសរបៀបអត់ពូជ,
លោកផ្កាយបួន នាងផាត អគ្គនាយកប៉ុស្តលេខ៥ មានឋានះ
មិនបានសត្វឆ្កែផង,ព្រោះមិនផ្សាយដំណើរទស្សនះកិច្ចទាហាន
ហ៊ុនសែន នៅទល់ដែន។
ចំណែកបណ្ទឺតហែកវិញ យកកាកបាតក្រហម មកធ្វើឲ្យខុស
របៀប។ មានតែស្រុកខ្មែរទេ ដែលសមាជិកកាកបាទក្រហម
យាមផ្លូវ ឯប៉ូលិសមានឱកាសជំរិតយកលុយ។
មានតែស្រុកខ្មែរទេ ដែលមានអាគារកាកបាទក្រហមធំស្កឺមស្កៃ
ជាច្រើនដែលចំណាយលុយធ្វើអស់រាប់សែន,លានដុល្លារ,
ចំណែកពលរដ្ធដែលអត់បាយស្លាប់នៅកំពង់ស្ពឺ,និងរាស្ត្រ
ដែលមានតែក្តួចស៊ីនៅសៀមរាប,កាកបាទក្រហមរបស់
បណ្ទឹតហែកឬពលទ្រេតប៊ុនរានីមើលមិនឈើញឡើយ។
ចំណែកច្បាប់ប្រឆាំងអំពើពុករលួយវិញ, គឺគ្រាន់តែរបៀប
សត្វចចកស៊ីឆ្អែត យកបាយមកលាបមាត់ពពែឲ្យទទួល
ទោសប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ សួរថាហ៊ុនសែន និង មន្ត្រីពុករលួយទាំង
នោះបានលុយមកពីណាយ៉ាងសន្ធឹកសន្ឋាប់មកធ្វើជាជួយ
កសាងអាគារទាហាន?នេះមិនមែនមកពីការតណ្តើមដី
ពលរដ្ឋយកមកលក់ចំណេញ , គាបសង្កត់អ្នកក្រោមឲ្យ
រកលុយឲ្យខ្លួន បណ្តាក់គ្នាស៊ីដូចខ្ចងក្តក់ , ស៊ីតូចដោយតូច
ស៊ីធំដោយធំ ទេឬ ? ដូច្នេះវាមិនចាំបាច់មានច្បាប់ទេ បើអ្នក
ដឹកនាំពុករលួយដល់ឆ្អឹងទៅហោយនោះ ៕
ពីខ្មែរឆ្នេរជលសាវែង
Dear Mr/Mrs KJE:
As a Khmer, I have a great concern about the development and progress in Cambodia like any other Khmer and even more so compared to outsiders.
However, being a Khmer, my opinions and views are limited to the down to earth every day corruption and land grabbing that effects me and ordinary citizens as well as other new unsustainable development that not only just force us to relocate but see our entire towns flooded. Dams that pollute our whole water reservoirs and loggings that take away many of our ancestral land and burial grounds when it comes to minority groups.
My question is to you is, what should we Khmer look for in a 'realpolitik' leaders? What is your based for good 'vision' and model for sustainable development? Because we know at the uncontrol rate and pace Cambodia is going, many of us Khmer are suffering.
Perhaps now you could take on a position as Mr. Sam Rainsy, the oppositions, or the Government and suggest some alternative solutions that could be benefit the citizens, as opposed to doing maybe the very same as you claim Mr. Rainsy, which is only criticising with no alternatives.
I as Khmer citizen would be happy to hear all sides of this debate on how the government and the oppositions can offer alternative to the current dilemma facing us poor people due to the great outpouring of investments and no control of.
Thank you.
Sai Rndul
Sai Rndul,
A point well taken. I am not a politician, nor can I be one in Cambodia, consequently it is not for me to advise unless asked. Nevertheless I am a keen observer of Cambodian affairs with I believe a deep knowledge of the present-day Cambodia. Look for something along the lines you asked in your comment in one of my next posts on my blog. Thank you for your courteous comment.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kaing Kek Iev
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.
"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky. Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground.
Source: Lightning, Discovery Channel
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed 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.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
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
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
Dear KJE,
Your many articles about Cambodia speak volumes about where you stand on Cambodian politics. You speak about objectivity, but your articles are mostly one-sided and bitterly attacked the leadership of the SRP and praised the leadership of Hun Sen and his policies, sometimes you as far as defending corruption in Cambodia. You said you attacked Rainsy's leadership because he and his party did not provide any alternative policies. To me, you chose to ignore the SRP's efforts in bringing democracy to Cambodia and try to stamp out or alleviate corruption in Cambodia, defend the poor and the victims. You attacked this very policy and praised the very policy that breeds corruption and human rights abuses of Mr. Hun Sen. You selectively praise the abysmal developments in Cambodia where land-grabbing, forced evictions and killing and maiming of innocent victims to get lands for developments that only benefit the corrupt government officials and corrupt developers. You have claimed to own a rubber plantation, I am not sure if the rubber plantation you got as a concession or through purchase was really clean and not involve in land grabbing or forced evictions or through corrupt dealing. Finally, if you are serious about 'realpolitik' I hope you mean the reality that people see everyday in Cambodia such as corruption, human rights abuses, forced evictions, land grabbing and imprisonments of journalists and critics. Remember, Hun Sen is controlling the country and any problems are all his fault. The oppositions are blameless because they don't have a chance to rule the country yet and they are not given a chance to do their opposition jobs as smoothly as any official oppositions like in a fully functional democracy, therefore they can't contribute in the developments of Cambodia as you would have wanted.
Who is KJE and now he said that the readers around here do not even have the concepts of "realpolitik" whatever that term mean. I think it means the art of telling lies and covering up the treacherous activities by the government. What is so puzzling is that KJE throws his weight for Hun Sen. After more than 30 of leading Cambodia and Hun Sen has managed to turn Cambodia into the most poorest nation in the region and KJE still says "all is not bad". Hun Sen has ceded Cambodia's islands to Vietnam and Thailand and even ceded some of Cambodia's border land to Vietnam, but yet, KJE still says, "all is not bad". On top of it, KJE chooses to criticize Sam Raingsy who dedicates his life to serve the people of Cambodia and to protect the remaining territory of Cambodia. What else can be said when KJE already made a declaration as follows: "If [my articles] make me an ardent supporter of Hun Sen's leadership, so be it." Why! Oh! Why!
I learn to ignore his postings these days. full of one side views. but i know most americans are not like him, that is why just about evryone in the world wants to go and live in america.
I have also learned to ignore KJE's one-sided articles and views about Cambodia. His phrase of "If [my articles] make me an ardent supporter of Hun Sen's leadership, so be it" says it all. We don't have to add anything.
Most Westerners, not just Americans, who have no vested interests in defending Hun Sen, deplore and abhor Hun Sen's human rights abuses. KJE turned a blind eye because he is very a large beneficiary of Mr. Hun Sen's corrupt policies of "robbing from the poor to give to the rich" like KJE, that's why he can afford to own a rubber plantation.
KJE is an idiot ... that's all I like to say about him .
KJE's views are mostly lined up with the CPP's. It is very strange for one raised under a captalist society to embrace wholeheartedly communist ideology. He at times attacked USA as one of the worst human rights abusers. Well, he has his points but to what extent is the truth is matter of argument.
In his debut's article on All About Cambodia back then, KJE flat out accused Khmer of being racist against the Viet/YUON.
Here again, KJE carelessly and recklessly wrote "...as all is not bad in Cambodia..." as he went on to trash SRP and label others of being "radical nationalist contributors...." etc...
At this point, one would just wonder whether it is even worthwhile to even need or care to debate with an opportunist, business individual such as this KJE?
I personally leave it up to the judgement of the rest of KI-Media readers. Thanks.
It is exasperatingly amusing to constantly see the abysmal level of the comments KJE's articles provoke.
For those who don't know what "realpolitik" means it might be high time they started reading some books instead of talking out of their asses. To be more precise I'm thinking of things that are called "history books".
As for almost all of the comments- it seems to my modest little me- that they either reflect (at best) a lack of capacity in comprehending the "English" language, or (at the worst) the typical Khmer attitude towards debate: something that has bred for centuries (and with few exceptions)a collection of mediocre leaders who have driven Kampuchia into the wall.
For all of those of you who bring the debate to such a low level; maybe after all, you have the leaders you deserve.
I take it that berthelot thinks that he/she is superior in both his understanding of the english language and in Khmer history. No doubt, he is a legend in his own mind.
His understanding of English is so strong, that when someone says "... the concept of 'realpolitik' whatever that means" berthelot actually thinks that they don't understand the term 'realpolitik'! Here's a hint berthelot: how about "realpolitik" as given meaning by KJE?
And what low level comments have been put forward? None of the above comments are offensive, except for berthelot's, which I see as insulting because other people are presumed to be lacking in language skills, and lacking in understanding of Khmer history, and their opinions are not woth listening to.
KJE is a supporter of one of the most deplorable regimes in the world today. He profits from their patronage, despite constant denials by him. Directly or indirectly, his articles have ensured his survival in a system based on nepotism, corruption, and patronism. In a country where the Opposition parties are trying to get a toe-hold so that they can put their alternative views forward, and where the "government" has control of everything, any criticism of the Opposition as being ineffective, inefficient etc is bound to be seen as unfair. And KJE's articles in particular are overtly supportive of the current regime controlling Cambodia. (I use the word "controlling" specifically here, because what the CPP are doing at present is not governing Cambodia, but actually controlling her).
Therefore, invariably those articles provoke anger and frustrations. But are the comments abysmal, or low-based as berthelot thinks? No! What a sensative soul berthelot is for him/her to find such comments "abysmal". Perhaps he/she too ought to read more history books. No developed country on this earth has ever left politic/government discussions solely in the hands of those with the "expertise". Imagine America, Canada, Australia, France, if politics was left only to those who have acquainted themselves with every page of history.
As for Khmer people "getting the leaders they deserve", no they are not getting the leaders they deserve. They deserve far far better people. But they are not permitted to get them. I guess that's the result of "realpolitik" that KJE mentioned.
What is real politics?
Political realism connotes the kind of practice or policy that guided by strategic self-interest without regard of moral consideration (Bacevich, 2005).
Speaking of international politics, Laura Secor (2003) explained that realism takes a dark view of human behavior while idealist often presumes international order progresses toward cooperation and lawfulness.
The realists are those who exemplify real politics such as Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, and those who were in the Bush administration such as security advisors, James Baker and Brent Scowcroft.
That is real politics in a nut shell.
References
Bacevich, A. (2005). The realist persuasion ; when it comes to war and peace,
foreign policy "realists" from metternich to kissinger have been seen as cold-blooded, calculating, and amoral. but there's another realist tradition - a distinctively american one - and it's time to revive it. Boston Globe, E.1.
Secor, L. (2003). The real world conservative realists blast bush's foreign policy.
Boston Globe, D.1.
Dear Friend of Cambodia,
you manifestly understand English sufficiently to understand what is said. My comment concerning lack of English comprehension does not therefore concern you.
I am not superior to anyone but I have the minimum capacity necessary to sense mediocrity.
How many Khmers do you know have ever studied the history of their own country?
Mind you, I don't blame those who haven't because they haven't been given the opportunity of such a luxury. But for the others its a different story.
How curious it is that the most competent and recognized specialists of Cambodian history are not Khmer...and how ironic it is that it was the French who did the archeological research that permitted modern Khmers to be conscious of themselves as a nation.
Yes I am a barang but I can read, write and speak Khmer and I've studied Cambodian history for the last 20 years and observed Cambodians in Cambodia for the last fifteen.
So yes, permit me to have my opinion concerning the level of mediocrity of certain reactions in this forum and the mental processes that are behind them and with which I am all too familiar.
The bottom line is that there are certain people who attack KJE with baseless allegations on the pretense (avowed or not) that he is a barang. If that isn't an attitude which brings the debate to a low level then what is?
As for realpolitik, it's not a choice but a necessity. The last ones who ignored that parameter were in power in Phnom Penh from April 75 to January 79.
Best regards
berthelot is correct
mediocrity breeds mediocrity. Look and see what we got, thanks to A-Pot's mediocrity we now have Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy.
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