Khmer New Year, Best Wishes, 2010
My beloved Fellow Cambodians, My dear Friends,
It is with great pleasure that we extend our New Year Best Wishes to the Khmer people in Cambodia and around the world! This past year has marked progress for our people in so many ways. Foremost perhaps is the Khmer Rouge trial. For survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime this was a necessary step in the healing process, but also brought deep and difficult memories to the surface once again. While there are many frustrations with the tribunal process and bringing all responsible criminals to justice, it is important to realize that the trial represents a critical turning point for the new age Khmer civilization. All great civilizations must endure periods of great difficulty, but the real test is how they recover and emerge to lead the way for future generations. Understanding and reconciling the past is critical. However, a civilization that obsesses or dwells on the past is doomed to stagnation and decay. Great discipline of thought and behaviour is required to avoid this trapping and to move onward constructively to the future. The best gift that the elder Khmer generation can pass on to the younger generation is to help them to transform and restore the identity of the Khmer people from one of victimhood to one of capacity, pride and honour. In the wisdom and words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963), “Let us resolve to be masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicions and emotions.”
Another event that people around the world monitored closely in the past year was the Cambodia - Vietnam border issue which ultimately ended with the exoneration of the farmers who courageously protected their property, and indeed the Cambodian territory. If not for such acts of courage at the local level, Cambodia would certainly be weakened at the national level. Through the support, great sacrifice and leadership of Sam Rainsy, the spotlight of justice shone on the international stage to bring light to this vital issue. Congratulations to the farmers and to Mr. Sam Rainsy (Our Great Leader of the Sam Rainsy Party) for their victory in defending their beloved Country from forces outside and within! In a similar vein, it would be remiss to leap forward into the New Year without acknowledging King Norodom Sihamoni (Our Beloved Monarch), granting amnesty to Mr. Hang Chakra, a royal intervention that resulted in the prison release of the Editor-in-Chief for the “Khmer Machas Srok Newspaper.” Later in the year, HM The King was inducted into France’s ‘Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres’ for His patronage of the arts and support for archaeological preservation, particularly that of the Angkorean period. These and other endeavours of His Majesty The King are a source of great national pride. Also recognized in this past year was Member of Cambodian Parliament Mrs. Mu Sochua who received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for leadership in human rights. In recent days she was also nominated to receive the Global Exchange Human Rights Award as the People’s Choice Award Honoree. BIG Congratulations to our wonderful Mu Sochua!
Looking forward, the Cambodian people have many positive things to look forward to in the New Year. For instance, the newly crowned Miss Cambodia in France, Solyanna Poeung, is an articulate young woman that will proudly represent the Khmer people at home and abroad. In the culinary world, people around the globe will partake in the pleasures of authentic Khmer cooking, thanks to the now famous cookbook ‘Au pays de la Pomme Cythère’, winner of prestigious Gourmand Award, authored by mother and daughter Sorey Long and Kanika Linden. Finally, in the world of technology, people around the world having internet access can now access Khmer Live TV for various Khmer cultural and fundraising events.
It is clear to see that in every walk of life, Khmer people are cultivating what will surely be a strong, just and thriving society. On that positive note, we would like to once again offer Best Wishes to all and everyone in the New Year, Year of the Tiger.
Be loud, stand proud, and may the Lord Almighty and His Gracious Angel Mondya-Devee bless all and everyone with Great 5 blessings!
And yes, may this New Year bring newly found Love and Compassion, Health, Happiness, Honour and Pride, and of course, Success!
Sincerely,
Jasmeena & Doug
My beloved Fellow Cambodians, My dear Friends,
It is with great pleasure that we extend our New Year Best Wishes to the Khmer people in Cambodia and around the world! This past year has marked progress for our people in so many ways. Foremost perhaps is the Khmer Rouge trial. For survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime this was a necessary step in the healing process, but also brought deep and difficult memories to the surface once again. While there are many frustrations with the tribunal process and bringing all responsible criminals to justice, it is important to realize that the trial represents a critical turning point for the new age Khmer civilization. All great civilizations must endure periods of great difficulty, but the real test is how they recover and emerge to lead the way for future generations. Understanding and reconciling the past is critical. However, a civilization that obsesses or dwells on the past is doomed to stagnation and decay. Great discipline of thought and behaviour is required to avoid this trapping and to move onward constructively to the future. The best gift that the elder Khmer generation can pass on to the younger generation is to help them to transform and restore the identity of the Khmer people from one of victimhood to one of capacity, pride and honour. In the wisdom and words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963), “Let us resolve to be masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicions and emotions.”
Another event that people around the world monitored closely in the past year was the Cambodia - Vietnam border issue which ultimately ended with the exoneration of the farmers who courageously protected their property, and indeed the Cambodian territory. If not for such acts of courage at the local level, Cambodia would certainly be weakened at the national level. Through the support, great sacrifice and leadership of Sam Rainsy, the spotlight of justice shone on the international stage to bring light to this vital issue. Congratulations to the farmers and to Mr. Sam Rainsy (Our Great Leader of the Sam Rainsy Party) for their victory in defending their beloved Country from forces outside and within! In a similar vein, it would be remiss to leap forward into the New Year without acknowledging King Norodom Sihamoni (Our Beloved Monarch), granting amnesty to Mr. Hang Chakra, a royal intervention that resulted in the prison release of the Editor-in-Chief for the “Khmer Machas Srok Newspaper.” Later in the year, HM The King was inducted into France’s ‘Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres’ for His patronage of the arts and support for archaeological preservation, particularly that of the Angkorean period. These and other endeavours of His Majesty The King are a source of great national pride. Also recognized in this past year was Member of Cambodian Parliament Mrs. Mu Sochua who received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for leadership in human rights. In recent days she was also nominated to receive the Global Exchange Human Rights Award as the People’s Choice Award Honoree. BIG Congratulations to our wonderful Mu Sochua!
Looking forward, the Cambodian people have many positive things to look forward to in the New Year. For instance, the newly crowned Miss Cambodia in France, Solyanna Poeung, is an articulate young woman that will proudly represent the Khmer people at home and abroad. In the culinary world, people around the globe will partake in the pleasures of authentic Khmer cooking, thanks to the now famous cookbook ‘Au pays de la Pomme Cythère’, winner of prestigious Gourmand Award, authored by mother and daughter Sorey Long and Kanika Linden. Finally, in the world of technology, people around the world having internet access can now access Khmer Live TV for various Khmer cultural and fundraising events.
It is clear to see that in every walk of life, Khmer people are cultivating what will surely be a strong, just and thriving society. On that positive note, we would like to once again offer Best Wishes to all and everyone in the New Year, Year of the Tiger.
Be loud, stand proud, and may the Lord Almighty and His Gracious Angel Mondya-Devee bless all and everyone with Great 5 blessings!
And yes, may this New Year bring newly found Love and Compassion, Health, Happiness, Honour and Pride, and of course, Success!
Sincerely,
Jasmeena & Doug
10 comments:
Thanks!
I hope this is the year of removing HUN SEN out of office. Once we have him removed we will ban his Cambodian People Party just like it has been done to Baath Party of Saddam Hussein.
Thanks again!!
During the past years, we have built roads, bridges, schools and hospitals for our Cambodian people. Telecommunications are getting better, access to internet has been improved, allowing Cambodians from all walks of life to have access to the world of knowledge.
7:12,
All that and without food on the table is worthless.
The rich can now traveled on that beautiful paved road with their LandCruisers/Lexus and a laptop on their laps to drop off their kids at a prestigious school. The dirt poor, well, who give a rats ass about the poor.
...and those roads and bridges were built with money from the japanese governement, world bank, asian development bank, not from the cambodian government because it has no money due to corruption.
Thank you,Jasmeena and Doug, for your best wishes and well intention of cambodian progresses, though there some difficulties to challenge in the new year.
It is an insightful article you wrote.
Perserverance is the key to any achievemaent, however my concern that is cambodians have to race against TIME. Any progress or devastation incured is relative to TIME.
Political advantages are due to security and peace of mind of the citizens. Flexibility and open-minded are essential, along with the harm minimisation.
I am very glad to see some positive intervention from SR party as well as great effort of our king for the release of the journalist.It is importance to secure cambodian safety as per our constitution and pave the way for democratic processes and harmony for every cambodian.It is a great challenge in this social lead.
It is a great comfort to know that cambodian is on the right path,but be prepared to accept progressive CHANGE in year ahead.
Kaun Khmer
Thank you Jasmeena. Happy New Year to you and your family as well. What is your new year's resolution, though.
9:04AM
It relies on cooperation of RGC and humane acts of those supposed to be royal cambodian officials to clean their acts against corruption, and be more concerned about NATIONAL interests.
kaun khmer
Have no idea who these people are and why they are writing it on behalf of all Khmer people.
How credential are they?
Hell 10.11 AM, I don't care how credentialled they are, as long as they have well wishes for the Khmer People, then I welcome their good thoughts. If you want credentials then head to Phnom Penh where nearly all CPP members now have either a masters or PhD degree in something, and what have they done for Cambodia, apart from using donors' money to build things and then put their own names on them? Cambodia at the moment need LESS of the paper qualified people and more of the morally qualified people.
But wait, how do you define moral?
How do you know it's good or bad, or justified?
Look at the Khmer rouge during its era, it had its own moral: abolishing everything that it did not like. Look at what happened.
So,please tell me how do you know a person does not have a credential woul serve the people to the highest standards of living.
How do you that these people have nothing else better to do than just sit down and write for simply the intention of entertainment.
How do you know that this letter would lift up any moral of the Khmer people whatsover in any situation.
How do you know that people do actually enjoy the New Year? Would they just simply pretend that they're having a good time and forget everything that is happening or that they just go with the flow under pressure.
So please tell me, finally, how do people in Cambodia with lots of credentials and experience would not serve the people in Cambodia first-hand experience: some involve in projects in rural Cambodia in fields where buffalos roam freely, some are demining in no-man's land, some are studying hard to be recognized for their usefulness, some are nurturing the sick, some are developing real-estate for tourism, some are even leading the country in diffuclt tasks.
So would you want to be led by people with no credentials and go back to the Khmer Rouge era? I doubt it.
Hello
Post a Comment