July 21, 2010
By A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
Pacific Daily News (Guam)
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the Obama national security strategy "to achieve the world that we seek" through pursuing "four enduring national interests" -- security, prosperity, values, international order -- that are "inextricably linked. ... No single interest can be pursued in isolation."
Critics find the strategy weak on human rights.
Yet, the NSS paper says in a section on values (Page 35), "The U.S. believes certain values are universal" -- peoples' "freedom to speak their minds, assemble without fear, worship as they please, and choose their own leaders" -- and the U.S. "will work to promote them worldwide."
It admits that autocratic rulers "have repressed basic human rights and democratic principles," but declares, "The U.S. supports those who seek to exercise universal rights around the world."
To many international rights reformers, U.S. words and actions don't jibe.
Some critics say there are rights and policies the U.S. should support unconditionally, regardless of how many other nations in the world oppose them. Some Obama supporters say that condemning every rights violator would leave the U.S. with few to work with; U.S. national interests are better served through "international engagement."
Yet, the "inextricably linked" four enduring national interests mean unless the U.S. upholds "respect for universal values at home and around the world," it can't "achieve the world that we seek."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's U.S. leadership consists of "providing incentives for states who are part of the solution, ... and disincentives for those who do not ... live up to responsibilities."
On July 8, Human Rights Watch called on the U.S. to halt aid to Premier Hun Sen's "abusive military units." It criticized Washington for selecting Cambodian military units with a record of human rights abuses to be host of the largest multinational peacekeeping military exercise in Asia July 12-30, co-hosted by the U.S. Pacific Command.
HRW's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson chastised the Pentagon and the State Department: to "permit abusive Cambodian military units to host a high-profile regional peacekeeping exercise is outrageous." It "undermines (U.S.) protests against the (Sen) government for rampant rights abuses like forced evictions when it showers international attention and funds on military units involved in land grabbing and other human rights violations."
HRW charges that the U.S has provided more than $4.5 million worth of military equipment and training to Cambodia since 2006. "Some of that aid has gone to units and individuals within the Cambodian military with records of serious human rights violations."
It linked Premier Sen's personal bodyguards and Brigade 70 to the 1997 grenade attack on the political opposition; Airborne Brigade 911 to arbitrary detentions, political violence, torture and summary executions; Brigade 31 to forced evictions of Kampot villagers, illegal logging, land grabbing, intimidation of opposition party activists during the 2008 national elections and to summary executions of captured soldiers loyal to the royalist FUNCINPEC party during Sen's 1997 coup.
On July 13, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights's legal analysis shows the Cambodian judicial system is "broken" and is used as a tool to intimidate opposition voices, including the Supreme Court's conviction of lawmaker Mu Sochua for defaming Sen.
Sochua sued premier Sen for the equivalent of 12 cents for calling her "cheung klang," or "strong legs," a derogatory term, in a public address, saying she unbuttoned her blouse in front of an officer. Sen counter-sued Sochua for defaming him. Sen's Municipal Court dismissed Sochua's suit for lack of evidence, but upheld Sen's. It ordered Sochua to pay approximately $4,000 in fines by July 15 or go to prison.
On June 2, as Sen's Supreme Court upheld the verdict and ordered Sochua to pay fines or go to prison, foreign donors awarded $1.1 billion in development aid to the Sen regime.
So, what were Clinton's incentives and disincentives?
Cambodia may yet experience Malcolm Gladwell's "Tipping Point" -- "that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire" -- as Sochua stands her ground. She would rather go to prison than pay fines for a crime she never committed.
"It is my conscience that tells me that we have to stop living in fear, and fear of one man who has ruled Cambodia for over 30 years. ... And for me, it's a gender issue as well. Because if I allow it to happen, if I pay the fine, what does it mean to the value of women who represent more than half of the people of Cambodia?" Sochua told Voice of America.
Gladwell suggested that the world "may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push -- in just the right place -- it can be tipped." But, there must be "a bedrock belief that change is possible."
Sochua, a 56-year-old mother of three daughters, a nominee for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, may well provide Gladwell's "right kind of impetus" to the tipping point.
The Sen regime was not so foolish as not to see the trap, however. By the weekend, the regime backtracked. It no longer seeks a jail term for Sochua, but will impound Sochua's parliamentary salary for the fines.
The Sen regime has initiated a new round of political Ramvong -- a circle dance in which participants go around and around as long as the drumbeats continue. It has averted international embarrassment for now.
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.
Critics find the strategy weak on human rights.
Yet, the NSS paper says in a section on values (Page 35), "The U.S. believes certain values are universal" -- peoples' "freedom to speak their minds, assemble without fear, worship as they please, and choose their own leaders" -- and the U.S. "will work to promote them worldwide."
It admits that autocratic rulers "have repressed basic human rights and democratic principles," but declares, "The U.S. supports those who seek to exercise universal rights around the world."
To many international rights reformers, U.S. words and actions don't jibe.
Some critics say there are rights and policies the U.S. should support unconditionally, regardless of how many other nations in the world oppose them. Some Obama supporters say that condemning every rights violator would leave the U.S. with few to work with; U.S. national interests are better served through "international engagement."
Yet, the "inextricably linked" four enduring national interests mean unless the U.S. upholds "respect for universal values at home and around the world," it can't "achieve the world that we seek."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's U.S. leadership consists of "providing incentives for states who are part of the solution, ... and disincentives for those who do not ... live up to responsibilities."
On July 8, Human Rights Watch called on the U.S. to halt aid to Premier Hun Sen's "abusive military units." It criticized Washington for selecting Cambodian military units with a record of human rights abuses to be host of the largest multinational peacekeeping military exercise in Asia July 12-30, co-hosted by the U.S. Pacific Command.
HRW's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson chastised the Pentagon and the State Department: to "permit abusive Cambodian military units to host a high-profile regional peacekeeping exercise is outrageous." It "undermines (U.S.) protests against the (Sen) government for rampant rights abuses like forced evictions when it showers international attention and funds on military units involved in land grabbing and other human rights violations."
HRW charges that the U.S has provided more than $4.5 million worth of military equipment and training to Cambodia since 2006. "Some of that aid has gone to units and individuals within the Cambodian military with records of serious human rights violations."
It linked Premier Sen's personal bodyguards and Brigade 70 to the 1997 grenade attack on the political opposition; Airborne Brigade 911 to arbitrary detentions, political violence, torture and summary executions; Brigade 31 to forced evictions of Kampot villagers, illegal logging, land grabbing, intimidation of opposition party activists during the 2008 national elections and to summary executions of captured soldiers loyal to the royalist FUNCINPEC party during Sen's 1997 coup.
On July 13, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights's legal analysis shows the Cambodian judicial system is "broken" and is used as a tool to intimidate opposition voices, including the Supreme Court's conviction of lawmaker Mu Sochua for defaming Sen.
Sochua sued premier Sen for the equivalent of 12 cents for calling her "cheung klang," or "strong legs," a derogatory term, in a public address, saying she unbuttoned her blouse in front of an officer. Sen counter-sued Sochua for defaming him. Sen's Municipal Court dismissed Sochua's suit for lack of evidence, but upheld Sen's. It ordered Sochua to pay approximately $4,000 in fines by July 15 or go to prison.
On June 2, as Sen's Supreme Court upheld the verdict and ordered Sochua to pay fines or go to prison, foreign donors awarded $1.1 billion in development aid to the Sen regime.
So, what were Clinton's incentives and disincentives?
Cambodia may yet experience Malcolm Gladwell's "Tipping Point" -- "that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire" -- as Sochua stands her ground. She would rather go to prison than pay fines for a crime she never committed.
"It is my conscience that tells me that we have to stop living in fear, and fear of one man who has ruled Cambodia for over 30 years. ... And for me, it's a gender issue as well. Because if I allow it to happen, if I pay the fine, what does it mean to the value of women who represent more than half of the people of Cambodia?" Sochua told Voice of America.
Gladwell suggested that the world "may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push -- in just the right place -- it can be tipped." But, there must be "a bedrock belief that change is possible."
Sochua, a 56-year-old mother of three daughters, a nominee for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, may well provide Gladwell's "right kind of impetus" to the tipping point.
The Sen regime was not so foolish as not to see the trap, however. By the weekend, the regime backtracked. It no longer seeks a jail term for Sochua, but will impound Sochua's parliamentary salary for the fines.
The Sen regime has initiated a new round of political Ramvong -- a circle dance in which participants go around and around as long as the drumbeats continue. It has averted international embarrassment for now.
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.
13 comments:
United States government wanted Cambodia to adopt a US-friendly policy in exchange for economic and military aid.The US aids are mostly conditional on Cambodia improving democracy,human rights and constitutional reform,which will only benefit Cambodia and the Cambodian people."No more anti-American attitude".Ha..Ha..ha...!
that right, american wants to influence cambodia in a good way. so, i don't see anything wrong with that! god bless cambodia.
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Aid to Cambodia is like a drop in the bucket.The U.S want Cambodia on it side in its war against international terrorist and nothing else.The U.S has JAPAN,South Korea,Thailand,the Phillipine,Singapore and the rest on its side already.
good friends do that to each other anyway. i love america and would like america to have strong influence in my country cambodia. america should do more for cambodia from now on. god bless cambodia.
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, California
We are progressing better than before in international arena, include improve social lifes for people, re-development in the country, rebuilt infrastructure.
New Phally
I just google and notice that Khmer loves to suck cock both guys and girls. Khmer male loves to suck White tourists' cock to earn few bucks, bang their ass will pay the extra. Khmer girls love to marry Korean, Chinese men to practice being raped and gang bang. Ask your mother and wives, they sure love to and contact us at:
www. Khmerwhoreiseverywhere.com
---------------------
But I “ăn bẩn thỉu âm đạo” like giving donkeys blowjobs. No, my mistake I rather do it for the elephants, because I have a big mouth. I eat shit and love it
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.
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
"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."
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 10 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 detonate 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 Vietnam 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.
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I want to modify MP Mu Sochua to read as follow:
"It is Khmer conscience that tell us Khmers that we have to stop living in fear, and fear of ah kvack, a one eye-man, who has been terrorized Cambodian for over 30 years. So khmer must work hard for the changes.
I want to modify MP Mu Sochua to read as follow:
"It is Khmer conscience that tell me that I have to stop acting like a lose canon, and start doing some useful work instead of just criticizing others."
Mu Sochua and her supporters fit the following poem very well:
"Peak Chas Peak Pi Preng, Tos Kloun Eng Meol Poum Yul, Tos Ke Touch Soat Sal, Remeng Yol Pon Taeng Phnom".
Poor 8:01PM, Cambodians are living in a REPUBLIC of BANANA and Muo Sok-huor is helping all of Cambodians to have a democratic free country with justice..
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