Mu Sochua
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
More than 1,400 opposition members were arrested at the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Is this a sign of an Asian storm coming?
Prime Minister Francois Fillon of France granted an exclusive interview to The Phnom Penh Post on the eve of his two-day visit to Cambodia last month.
Fillon was totally correct to remind Cambodia that democratic institutions must benefit everyone. They are essential pillars of democracy.
The challenge of building these institutions begins with the political will of leaders who have been chosen by their people to lead.
Most important of all, the true challenge is the commitment to an inclusive system of governance and mechanisms that allows voices to be heard and differences of opinion to be brought to the attention of those in charge.
Judging by these basic principles of democracy, Cambodia has a long way to go. It begins with the practice of “winner takes all” at the National Assembly.
Since the 2008 general election – which European Union observers rated as “far below international standards” – the Cambodian People’s Party has controlled 90 of the 123 seats.
During each parliamentary debate, senior CPP members of parliament refer to themselves as: “we, the 90 seats” and remind other elected representatives that the people of Cambodia have “given” them the power to lead the country.
They truly believe it is their full right to conduct business without any obligation to include the opposition, unless for ceremonial reasons. Such a mindset is a serious barrier to democratisation.
Democratic institutions must be sustained by public officials and civil servants whose expertise, experience and knowledge ensure that services to the people are rendered equally and without political interference. Elected leaders and public civil servants have one thing in common: the obligation to maintain a high sense of ethics.
This is another challenge to democratisation: the heavy and active presence of judges and court officials who are members of the central committee of the ruling party.
Like civil servants in all other public institutions, court officials must pledge their allegiance to the CPP.
Every weekend, officials from each ministry and department join CPP “working groups” to pay visits to the grassroots, using state resources and often with gifts for the rural poor. This system of patronage is totally contrary to a strict code of conduct and respect for ethics.
In the past 20 years, Lithuania, a small country that spent 50 years under a Soviet regime, has built strong democratic roots, a striving civil society and a vibrant multi-party system.
The president of the Lithuanian parliament is a woman, and the first vice-president is a woman from the opposition party.
The parliamentary commissions on finance and audit are reserved for the opposition for check and balance, and the opposition leader is first to have the floor during debates.
Where is the hope for democratisation in Cambodia? That light of hope shines each time our villagers stand up to defy arrests.
Networks of the opposition are tightly woven in the countryside, despite the absence of their leader. Workers have called out for general strikes for better wages.
Women take an active part in that grassroots movement.
The women of Beoung Kak lake who were re-arrested last Thursday are part of the hope, and their fearless fight for dignity is joined by other victims of injustice throughout Cambodia.
The only way to stop those people fighting for justice is for the ruling party to realise that sharing power is a must.
And it must begin with dialogue and with the recognition of people’s rights and freedom.
Oppressive regimes will always come to an end. The world movement for change has proven so.
More than 1,400 opposition members were arrested at the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Is this a sign of an Asian storm coming?
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Mu Sochua is a former minister of women’s affairs who now serves as a parliamentarian in the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
6 comments:
This is what the opposition party hoping for in Cambodia !!!!
Cambodian had been through many hard time already, please don't ry to encourage this kind of violence. It is not productive !!!
Can you see what has happened in Arab country ????
It is easy for some of politicians who family are living outside Cambodia to encourage the unrest !!!
Who created hard times in the past?
2:20am can you tell? The only time the Khmer People through their MP's, have used their peaceful means to depose Sihanouk as Head of State 1n 1970.Do you remember what happened next?
In the name of FUNK and GRUNK the Vietminhs and Vietcongs attacked the regular Khmer Army under the pretext to bring Sihanouk back to power. I hope you see and understand what happened next unless you are too young and or too blind to see and to understand.
Do not try to compare Cambodia to Arab countries, they are independent and Cambodia is not. Can't you see the difference???
To liberate our country any means
are right.
SI ENG KRUY
MP Mu Sochua,
Is our khmer icon last hope for real khmer democracy under the rule of impartial law in Cambodia that is now the rule of gun.
In fact as belove khmer would like to ask MP Sochua to approach SR Ramsy to reconsider to unite HRP, Kem sokha. Listening to tape recording mastermined by Hun Sen to divide and conquer even though Mr. Sokha naiveness careless about Sen motivation for political playing game indeed as to many compatriots did not meams he sold his idelogy to Sen.
Soy Sopheap youn slave & Sen spy has tried hard in Bayon TV owned by Hun Mana, Sen's Daugther to discredit Mr. Sokha that is also proven their plan to divide compatriots.
Mr. Sokha do not bother to change SR Party name is unnecessary for time being.
Your priority to win more MP seats in the next election.
Khmer love Khmer's voices
French PM was correct! Yes Cambodia needs a real democracy. Lets free and fair election. To be honest, Every party should be accessed to media broadcast...vote boxes should be protected and counted right way.
Well, it"s an honor and very prelate to hear/read your article (Mrs. Sochua) You are educated and full of knowledge.You are the voice and the spirit of our country that helped justify and strengthen the well-bi-being of our country.We need all the brave and educate as your are to stand up and lead a country to a Democracy."Your rather living and suffering for the rest of our life or end the suffering? BE BRAVE JUST LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING...FREE AT LAST..FREE AT LAST!!!!!!
អ្នកដឹកនាំត្រូវមាន កាយសម្បត្តិមាំមួន ចរិយាសម្បត្តិ
ត្រឹមត្រូវ សុខភាពល្អ បញ្ចវិញ្ញាណ(មិនគ ថ្លង់
ខ្វាក់ ខ្វិន ឆ្កួត)។
កាយសម្បត្តិហ៊ុន សែនមិនមាំមួន ចរិយាសម្បត្តិ
ច្រឡោងខាម សុខភាពកើតមហារីកសួត បញ្ច
វិញ្ញាណ ខ្វាក់ភ្នែកម្ខាង ឆ្កួតឡប់សតិ។
ដូច្នេះ ហ៊ុន សែន ដឹកនាំប្រទេសខ្មែរចុះទៅឋាន
នរក ខ្ញុំគេ។
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