Monday, October 14, 2013

OPINION: Cambodia’s Election: A Time for Contestation, a Time for Reconciliation


If you are bored, you can read this boring oped...WHATEVER!
Note: Content of this oped contains 1149 words. Like I will read. Longer than the one from School of Vice ;)


 AKP Phnom Penh, October 12, 2013 

Well before the election of July 28, 2013, independent opinion polls, not known as pro CPP, gave the ruling CPP as the favorite. Had these opinion polls been biased in favor of the CPP? Likewise, had the opposition CNRP’s self proclaimed victory any legitimacy? The opposition’s only song is: if I lost, there must be frauds by the CPP with the complicity of the National Election Committee (NEC).

This song is the heart of the problem into which the CNRP locked itself up from the start. The key solution is therefore for the CNRP to get itself out of its own traps. The first trap is the racist, Khmer rouge style demonization of the other side as being “Vietnamese puppets or Yuon”. The second is the impossible equation: “either (Sam Raing) Sy or (Hun) Sen”. No compromise is possible, otherwise it would lose face. The third is that the CPP and the NEC had cheated to deny the CNRP its dream of electoral landslide victory. For all these “reasons”, it undertakes a crusade to “restore justice” by all means and at all cost.

To this third trap, a more logical and cool headed reasoning should be the following: if the CPP had cheated, it should have won more seats. Instead, the CPP had its majority reduced of 22 seats. Had the NEC committed irregularities in favor of the CPP, it must have done a blunder as at the end of the day, it was the CNRP which gained some 25 seats! Now, could the CNRP free itself from its own traps, from an “all or nothing” strategy of holding the whole nation hostage?

The CNRP, well before the election, predicted its own victory while it proclaimed that it would reject the results on the ground of its own affirmation that there were widespread irregularities and cheating from the CPP and the NEC. But if it were so sure of all these allegations, why did it not boycott the election in the first place? Why did it accept to go all the way by the NEC rules and procedures only to denounce them afterward? And yet, just hours after the election, the CNRP was the first to announce its own victory without mentioning any irregularities at all. The question is: can we trust the CNRP’s allegations of widespread irregularities and cheatings when the result seemed to prove the opposite?


The response is simple: one cannot give credit to outrageous allegations, to exaggerated promises, to lies and racist demagogues and to advocates of foreign interventions.

Later on, while negotiating with the CPP leaders, the CNRP had accepted the 68 CPP to the 55 CNRP seats in the National Assembly on condition that it be given the National Assembly chairmanship. This demand is now the only remaining stumbling block to a compromise. This is another trap the CNRP should free itself from, and accept the fair democratic support it deserved, instead of unreasonably demanding for the top legislative position normally reserved for the winning party.

Based on this very politically motivated and self proclaimed truth, the CNRP gave itself the legitimacy to reject the unfavorable election result as approved by its local representatives at all levels, to organize mass demonstrations, to try to paralyze the whole nation by its boycott, to defy the King’s call for a compromise, to brand the King’s nomination of the Prime Minister from the winning party, the convening of the new National Assembly and the subsequent inaugural ceremonies as irregular, illegal and anti-constitutional.  This is a very serious accusation against the national institutions.

 By taking this radical position, it is rather the CNRP which is putting itself outside the Cambodian Constitution. By their boycott, its elected members may have forfeited their legitimacy, their words and acts of defiance have come to violate the laws of the Kingdom. After receiving the royal amnesty, they are again in the process of committing the same crimes against the State. They are the unique brands of politicians who, for want of power, still advocate foreign interventions to overthrow their national institutions. But foreign media, NGOs, diplomats and mercenaries, far from being saints, are not the laws of the country. Only the King of Cambodia is the warrant of the Cambodian legitimacy. Having committed a national perjury by spitting on this national legitimacy, these politicians are now begging for foreign support. But have they forgotten that foreign interventions always brought about national disasters? Is this the objective of the opposition?

The opposition always boasted of its popular support to claim its legitimacy, but it always ignored the legitimacy of the majority votes of those Cambodians who supported the CPP. A half empty democracy is not what the Cambodian people wanted. The longer they boycott and insult the national institutions, the more they are losing their popular support, and they will have no choice but to accept what they deserved in the first place: an opposition built on hate, on empty promises and on exploitation of honest people.

The Cambodian people had come a long way in terms of democratic rights and exercised them quite well during the last general election. The results were indeed a stunning blow to the ruling party, but not to the point of a knock down. They cast their votes to express their warning disapproval of the government’s management and their call for a cleanup change, not for an upheaval of a regime change. They aspire for change, yes, but also for social peace and justice, for sustained political stability and continued economic growth. They condemn any agitation that threatens to return the country to the recent past cycle of violence. The opposition should be realistically satisfied with its great success and not demand more than what national democratic election has produced. Trying to topple the government by exploitation of the powers of the street and/or by calling for foreign interventions has proved to be disastrous in various parts of the world and has not served democracy at all.

Cambodia had experienced all that not long ago, and never wanted the repeat of that history. The Cambodian people had exercised their democratic rights in a politically more mature way, better than some countries in the region. Now it is time for the politicians to behave themselves in a more responsible way and not to heat up some militants into hysteria just to satisfy personal ego and to send the nation into chaos for personal revenge. For the moment, the opposition leadership is using freedom and democracy in the country just to achieve that selfish goal. The population will soon realize that they are being held hostage and exploited to serve political ambitions of only a few. Inflammatory rhetorics and nagging sit-ins are unproductive and hurt the image of the country. In a democratic country, there is a time for protest, and there is a time for reconciliation.

Paris, October 9, 2013

Uch Kiman

Cambodian Ambassador to France

(The comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Government of Cambodia.)

21 comments:

Anonymous said...


Good grief!

Anonymous said...

Your article lick my ass! Okay

Anonymous said...

Ah kmoach se pae's opinion is still be chhkae to Cpp using his viewpoints to lift the legs of Hun sen in purpose to lick his ball to keep his position.This "kmoach see pae= ghost spirit wants to eat left over from people offering" he has no conscience as a real educator using judgement for the right reason.The truth is hurts right?Cpp slave yuon,Khmer rouge Hun sen cheating to wins,king is puppet to Cpp to save his Throne,like you France ambassador is licking Hun sen's ass to keep your job as well....If the thief stole your Lexas and wants to reconcile with you,would you agree to reconcile with the thief!? Your opinion is NONSENSE as always...

Kmenhwatt

Anonymous said...

your education was in Hanoi, Russia or former East Block right? Your idiot analyeses job is good for communist but when when you are living in the western countries now, you get only job as wash plate. Anyways I know name who you are well.

Anonymous said...

If this is the case then CPP should open all of the bags for public to see. Independent investigation should not be an issue as well correct?

Anonymous said...

To 10:14 PM,

How can the thief to create the Independent investigation commission? NO NO because they are thief and liar. No doubt, that is lied style of communist and I head this sine 1970, from Khmer rouge radia and the vioce of Peking seaking by Sihanouk.

Anonymous said...

Un vrai salaud!!!

Anonymous said...

The question is , can we trust the CNRP's allegations of the widespread irregularities election ? , The answer is YES...! Are You blind, daft, dummy, stupid, and mental disorder ? Mr. AKP. If the CNRP's boycott before, that is automatic one party WIN..! Did you see the problem ? base on An illegal immigration YOUN's people have right to vote. And some Khmer's people have no right to vote, some have no name to vote, and some people have name at other place far away . Did you see two police's car had been burning at Stieng Mean Chhey ?

Anonymous said...



UN is to serve devil not to serve Democracy and human right.

UN knew exactly in side Cambodia by human right report.

From now on UN it just a piece of shit.

Anonymous said...

MR. UCH KIMAN,HE IS LOP SATEK. EMBASSADOR IN FRANCE? AH CPP'S DOG! CNRP AND CPP AGAINT EACHOTHER BECAUSE WHAT? AH VIETCONG'S DOG!

Anonymous said...

Un temps pour la contestation, un temps pour la réconciliation.

Et un temps de prendre les armes.

Anonymous said...



Bullshit article. How much Hun Sen pay your animal to create this article.
You animal living in modern country and you are not suffer like Cambodian people that under intimidating by CPP government.
Go to hell ah Uch Kiman.

To all Cambodians are living in France when you see this animal Uch Kiman throw the stone on his head.

Anonymous said...

A very Simple solution may I repeat Why Not the CPP agrees to set up an Independent Probe Committee? And Why the King rushed to convene the First NA and the Nov't? Something is fishy here.
Mr. Uch Kiman - You are the Cambodian Ambassador to France, I assume you must understand the Cambodian Constitution. Base on your article, I would suggest you just shut up to avoid negative criticisms.

Anonymous said...



The reason you wrote this article you are afraid if CNRP run the country you are not qualify for Cambodia ambassador to France position due to your education.

Anonymous said...

This animal dog Uch Kiman is relative to Hor man 5.

Anonymous said...

mother fuxcker who fuxcking wrote the article above you had a 5 years old brain your mother fuxcker.

Anonymous said...

"Only the King of Cambodia is the warrant of the Cambodian legitimacy.."

Well, Ah Chhkae Yuon Ouh Kiman, did the King of Cambodia was controled by Vietcong CPP or the King was very independent? If you tell me that the King is very independent, it's mean you have a very tiny lobster brain or you're one of the communist Vietcong barbarian agent working inside CPP, I'm I right?

Re. CNRP just a brands politicians who want power, so how long did CRIMINAL CPP running the country already? Does it's really help poor Khmers farmer at all after almost 30yrs. in power or just your own shit or your own generations?

All and all, your opinion should applies straight and only to CRIMINAL CPP shit. Unless you only got a tiny lobster brain who careless about poor Khmers people and I bet you do, because most of the rich people in Cambodia are EVIL.

Anonymous said...

"To this third trap, a more logical and cool headed reasoning should be the following: if the CPP had cheated, it should have won more seats...."

A cool-headed reasoning is not always and necessarily an intelligent and correct reasoning!

The CPP is willing to cheat with less number of seats finally obtained so they can simply use the above argument to prove that they do not cheat, but the above quoted argument or reasoning proves nothing!

One would argue differently that the CPP is running out of good options as far as cheating without plainly getting caught is concerned so it is pragmatically willing to take less seats as long as it can still come out a winner as without cheating at all it will certainly lose!

The author of this article should ask himself, if he is truly convinced that the CPP did not cheat and did win the election, why it is so hard to satisfy the CNRP's demand of a formation of an independent committee to look into the alleged election fraud? What is there for the CPP to be afraid of? If your hands are clean, let shine light on them!

Pissed Off






Anonymous said...

It should be understood:

OPINION: Cambodia’s Election: A Time for Electoral Fraud, a Time for Prosecution

Anonymous said...

You are playing the race card by omitting the Youn took Kampuchea krom not long ago and invaded Cambodia in 1979 to installed the Puppet Hun Sen.Every nationalities Cham, Korea, Chinese for instance mostly friendly with majority of Cambodians except Youn whose bad intention to swallow Khmer land in the past and at the present, many illegally crossed border from East to West of the Country. Is that Khmer defend their integrity from Foreign expansionism or Imperialism is a Racist act ?? Your point a finger to Khmer Victims who have lost their land to Youn in the border and Kos Tral and countryside. Every election in Cambodia the youn can vote without proper indentification per se if we go back to check the Youn legitimate status to vote by King Kret.
If you boss believe you are the winner why you bastards dare not to count the irregularities votes to be witnessed by independent observers.
Almost every U.N special rapporters
and NGO alike knew that NEC is bias for CPP??? the CNRP request also to change the NEC system prior election but what was a bloody corrupted system listened to any suggestions....

Anonymous said...

A Bastard Uch Kim Orn, you are fucking man, should go to retire, you are bastard, do not have any degree to work long time serving as Cambodian ambassador for the rest of your life like that, you all bastard working seating on the top job for the rest of your life such as A HOR NAM HONG, his hand is shaky and will die one day from the heart attach still want to seat on the power, you guy started working since in 1979 until now you are bastard serving HUN XEN and Vietcong, most Cambodian remember you, better go to retire now, let young Cambodian have a chance to get a job like your OK