Op-Ed Posted online
The recent commune election forecasts again a mixed sense of hope, frustration, and despair. No, I do not have any problem with the election. I lauded CPP for its effort to campaign and won the heart and mind of the people - whatever strategy they may have deployed. Winning is winning. What concerns me, and the rest of us love Cambodia for that matter, is what will happen after the election.
I am hopeful that CPP with the people's mandate will do the right thing. What is the right thing? The right thing is not just the measurement of progress. It is the positive measurement of progress. Take for example, from the time CPP takes the responsibility of governing Cambodia to the next election, let us further say from 2008 to 2013. What is the positive measurable progress in 2013 in these areas of economic development, environment, administration, human rights, social justice, health, and border issue? In other words, by 2013 we should ask this question, "Is Cambodia better in 2013 than when CPP took the office in 2008?" If measurable progress is made for these areas, I will, then, join CPP to celebrate its election victory.
For now, CPP will only get my fake smile when I say "Congratulations!!!"
"It has to get better," I kept telling myself. The frustration is when change does not seem to happen. There is an egregious opportunity cost every time someone in the government bends a rule to profit him/herself or his/ her family. Government must understand that civil servants cannot survive or live in dignity with the kind of salaries they mandate to receive from the government. Our next generation will not be able to compete in the global economy if they are not properly educated or trained. Our land is so precious, full impact analysis must be done before a contract is given or a treaty is signed. Do not just do it in the name of economic development. When it feels like a fish, it smells like a fish, it is highly likely will be fish. It is fishy when the Vietnamese government is all a certain focuses on economic development in Cambodia.
It is despair when people continue to loose their land upon which they build their livelihood. It is despair when public education is no longer has dept and credibility and when a diploma is not even worth the paper it printed on. It is despair when the most popular topic political discussion is "corruption." It is despair, frankly, when I have to write this kind of paper after what should be a joyous celebration in democracy.
CPP is capable and should take this golden opportunity to meet the challenges and mandate of the people.
Jay
I am hopeful that CPP with the people's mandate will do the right thing. What is the right thing? The right thing is not just the measurement of progress. It is the positive measurement of progress. Take for example, from the time CPP takes the responsibility of governing Cambodia to the next election, let us further say from 2008 to 2013. What is the positive measurable progress in 2013 in these areas of economic development, environment, administration, human rights, social justice, health, and border issue? In other words, by 2013 we should ask this question, "Is Cambodia better in 2013 than when CPP took the office in 2008?" If measurable progress is made for these areas, I will, then, join CPP to celebrate its election victory.
For now, CPP will only get my fake smile when I say "Congratulations!!!"
"It has to get better," I kept telling myself. The frustration is when change does not seem to happen. There is an egregious opportunity cost every time someone in the government bends a rule to profit him/herself or his/ her family. Government must understand that civil servants cannot survive or live in dignity with the kind of salaries they mandate to receive from the government. Our next generation will not be able to compete in the global economy if they are not properly educated or trained. Our land is so precious, full impact analysis must be done before a contract is given or a treaty is signed. Do not just do it in the name of economic development. When it feels like a fish, it smells like a fish, it is highly likely will be fish. It is fishy when the Vietnamese government is all a certain focuses on economic development in Cambodia.
It is despair when people continue to loose their land upon which they build their livelihood. It is despair when public education is no longer has dept and credibility and when a diploma is not even worth the paper it printed on. It is despair when the most popular topic political discussion is "corruption." It is despair, frankly, when I have to write this kind of paper after what should be a joyous celebration in democracy.
CPP is capable and should take this golden opportunity to meet the challenges and mandate of the people.
Jay
