Cambodia celebrates 57th anniversary of Independence Day [... well Cambodia is not quite independent yet]

Cambodian monarchy boxed in by the CPP:

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, center, claps altogether with Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, and Heng Samrin, second left, National Assembly President, during the Independence Day celebration at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. King Sihamoni is jointed by thousand of civil servants and students to mark the country's 57th Independence Day from France, Nov. 9, 1953. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

November 09, 2010
Xinhua

Cambodia on Tuesday kicked off its three-day celebration of the 57th anniversary of Independence Day in capital Phnom Penh with about 20,000 people from all walks of life attended the ceremony.

King Norodom Sihamoni laid a wreath and ignited the torch inside the Independence Monument to symbolize the country's independence from colonial rule. The torch lit by the King will burn for the duration of three days and be distinguished Thursday afternoon.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, First Vice President of Senate Prince Sisowath Chivanmonirak and other government senior officials, as well as diplomatic corps, students, police and military also attended the ceremony held at the Independence Monument.

Nov. 9 marks the special date that all Cambodians celebrate with passion and pride. In 1953, Cambodia gained complete independence from France after it was under the French protectorate for 90 years.

"I would like to call for the current government to maintain real independence, not just independence by lip service": English teacher Ly Ry

On Independence Day, a Refurbished Monument, Little Real Progress

By VOA Khmer Stringers
Original reports from Phnom Penh
09 November 2007

"At the moment what I'm worried about most is the fate of the Norodom Ranariddh Party ... We're worried that this party is not going get any seat in the parliament. We want them to get one or two seats" - Concerns of Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information and government spokesman

Cambodia celebrated its 54th Independence Day Friday with the release of doves and the dedication of a refurbished monument in Phnom Penh, as some observers bemoaned the current state of the country.

Reigning King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and other top officials attended the ceremonies, along with a crowd of 20,000 people. Former king Norodom Sihanouk, who was the monarch when Cambodia was left 90 years of French rule, was not in attendance.

King Sihamoni lit a torch inside the Independence Monument to celebrate the break, in 1953, as students and other Cambodians looked on. Many said that Cambodia had backslid following independence.

"I would like to call for the current government to maintain real independence, not just independence by lip service," said Ly Ry, an English teacher in Phnom Penh. "I request that the leadership be independent, just like the independence we achieved in 1953."

Noranarith Anandayat, secretary-general of the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said the country had declined since achievements following its independence.

"Universities, hospitals, schools and so on have gradually been destroyed by concurrent governments," he said. "These are the biggest worries of the party. Nevertheless, we still congratulate the independence claimed by Norodom Sihanouk without bloodshed."

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the party should have more pressing concerns.

"At the moment what I'm worried about most is the fate of the Norodom Ranariddh Party," he said, referring to next year's national elections. "We're worried that this party is not going get any seat in the parliament. We want them to get one or two seats."

Chun Sary, a 63-year-old retired government employee, said times had gotten worse since independence.

"Back then, the Ministry of Education was called the Ministry of Studies, and teachers' salaries were the highest among all the government positions," he said. "And that is the reason students tried hard in their studies. Farmers experienced no starvation. They cultivated once for three to five years worth of food."