April 17th: Lesson Learned?

Apr 21, 2009
Opinion by Jayakhmer
On the web at http://www.modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com

“In order for this struggle to have meaning, the oppressed must not, in seeking to regain their humanity (which is a way to create it), become in turn oppressors of the oppressors, but rather restorers of the humanity of both.” Paulo Freire

April 17th brought back vivid memory of the painful past. It was the day when the brutal Khmer Rouge seized power from the U.S. supported government of the Khmer Republic. This day marked the beginning of the demise of the modern Cambodia. As million of Khmers were evacuated to the rural areas of Cambodia, the systematic killing and starvation began. It was estimated that more than 1.7 millions died from executions and starvation.

When such tragedy occurred, the easiest and most natural thing to do is to point finger and blame. The Khmer Rouge are being blamed and rightfully so. Some of the perpetrators and the architects of this tragedy are being brought to justice in a protracting and lethargic trial. While the Cambodian people patiently wait to see and to hear the end of this political theatrical phenomenon, they are not better of than they were, perhaps six decades ago.

Blaming and even convicting the remnant of the Khmer Rouge, however, only creates an incomplete picture of responsibility. The Khmer Rouge could not win without the support of the national consciousness at the time. Once it was clear that the war was not between Khmer and the Vietcong, many Cambodians could not wait to see the end of the war because they bought into the myth that Cambodia would return to peace and prosperity when the war ended. Somehow, I feel that the country should share the responsibility for this tragedy.

How can the Cambodian people avoid the mistakes of the past? If they are not careful, they may be doing it right now. Then, they are the ones to be blamed not just those who are at the top of the political structure.

How far has Cambodia gone from the situation that brought Cambodia the day of April 17th? Although the country made some progress, it has not gone too far.

Politically speaking, Cambodia has not changed much. If the Cambodian people listen carefully they would notice that the status quo may use different political propaganda and modify political slogans, but basically the leaders are doing the same thing as their predecessors.

If one deconstructs the last six decades of political events and simply look at them at the broadest sense, one would clearly see that the country has been replacing a group of status quo with a different one without much net gain of freedom and liberty for the people.

Cambodia has replaced the French Administration with the Khmer royal families and the elitists (who are also French educated) in the name of “national independence.” The elitists got rid off the monarchy in the name of “patriotism and national salvation” because the cold war alignment under the leadership of His Majesty the former king proved to relegate Cambodia in a compromised and disadvantage position among Southeast Asian nations.

The Khmer Rouge claimed to “liberate the nation from the oppressed former regime and the U.S. imperialist” when they took over. They, then, morphed to be the cruelest oppressors themselves by creating a phantom organization such as “Ang-Ka” to strike terrors and to commit systematic killing.

Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979; it too created a new status quo. The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) came to power with the help an invasion force in the name of “national salvation” and has managed to stay in power since.

Curiously, the leadership style has not changed. All have the same characteristic, the one that is inherently undemocratic.

We know that the government of His Majesty the former king was operated under one person. It was his Majesty. The Khmer Republic lived too shorted to know who was really in control. Under the Khmer Rouge, we now learned from various testimonies that Pol Pot was the top person. Currently, Prime Minister Hun Sen definitely is in control. Cambodia is a one man show. Even the party that tries to challenge the status quo is perceived to be a one man show.

To extricate the country from the situation that brought Cambodia April 17th, change is desperately needed. Change in Cambodia cannot be realized simply by deploying political propaganda or rephrase political slogans. Nor changes can occur by changing a few minds at the top of political structure. Authentic change has to come from the mass and ordinary people.

The challenge for all Cambodians is can the mass change without proper education- the kind that rigorously engage the mind of individuals to the point that each can think critically about issues and especially about issues that ultimately impact their lives.

Without education that encourages critical thinking, one does not depart too far from being ignorant. And ignorance kills. Just like what happened after April 17th, 1975.

Corruption is Ubiquitous

Sunday, December 14, 2008
Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
On the web at http://www.modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com

Corruption knows neither cultures nor political systems. The question is can a political system handle corruptions. A recent corruption indictment of the governor of Illinois reverberated across the world. Just in case, Cambodian people pay attention to his case, they will see that American political system of checks and balances will continue to prevail. Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich was arrested and charged on two counts of indictment for corruptions.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a former congressman, was first elected as Illinois governor in 2002 and was reelected again in 2006.

According to Daniel W. Cain, the FBI agent who submitted the affidavit in support of the indictments, the governor was a suspect for corruption since 2003. The governor and his chief of staff were alleged to have violated Title 18 of United State codes 1341, 1343, 1346, and 1349. As a public servant of the state, he was alleged to have violated state code Article VIII, Section 1(a) and criminal law of the State of Illinois (720 ILCS 5/33-3(c) and 720 ILSC 5/33-1(d)).

The federal indictment charged that the governor “obtained and attempted to obtain financial benefits for Rod Blagojevich, members of the Blagojevich family, and third parties including Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts, and access to state funds; …threatened to withhold from, the Tribune Company substantial state financial assistance in connection with Wrigley Field, which assistance Rod Blagojevich believed to be worth at least $100 million to the Tribune Company, for the private purpose of inducing the controlling shareholder of the Tribune Company to fire members of the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, a newspaper owned by the Tribune Company, who were responsible for editorials critical of Rod Blagojevich; [and] attempted to use ROD Blagojevich’s authority to appoint a United States Senator for the purpose of obtaining personal benefits for Rod Blagojevich…”

On December 12, 2008 Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan called on the State Supreme Court to temporary remove the governor from the office and to appoint lieutenant governor as acting governor to carry on the state’s affairs.

“We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving,” Madigan said in the news conference, “We want to make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office."

This case highlights the fact that all governments are vulnerable to corruptions. It is a fact of human nature and human greed. This is why it is extremely critical that a government has proper devices to handle corruptions.

Although corruption is ubiquitous, it does not mean that a government should ignore corruptions. Corruption if allows to be rampant will destroy the confidence and the trust of the people for its government. It would be a gross generalization to say that a government is corrupted. While individuals in a government are corrupted and without corruption laws capable of prosecuting such individuals, a government is as responsible as those who corrupted.

When it comes to corruptions, government has the burden of prove to demonstrate that it governs in transparency and truly exists to serve and protect the interests of the nation and its citizens. Cambodia should have the political will and the courage to create effective corruption laws for it is long over due.

I Love America

John McCain

Joe Biden and Barack Obama

Saturday, November 8, 2008
Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
On the web at http://www.modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com

Remember the feeling of love and proud of America you had after the 9/11 attack. That was the kind of feeling I had after America elected its new president. As I was anxiously waiting for the president elect to give his speech, I was very proud of Sen. McCain who did his very best in what was an up hill battle for his concession remark earlier.

I thought Sen. McCain was very gracious in his remark and was true to himself in recognizing this amazing moment in American history. Although I was disappointed in his campaign in the way in which it was conducted, Sen. McCain ended his campaign with a high note for which I will always respect the senator for his straight talks, independent spirit, and for being a true American hero.

The president elect was remarkable in his own way when he delivered a sobering remark as he recognized the challenges America is facing. Thus far, American lost 1.2 million jobs, and the unemployment rate is the highest in 14 years at 6.5%. The housing crisis impacts every community. Cambodian Americans are not immune to this problem. I know of friends and relatives who had to walk away from their homes for which they worked hard to buy for their families.

Politically speaking, the country is ready for change. After eight years of the republican administration and six years of the republican Congress, the country was overwhelmingly voted for change. With President George W. Bush's approval rate is at 28% only better than that of Richard Nixon at 24% in the 70s, the electoral votes were lopsided with 364 votes for Sen. Barrack Obama and 163 votes for Sen. John McCain. Sen. Obama only needed 270 votes to win.

My eyes were sweltering with tear as I witnessed this special moment of history. The notion that any one regardless of his/her background, race, and religious belief can aspire and obtain to the highest office in the nation moved me in a profound way that words cannot describe.

My young son asked me what the meaning of Sen. Obama being elected as president was. I told him that this election gives all minorities hope and inspiration. I often told my son that although we are minorities in this country, the sky is the limit. My words are much truer today than they are before the election.

As I worked the precincts and knocked on doors encouraging people to go out to vote, I could not help but admiring the genius of American political system. The notion that Americans have an opportunity to change their leaders every four years and that the transition of power is done in a peaceful manner gives me hope and inspiration that perhaps some day Cambodia will adopt term limit and will have a chance to participate in the truly free and fair election.

America has come a long way. For this reason, I love America even much more.

Congratulations to Mr.Ben Nhem

Friday, June 13, 2008
Opinion by Jayakhmer
On the web at http://modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com

As I sift through the headline news from Cambodia, I found much depression news of political defections, political maneuverings, finger pointing, mud slinging, and political scapegoating.

Then, BAM!!! Thank you K I Media for posting the story.

The story of Ben Nhem hits me as though someone was throwing a bucket of cold icy water on my face in the otherwise sleepy afternoon of a hot day. As I read the story, I could not contain all the emotions that ran though my mind. The Ben Nhem's story was a story of what is right with Khmer people. It was a story of courage, of resilient, and of survival. It was a story of human triumph over obstacles, and it was a story of extraordinary human being.

Although I am very proud of Ben Nhem who was recognized and honored with an Order of Australia medal for his devotions to the community, the people, and the country he loved, it was the narrative of his life that truly moved me.

His life's story touched my heart because he represents hundred of thousands of us whose lives have been impacted by the war and the devastation that caused by Indochina War and the Khmer Rouge. He represents those of us whose parent or parents and relatives were murdered mercilessly by the Khmer Rouge. He represents all of us who work very hard on a daily to defy all odds in foreign lands whose people love and fully embraced us. These lands and its people give us new lives with endless opportunities to be educated, to pursuit our dreams, and to live with dignity.

The memory of the Khmer Rouge regime while it is not so fresh to those who involved in the heinous acts is very fresh for all of us who are the victims. This is why the Khmer Rouge tribunal, may be served as a pawn in a political chest game for others, it is very important for us. Doing it right means a great deal to all of us who want to close this darkest chapter in our lives.

The Ben Nhem story should be a constant reminder to all our leaders that their actions whether they realize it or not impact million of innocent lives.

As a Khmer in a foreign land, I would like to join my fellow Cambodians across the globe in congratulating Mr. Ben Nhem.

Congratulations!!!
Jayakhmer

Should Members of the Royal Family be involved in Politics?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
By Jayakhmer
On the web at http://www.modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com

This is my response to Dr. Chhim Phal Vorun' s statement.

Dr. Chhim Phal Vorun, Director of the Institute for Civil Education and a constitutional expert, stated that the royal family members have the rights to be involved in politics. To this point, I totally agree. The constitution does afford members of the royal family to be involved in politics.

Khmer people understand that members of the royal have the rights to be in politics. The fact that the law of the country allows them to do so does not mean that they should. One can easily argue with the same logic that the law of the land does not say any thing about corruption; therefore, it is O.K for some in the government to be corrupted. Corruption is unethical and it ruins the country.

Members of the royal family involve in politics is mater of conflict of interest. The argument that member of royal family are still Khmer citizens, and therefore, as citizens they have the same rights is fallacy.

While I agree with Dr. Chhim Phal Vorun that all members of the royal family are citizens, I don't think that they are as the same as all of us ordinary people. To this point, I respectfully disagree with Dr. Chhim Phal Vorun's statement.

As members of royal family by implication, they are in privileged class. One has to address them with special title. They have special access to King and the palace. Some of them can be very incompetent but if they choose to be in politics, they are given special positions. These are some of the reason why they are not as the same as ordinary Khmer citizens.

My point is yes, they are Khmer citizens but they are citizens with special privileges.

I don't mind that they are afforded with special privileges. It is our tradition. It is our culture. It is our heritage. I am proud of them as much as I am proud of myself for being borne to an ordinary Khmer.

I do mind when their involvement has a potential of ruining the country that I love dearly. Dr. Chhim Phal Vorun, an educated man, should know our history and I do not need to go there.

Although the constitution does not prevent members of the royal family from involving in politics, it is an enormous conflict of interest with our current system of constitutional monarchy. Why take any chances of making this institution marred by the involvements of royal members in politics.

The monarch should be the neutral arbitrator of political conflicts of the nation. If members of the royal family are in politics, it is highly likely that they will be in the middle of the conflict. That will put our monarch in a very difficult situation. I am not saying the monarch cannot be fair. Why take any chances.

Yes, they have the rights to be in politics, but for the sake of the country and the for the sake of the reputation of Khmer Monarchy, members of the royal family should not be in politics.