Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych (Top Left) and Viktor Yuschenko (Top Right)Cambodia's Hun Sen (Bottom Left) and Sam Rainsy (Bottom Right)
Democracy a double edge sword
01 May 2008
Editorial by Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Democracy is a double edge sword. This saying is particularly true in Cambodia. On 13 April, the first day of the Cambodian New Year, and 22 April, Hun Sen warned his opponents against descending on the streets (to demonstrate). Hun Sen affirmed that using such method to topple him will be severely repressed and the initiators will be condemned by the justice. Hun Sen’s words, three months away from the general election, were not pronounced without premeditation. Usually, at the announcement of the ballot results, tension rises. Notably, in 1998, a vast movement led by the opposition was harsh. The goal was to chase Hun Sen out of power, in spite of election victory.
This year, according to Hun Sen, such attempt will be used again, because “toppling Hun Sen by the election is now impossible,” Hun Sen claimed. According to Hun Sen, in order to achieve their goals, his opponents would attempt to use an ultimate maneuver: inciting a general protest in the streets. Such gathering is illegal, Hun Sen claimed. This type of movement reached its goal in Ukraine, where the “Orange Revolution” finally removed Viktor Yanukovych from power, in favor of Viktor Yuschenko, the opposition leader. An example that Hun Sen would not like to see happened in Cambodia. Hun Sen’s message is thus clear: according to him, a true democracy is justified by the election means and not by street protests.
Sam Rainsy does not share such opinion, the SRP leader believes that, to the contrary, street protests can ease an election process that is not “credible.” The opposition leader did not clearly mention that he wants to topple his main opponent by using the “people power,” but he didn’t deny taking such action either.
Of course, wrestling power by force is not new in Cambodia. Election defeat is rarely accepted, and the sharp protests following the last three general elections prove that. The amendment to the Constitution which eliminates the 2/3 majority in favor of the simple majority could appease the demands. Nevertheless, the protest against the election results could not be excluded. Ballot or street protests? Can violence be avoided? In the absence of the above, who will bear the largest share of responsibility?
This year, according to Hun Sen, such attempt will be used again, because “toppling Hun Sen by the election is now impossible,” Hun Sen claimed. According to Hun Sen, in order to achieve their goals, his opponents would attempt to use an ultimate maneuver: inciting a general protest in the streets. Such gathering is illegal, Hun Sen claimed. This type of movement reached its goal in Ukraine, where the “Orange Revolution” finally removed Viktor Yanukovych from power, in favor of Viktor Yuschenko, the opposition leader. An example that Hun Sen would not like to see happened in Cambodia. Hun Sen’s message is thus clear: according to him, a true democracy is justified by the election means and not by street protests.
Sam Rainsy does not share such opinion, the SRP leader believes that, to the contrary, street protests can ease an election process that is not “credible.” The opposition leader did not clearly mention that he wants to topple his main opponent by using the “people power,” but he didn’t deny taking such action either.
Of course, wrestling power by force is not new in Cambodia. Election defeat is rarely accepted, and the sharp protests following the last three general elections prove that. The amendment to the Constitution which eliminates the 2/3 majority in favor of the simple majority could appease the demands. Nevertheless, the protest against the election results could not be excluded. Ballot or street protests? Can violence be avoided? In the absence of the above, who will bear the largest share of responsibility?
8 comments:
បោះឆ្នោត ថ្ងៃ ២៧ កក្កដា ២០០៨ មានតែពីរជំរើស ៖ បោះឆ្នោត អោយជនក្បត់ជាតិ ឬ បោះឆ្នោតអោយអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិ ?
- បើបោះឆ្នោត អោយជនក្បត់ជាតិ គឺ បោះឆ្នោតអោយ អាក្បត់ជាតិឈ្មោះហ៊ុន សែន ដែលកាត់ដីខ្មែរអោយយួន ។ អាក្បត់ជាតិហ៊ុន សែនតំណាងអោយ ពួកយួនអន្តោប្រវេស
- បើបោះឆ្នោតអោយអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិ គឺ បោះឆ្នោតជូន ឯកឧត្តមសម រង្ស៊ី ។ ឯកឧត្តមសម រង្ស៊ីតំណាងអោយ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ ប្រទេសជាតិខ្មែរ
Ah Sam Rainsy has no "People Power". He's hallucinating. Ah Sam Rainsy ain't no Sihanouk.
People Power... mean free of speeches and opinions.
Not to take persons to the street and let CPP kill them.
Rumors said : The police said They (CCP or Hok Lundy) give them only 5$ to beat persons on the street.
Lastly, Hok Lundy has punished an police's officer, because this man dare to confront Hok Lundy commandment. Does anyone know what is his commandment???
BEAT THE MONKS INFRONT OF VIET EMBASSY (DEMONSTRATION HELD 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO).
Khmer Canadian
Ah Sam Rainsy and his cyclo drivers clan is sinking. They will not make it to the election. Don't plan to vote for them. Vote for HRP if you don't like CPP.
HRP, Funcinpec are the CPP's pupets and CPP is Vietnam's pupet. Vote for HRP or/and Funcinpec mean you vote for CPP and if you vote for CPP mean you vote for Youn.
Hol Lundy, Om Yin Tieng...are youn.
The SRP should be in Prey Sor for selling Khmer's land to VN.
I agree the one salling Khmer's land to VN and other should be kick in the head by people!
Good, then you can start with Ah Khmer-Yuons.
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