My Letter to Samdech Ta Norodom Sihanouk

My Letter to Samdech Ta N. Sihanouk,

From analytical analysis's point of view, Samdech Ta is just a Father of himself and remote Cambodian farmers in current Cambodia politics. But in reality, real Samdech Ta's flesh and bone have already been fleshed out by Hun Sen. There is analogy study of Taksin Shinawatra who has tried to de-popularize Thai King Phumibol in the meantime that Hun Sen is trying to de-popularize Khmer King Sihanouk.

It is logical to the concept of political competition that "one cave should exist only one tiger". The cave of political popularity cannot be two in the political arena.

I am really appreciate with the political narrative Samdech Ta recalls during his heyday. Of course, Somdech Ta's information is useful for younger generation like me and other Cambodian friends. Personally, I have learned about Somdech Ta's political career at least from few different sources:

• 1. From the elders who admired Somdech Ta as their hero and extraordinary man in their life span. Some elders boasted themselves about their lucky to see Samdech Ta in person, some boasted themselves about their lucky to have touched Samdech Ta's hand and they felt cold, tender and unforgettable etc. Some elders boasted about their lucky to get white scarf as their precious gift from Samdech Ta. They also showed me this white scarf as it is still kept in their sacred alter to worship. There are many other extraordinary appearances, words and kindness about Samdech Ta.

When I was young, I dream of Samdech Ta's face and kindness as he is named "Samdech Euy". We are his Koun Chao (children & grand children) has to pay respect and be humble to him.

In that time, I was too amazed by the fame and narratives told by the elders.

• 2. I learned about Somdech Ta from school. It is unbelievable that though Samdech Ta sided with Pol Pot to fight against CPP along the Cambodia-Thai border. The text book in that time condemned only Pol Pot, Ieng Sary and Kiev Samphan as the main devils. This hatred propaganda spread entirely and it had always seduced the young adults to go carry guns and kill all those Khmer Rouge leaders. However, I learned at school is not different from the narrative of elders about Samdech Ta. Samdech Ta's figure was always exceptional.

• 3. I learned about Samdech Ta from my own research and reading. Many analytical books describe Samdech Ta in different volumes. However, their intellectual and analytical writing has left some significant remarks about Samdech Ta N. Sihanouk:

• 3.1. He is a king father, the universal monarchy of Cambodians. He is the hero of war, peace and uncertainty. He is also the King, the prime minister, the prisoner, the singer, dancer, movie maker, and blogger. He is also the father of independence as well as the father of Khmer Rouge brutality.

• 3.1. He is the populist and demagogic political leader, the sweetest public speaker, the flip-flopper, the manipulator, the cheater, and the revenged...etc

• 3.2. He has played a great role model as a Cambodian political leader who has always used populist strategy, anti-democratic principle, violence-prone leadership style, and personal-centric decision making etc

• 3.3. Many later Cambodian leaders have used the style of King Father as their role model. For example, current Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has copied almost every aspect of leadership from Samdech Ta namely using his so-called personal funds to build schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and temples by inscribing his name and spouse there.

Like elders told me, Samdech Ta is very kind because he gave all his personal property from the smallest gifts to the building of national infrastructures such as schools, roads, hospitals and temples etc. Now, elders have not mentioned this charity activity referring to Samdech Ta anymore, peoples have always admired Prime Minister Hun Sen for his charity activities. So, we can see the Samdech Ta and Prime Minister Hun Sen have used the same strategy to legitimize the power. But what is new for all of us is the political shift changing from Monarchical Charity to Ordinary People Charity (or from King Sihanouk to ordinary Hun Sen).

Will Cambodia live with this leadership style to another unpredictable years or not? Cambodia will be better through this leadership example or not?

Samdech Ta is not different from Hun Sen and his team works who have always used the same political rhetoric. For instance, they said "Pol Pot desired to get Khmer Krom back that why Vietnam attacked them, Cambodian people in abroad are good in speaking but have done nothing to Cambodian nation, the speakers are good in speaking but the doers are still doing to care Cambodia nation", or many other rhetoric which is considered childish rhetoric to fool the Cambodian farmers.

This simple childish rhetoric has been used since the reign of Samdech Ta, and it has been continually used by Lon Nol, Pol Pot, and current Hun Sen.

So, how long this childish rhetoric will be used in Cambodia politics? To be a good Cambodian leaders, do this rhetoric is important or nonsense?

From analytical analysis's point of view, Samdech Ta is just a Father of himself and remote Cambodian farmers in current Cambodia politics. But in reality, real Samdech Ta's flesh and bone have already been fleshed out by Hun Sen. There is analogy study of Taksin Shinawatra who has tried to de-popularize Thai King Phummibol in the meantime that Hun Sen is trying to de-popularize Khmer King Sihanouk.

It is logical to the concept of political competition that "one cave should exist only one tiger". The cave of political popularity cannot be two in the political arena.

But Thaksin is facing difficult challenge, while Hun Sen is freely riding on his victorious seat.

Samdech Ta can spend his last breath to favor whoever has given him a shade as part of Cambodian practice, paying gratitude is authentic. But Samdech Ta has also faced the reality that this shade is not a genuine shade for him any more.

I wish Samdech Ta can see this reality and do something meaningful for his last blink in this world.

KY