The Monarchy and The Nation Politics

"Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Talk No Evil":
Cambodia's current monarchy in the "banana kingdom"?

Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Op-Ed by Khmer Academy

The Eastern border infringement has once again flared up the nationalist sentiment across the nation. The lack of transparency in the border demarcation process, and the irrefutable lost of territory in that process, have enraged the nation close to a “boiling” point.

While the public at large is furious and Khmer associations around the globe spontaneously release statements demonstrating or condemning the Eastern border violations, there is an absolute silence in the Royal Palace. Such royal tranquility leaves people perplexed about the roles and ultimately the relevance of the Monarchy in the present days.

What could and should the Monarch have done within the constraints of a constitutional Monarchy? Granted that the circumstances and extents to which the Monarch could or should exercise authority are a matter of legal and academic debates, there is however a widespread sentiment in the general population that Royal Palace’s inaction is definitely not an option and can only be viewed as lacking of passion for the nation.

In a constitutional Monarchy, some executive authority is nominally vested in the Monarch, and is commonly referred to as Royal Prerogative which includes but not limited to the powers to declare war, make peace, as well as negotiate and ratify international treaties, agreements and alliances.

The current border infringements constitute a violation of international treaties, and abundantly justify the intervention by the Royal Palace within the legal boundaries of the constitution. In the present context where the government is deemed to have failed its duties and responsibilities to safeguard the Eastern border, the Monarch’s intervention is definitely warranted, and the people are overwhelmingly in favour of the Monarch exercising royal prerogative powers on the government to fully restore the nation territorial integrity.

It is truly regrettable that the Royal Palace has not been at the forefront of the matter that deeply affects every citizens. The recent Royal Palace’s refusal to grant a royal audience on the Eastern border related issue to the opposition leader was incomprehensible. For many humble citizens, the reason for the refusal was royally uninspiring to say the least.

The idealistic notion that the Monarch should completely abstain from the nation politics simply does not fit Cambodia’s reality. As long as Cambodia remains a constitutional Monarchy and has not matured politically, the Monarch is compelled to exercise, when circumstances warrant, certain executive authority, as vested by the constitution, in the best interests of the nation. That being the case, the Monarch is also legally and morally bound to exercise that executive authority in a fair and equitable manner to all political parties in order to bring back the prides, honours and dignities the nation once had abundantly.

Khmer Academy
February 02, 2010