Cambodian Issues - Op-Ed by Pretty Ma

Thu, Feb 11, 2010
Op-Ed by Pretty Ma

Dear Friends,

The government of Cambodia has been prevented from moving the issue to the international court by you know who - something they should have done a long time ago, but insisted on solving it bilaterally. They do not want the whole issue to spill over to the eastern frontier which will affect Vietnam's interests. It's the kind of game which Vietnam is more than happier to see. Here is a possible scenario, the war broke out, our big brothers moving in to help and stay, this time they won't be leaving. There won't be another UNTAC for Cambodia. Be careful of such unnecessary provocation of war - something which can be easily averted.

I am disturbed by the kind of language our PM Hun Sen directed personally at his adversary, the Thai PM. It is not something for any decent Cambodian to gloat about. If we were to be a civilized nation, then our country deserved much better than what PM Hun Sen represented during his discourse. Nothing to clap your hands to. This is dangerous for Cambodia. Bring it to the world court and let the issue be taken care of. There is no need to waste so much energy and tasteless wordings.

While the Thais are encroaching in and around Preah Vihear with support of their people, Vietnam is getting away with a murder as our Khmer farmers and our leader of the opposition, a potential future prime minster, are being prosecuted for defending Cambodia's interests - protecting lost to Vietnam on the Eastern zone.

Look at the issue closely, one need to realize that there haven't been much Thais moving in mass number into Cambodia lakes or rivers, not to mention all over Cambodia's provinces. I have not seen any Thai companies, nor any other foreigners beside Vietnam that received such incredible number, size and scope of land concessions. Let it be clear, Vietnamese are here to stay, work and live on those lands. You can lease your land to foreigners, but not your next door neighbours. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. In Cambodian case, it's self-destructive, and people are too afraid or too busy to want to know or even care about, since it's all politics. They often said, "sorry, we don't get involved in politics" Wrong, you and your nation are subjected to such ill-thinking and as a result, you are paying high prices for not wanting to get involved. They will tax your land, drive you out of your home, limit your freedom, put you in jail without given you due process etc..

With the new expropriating bill, who know where the seizure of land will end? When will the Cambodian people become the real Cambodian people? I meant with some sense of pride, of ownership,obligations, righteousness and most of all a conscience to be Cambodian - to have a real identity, not subservient like mentality and practices which has long been a curse to our nation and our people. When are we going to see who really standing up for Cambodia?

Continue on this sleep walking path, the silent majority and the country will one day end up in an aboriginal land. Be realistic of the immigration threat on the horizon. We are not statistically matched, 9 to 1 ratio, population wise, nor we are normal enough to think that this process can be easily reversed. It could be too late by the time you look around. Having said that, please do not blame or hate the Vietnamese people, they are innocent. If I were a Vietnamese, I would have been a happy camper to see this process go through for the good of my own people and my own nation, but since I am not, I am obligated to tell my Cambodian compatriots that they ought to vote other way before it's all too late. Democracy works well when there is a genuine balance of power. To be a smart participant of the democratic process, you need to take that into account in order to move your country forward responsibly as a citizen. So, time to wake up people and be a real agent of change, a change for the better, for long term peace, security and national preservation. Get rid of this idea of a one man show. It's primitive thinking and it's self-destructive at best.

When you have a balance of power, then changes can take place to a point where accountability and good governance can bear fruits. Without a genuine system of check-and-balance and end to systemic corruptions, Cambodia will always remain as my most respected mentor, Dr. Tith Naranhkiri has analysed and stated, "A fail State."