Last Sunset at Kep 2014
What’s in
store for Cambodia in 2015?
As
I watched the last sunset in Kep in 2014, I look forward to welcome the New
Year and I hope that 2015 will bring peace, stability and prosperity (to ALL
not only to the few riches and powerful ones) to Cambodia.
Despite the
prevalence of peace, stability and remarkable economic development (almost 10
per cent per annum between 1998-2008, source World Bank), which has improved
the living condition of the general population, critical challenges remain and the
glass is still seen half empty, especially with regards to human rights
violations, weak democratic governance, social injustice, and inequality
between the rich and the poor. Their effects still persist for many Cambodians
and more commitments are needed to scale up human security for the common
people. As one participant in a public forum on land issues so incisively
stated, “All this development is destroying our lives.”
The year 2014
was an intense and harsh year for Cambodia ranging from the protestors uprising
to the government crackdown with at least five killed by police bullets on 3
January on Veng Sreng Street, from the government issued orders to shut
down Freedom Park to end the political deadlock between the ruling Cambodian
People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party on 22 July
with the signing of the controversial deal, the unprecedented 225,000 deported
Cambodian migrant workers in June 2014 by the Thai Junta, the poor result of
the national grade 12 passing grade after the new minister of the Ministry of
Education, Youth and Sport banished of the widespread cheating and bribing
(with only a quarter of the national exam of almost 90,000 takers passed the first round in August
and close to eighteen percent managed to pass the second round in October
retest), the sentencing of life in prison of the Khmer Rouge regime’s two most senior
surviving leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan by the tribunal, the highly
contentious accord between the Australian and Cambodian government to relocate
island of Nauru refugees in the Kingdom on September, the ongoing intimidation
of the dissenters and the enduring prosecution of the eight labor unions presidents
and land rights activists, and the recent HIV unusual outbreak in Battambang
with more than 200 infected people from babies to monks.
Now what’s
in store for Cambodia in 2015? I believe
the buck stops with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party. As a political deadlock ended, both powerful leaders
have agreed for a new plan for a better Cambodia, which includes amending the
constitution and election law as well as to reforming the National Election
Committee (NEC). Like me and many other
concerned citizens, we need to do more than ever before to build a better Cambodia
and together we need to demand more from our leaders. We need to ask the
politicians to do as they have promised and to look at the public policies that
are affecting everyday life in Cambodia, such as endemic corruption, land
grabbing and a rule of law that is not universally applied. What we really want is the new development plan
that is inclusive and leaves no one out. After all, the ultimate objective of any
meaningful development is to raise the standard of living of the people and end
poverty and inequality.
The country is facing many
confronting socio-economic issues. After toiling on the amendment of the constitution
and reforming the NEC (still working on the details), what the ruling Cambodian
People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party should address
first determine a better Cambodia. Those
confronting issues are many: good governance, transparency, poverty, corruption,
social inequality, education reforms, health care reforms, judicial reforms, migrant
workers, ending land disputes, social injustice, culture of impunity, human
rights abuse, nepotism, and a living wage for all government officials and workers.
Both
political parties play an indispensable role in building a just, free and
democratic society by upholding the laws. Leaders must cultivate mutual respect
and consideration, so as to create a feasible and reasonable balance of
interest, instead of abusing unlimited power. They must have a sense of modesty
and moderation instead of having an unquenchable lust for power. In greed and power, humans lose their soul,
freedom, and inner peace to serve others and become victims of their own greed and craving.
Leaders must use their political power in the service of the Cambodian
people. They should develop and extend a spirit of mettā (selfless love and
good will) and Karunā (compassion) with those who suffer – with special care
for the children, the aged, the poor, the weak, the disabled, the vulnerable, the
real victims, and the less fortunate. They should eliminate excessive bureaucracy
centralization and work together for the good of the people and put national
interest forefront instead of pointing fingers at each other and struggling for
power. Their policies and actions must
be transparent because transparency would strengthen democracy and promote
effectiveness in government. They must
practice what they preach by being accountable to the majority of the population and they must pay more attention
to the needs and well being of the people. If there is real progress and equitable prosperity,
it will come from being (responsive to the people) not having (more power, wealth and status).
One
Cambodian woman describes, “A good government is a government that does not
abuse the people, that gives the people the land back, and that allows people
to earn a living.” The road ahead is rocky and always uphill, but
the view from the top is impeccable. May the New Year 2015 brings lasting peace, stability and real prosperity to ALL the people of Cambodia regardless of their status, their wealth and their political choice.
