What’s in store for Cambodia in 2015?

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. 

Vipassanā- bhāvanā

Battambang Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Latthika

Vipassanā- bhāvanā

The Practice of Self-Introspection into the Nature of impermanence and Egoless

“Atta-dīpā viharatha, atta-saranā, anañña-sarana. Dhamma-dīpā viharatha, dhamma-saranā, anañña-sarana.”

“Each of you, make an island of yourself, make yourself your refuge; there is no other refuge.  Make truth your island, make truth your refuge, there is no other refuge.” – Mahā -Paribibbāna Suttanta, Dīgha Nikāya, 16 

Every morning, I wake up early and practice Vipassanā- bhāvanā for one hour.  The Vipassanā method taught by S.N. Goenka (Vipassana Meditation Teacher, 1924-2013,) is unique and beneficial to all who practice it.  It is the essence of the teaching of the enlightened Buddha, the actual experience of the truths of which he spoke (sutta).  This technique is to experiment reality, as it is.  It is a systematic development of insight into the impermanent (anicca), suffering, and egoless (anattā) nature of the mental-physical structure by observing sensation (vedanā) within the body.

Every morning, I begin my day by sitting on a mat with the legs crossed, and back straight.  Then I place my hands on my knee and close my eye.  This sitting position helps centered my awareness and attention inward.  By using my body as my own laboratory, I want to investigate the truth within myself.  I start observing the reality within the framework of my body by paying attention to the breath – the subtle feeling of air moving in and out of the nose naturally. From observing respiration within the limited area at the nostril, I proceed to observing sensation throughout the body without reacting to it. However, I often encounter the conditioned reactions of gross, solidified, intensified, and pleasant and unpleasant sensations (such bodily pain and pressure).  I also experience the habit pattern of my restless mind, always wandering around, from one object and subject to another, rolling in pleasure, reeling in pain, yet constantly remaining agitating like a wild animal. On this path, whatever is unknown about myself must become known. The goal of this practice is to avoid reacting to the sensation by understanding the law of impermanence (anicca) – the constantly arising (samudaya) and passing away (vaya) of the gross and subtle sensations within my body.

Every morning, the present is most important in practicing Vipassanā- bhāvanā. Here-and-now, I work patiently and continuously to break the old habit of generating new mental reaction (sankhārā).  I seek to find the answers to the questions within myself.  My struggle with the here-and-now is worthwhile and it is nonetheless a struggle and one that I will never finish. If the present is good, I don’t need to worry about the future, which is merely the product of the present, and therefore bound to be good. I accept what is – reality as reality is to me now.  I breathe in, I breathe out and I let reality happen knowing every moment never hands me the same thing twice (anicca).  The important thing is to experience the truth directly – to look within, to examine myself at the experimental level. At the end of the hour, I also practice meta-bhavana (the systematic cultivation of goodwill and compassion toward others) to share the merits gained through Vipassanā - bhavana with all beings. I wish all beings be happy, be peaceful, and be liberated.

Every morning, I want to make best use of this wonderful opportunity to experience the law of impermanence and the concept of non-self (anattā) – the actual practice of observing the truth as it is in order to come out of all miseries, and enjoy real peace, real happiness, and real harmony.

Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam

What is NEXT between the CPP and the CNRP?

Picture Credit: AFP

What is NEXT between the CPP and the CNRP?

After cutting the deal on 22 July 2014, the Cambodian People Party (CPP) with 68 seats and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) with 55 seats lawmakers sat together for the first time in the National Assembly on 8 August 2014.  The center of that deal for the CNRP is the complete overhaul of the existing CPP controlled National Election Committee, which will require amending the constitution. As for the CPP, Prime Minister Hun Sen has regained full legitimacy – both morally and legally – in running the government. Many pertinent questions remain unanswered: Will this hastening agreement last or just simply a knotted tying for political convenience?  Can both political parties work together for the good of the people and put national interest first and foremost?  Can the CPP tolerate a strong opposition party at the National Assembly? Can the CPP handle critical debates in the parliament to push for better transparency and responsibilities to implement rule of law, to promote inclusiveness and to improve the courts? Will this new and first bipartisan political system work for the benefit of the nation? It is too early to tell but it is obvious that the ruling party has much more experiences and is better prepared and wily seasoned on dealing with those issues. Furthermore, the CPP has the ultimate power to legitimize almost all their activities, for example during the political deadlock, government security officials beat and arrested demonstrators at will, and at least seven innocent people were shot dead. This demonstrates that Cambodians do not live under the rule of law, but under the rule of power. For the CNRP, it is imperative for their members to stay united and to avoid internal conflicts, which is easier said than done once power arrangements within the party will not be evenly distributed. If they want to continue to gain the support of the masses, they must be passionate to push for positive changes, to insist for real reforms, to promote human rights and democracy because in Cambodia freedom is not free, truth must be fought for and justice must be demanded. Yet, the future of Cambodia depends on both parties to work cohesively and productively (checks and balances) together to deliver lasting results such as ending corruption and the culture of impunity, eliminating land grabs, stopping all illegal loggings, implementing pro poor growth, and applying the rule of law to all.  On the other hand, Cambodians must learn to put their difference aside and unite during this challenging time as the ruling and the opposition party focus on finding the common grounds. What Cambodians really need most are solutions not empty promises as before.   

The Boiling Point

 Photos Courtesy of  Reuters and AFP

The Boiling Point: The Deadly Clash on 3^rd January 2014

"Cambodia stands at a crossroads, change is coming to Cambodia faster than many anticipated." ~ Surya Subedy, U.N. Human Rights Envoy to Cambodia  

Cambodia has made familiar headlines again not seen since the deadly crackdown on protests in 1998. The country is going through tremendous social and political upheaval since the last national elections on July 2013.  On 3^rd January 2014, most Cambodians and people around the world were shocked and shaken by the images and the video clips of the savagery of the brutal force by military police against striking garment workers, who just exercised their rights to demand a living wage of $160 on Veng Sreng Street in the capital city of Phnom-Penh.  The strike turned fatal as the military police used AK-47 assault rifles to fire life bullets directly into the crowds of rocks, slingshots, and Molotov cocktails throwing protesters killing at least five dead and injured more than forty and most of them with gunshot wounds.  Twenty-three other strikers, activists, and union representatives were also arrested by soldiers during a protest and held in a Kompong Cham maximum-security prison at this writing. 

The next day, a large group of military police accompanied by a group of men dressed in plain clothes with a red ribbon around their arms wielding sticks, batons, metal pipes and axes stormed and drove the peaceful protestors Phnom-Penh’s Freedom Park, which had served as the Cambodian National Rescue Party’s base for the last three months.  

In Cambodia many people have been deprived of civil rights and liberties. Following this crack down, the government issued a statement explaining that the constitutional freedom to assemble in the city would be banned indefinitely “until security and public order is guaranteed."   This suspension of Cambodian Constitutional Rights is unlawful according Articles 37 and 41.  At a press conference at the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Phnom-Penh to wrap up his six days fact-finding mission, U.N. Human Rights envoy Surya Subedy condemned the use of lethal force against the protesters and added that "the ban on demonstration should be lifted." 

Cambodia has reached a boiling point where the ruling party had decided to use armed forces with AK-47 assault rifles to crackdown on the social and political demands of the citizens.  The impact of this deadly clash has grave consequences in terms of human security.  In a democratic society, the authorities cannot ignore the demands of the citizens.   The government needs to embrace a constructive and cooperative resolution by discarding the excessive use of violence to address workers’ demands and to deal with political dissent.  Ensuring social order and the continued peace is in the best interest of all people.  Given the current levels of tension, the ruling party must abandon confrontational rhetoric and exercising restraint towards protestors to build stability and prosperity.  Political reconciliation norms through dialogue, compromise, and a legislature that enjoys by all are keys to solve this deadlock.  Good cannot come from force or fear.  The alternative is unimaginable.  

Corruption in Cambodia

Corruption in Cambodia

I am sure all of us are aware that the latest Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International's 2013 scored Cambodia at 20 points, which "0" means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and "100" means it is perceived as very clean.   This index translates that our country takes the honor of being named the "highly corrupt country."  In fact, Cambodia was ranked 160 out of 175 listed countries in 2013 a fall from three places from its 2012 ranking of 157 (http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/).  Regionally speaking, we are the worst among ASEAN Ten Member States. Once again, we are on the map for becoming famous as one of the most corrupt country in the world.  

So what happens here?  We don't need a rocket scientist to explain this.  Just look around us everyday, our country is engrained with corruption and political patronage (see my article: http://www.cambodiadaily.com/opinion/cambodia-is-ingrained-with-corruption-political-patronage-32120/).  Corruption has become a cancer in Cambodian society. It is widespread everywhere and at all levels, in schools, courts, hospitals, public and private services,.. "The big eats big, the small eats small."  Weak institutions, governance, poor business climate (lack of partiality and predictability), poverty, class inequality, injustice and immorality are some the breeding ground for corruption.  Too many people across the country are still living in extreme poverty and the economic growth is not inclusive.

So what is the solution? Let’s be truthful and blunt.  In Cambodia, the most common cause of corruption is believed to be a combination of enormous discretion and low accountability.  There comes a time when we have to accept that the system is not working despite the passage of anti-corruption law in 2010 and a special unit to deal with this problem.   The government has promised repeatedly to stamp out corruption but the report shows that all the pledges are not back up by effective actions.  Concrete actions are needed more than words of wisdom and empty promises to tackle this contagious vice. Strengthening good governance and applying rule of law in leadership and state governance as well as maintaining integrity and providing justice are the remedy to fight corruption.  Giving ALL civil servants a living wage will improve their corrupt behavior and preventing them from taking bribes. The prosperity in Cambodia must be inclusive by providing opportunities for all and not only to the well-connected officials and elites.  Developing public awareness and providing quality education will also help improve the value of honesty and personal integrity.  Gandhi offers a solution as well, "Be the change you wish to see in the world (Cambodia)."

To move forward, I would like to end by quoting Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International, " It is time to stop those who get away with acts of corruption. The legal loopholes and lack of political will in government facilitate both domestic and cross-border corruption, and call for our intensified efforts to combat the impunity of the corrupt.”

Let's hope that Cambodia will do better next year with another promise made by our Prime Minister Hun Sen to eliminate corruption (Prime Minister Hun Sen’s speech on September 2013) by carrying out the deep institutional reforms.