This time, I am reminded of an article I wrote about “The Repute of Angkor Wat” in 2002. Once, the Siamese army tried to relocate the Ta Phrom Temple to rebuild in Thailand under the order of King of Ayuthya, those armies were beheaded and let them back a few to report to the King that all Khmer ruins were not abandoned as perceived. Few survival armies mentioned the swift and brave Angkor warriors whose villagers living in the nearby areas, appeared from the forest with horses and swords killed the Siamese armies in a sudden.
Bad rumours or news on Angkor Wat resulted in many catastrophes such as the burning of Thai embassy in 2004. When a Phnom Penh newspaper falsely reported that a popular Thai actress claimed that Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand, Cambodians rioted in the capital, destroying the Thai Embassy and dozens of Thai-owned businesses (Los Angeles Time).
UNESCO’s Authenticity
Prof. Dr. Ang Chulean, who were first President of Apsara Authority, and later were believed left the post because of his critical opinion against the building of toilets surrounding Angkor ruins complex, articulated the important villages and people living surrounding the complex. Those people and villages must not be relocated and demolished. In his interview with Thmey Thmey local online newspaper, he called those people and villages the “life heritage” reflecting the contrast to of those stone-castle heritage of Angkor Wat and nearby ruins.
Actually, the UNESCO’s Articles on Angkor Protection under World Heritage Scheme in the initial legal adoption chaired by King Norodom Sihanouk, descripted the important of having villagers settled around the ruins decades or centuries ago.
According to UNESCO’s online documentation, the Angkor Wat and nearby ruins heritage clearly unspoken of the dismantling and relocating villagers in order to avoid maintaining “status” as “world cultural heritage” listing with the UNESCO like what Prime Minister Hun Sen mentioned at all.
Current Scheme
With the repeating escalating speech to relocating villagers surrounding Angkor Wat and nearby ruins by Prime Minister Hun Sen, over 3000 people rallied to Banteay Srey commune headquarter in October 6-7-8-9, to protest against these relocating attempts. Villagers whom feared of reprisal and traumatized by egregious political intimidations, conducted both anonymous protests through social media and come out to the streets with face masked on, demanding the authority not to relocate them by allowing them to live peacefully in their inheriting property such as homes and lands; they reject any cost of compensation to relocate them; they reject negotiation with the authority; they are desiring only to live peacefully in their inheriting lands and homes passed to them many generations; they are proud of their ancestors leaving them current plot of land, etc.
At least 15 villages named in their banner rejecting to be relocated and accept to die protecting their inheriting plot of land
An anonymous protest via social media posting their inheriting home passed by generations
According to Hun Sen, Ron Ta Ek new development is a new plot of land for those villagers to relocate to. Looking closely, the villagers most of them are new settlers to the ruins vicinity, accepted the small amount of compensation and monthly social service money (named poor certificate card), to live in Ron Ta Ek two years ago, hence the area itself is not visibly developed and most of the villagers are not living there, major homes are abandoned. They have come back to live where they can afford income and employment, or migrated to work in Thailand.
In contrast, like Sihanouk Ville or other special economic zone (SMDs) entire Cambodia, Cambodian tycoons and Chinese companies have worked with powerful Cambodian shareholders in the secrete and bribery deals to relocate villagers in the name of development. For Siem Reap, according to this news outlet, NagaCorp which is the notorious beneficiaries of Naga World Casino, is going to invest over 350 millions dollars covering lands of 75 hectare in the 500m distance surrounding Angkor Wat and ruins complex.
Future Recommendations
Abdicate the policy of development for the riches, or use development schemes as excuse to lure Cambodian citizens to be prey and dismantle their livelihood existence as well as family harmony.
Be confident on the UNESCO’s policy as well as United Nations’; all developments are placing human rights and human dignity first, not profit or partisan first at all.
Cambodian citizens must stand firm, from lessons learnt entire Cambodia, no body can help us beside ourselves. All Siem Reapers must stand up against all injustice and relocation policy, not only today, this month, but keep close pre-alert forever.
Use community media (social media, cell phones, youtube, twitter, etc.) effectively to protect your own interests.
Article by Sophoan Seng, October 15, 2022, @copyrights
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Canada Day:
“Today, we celebrate the country we love, and the people we share it with. Canada is home to over 38 million people: Canadians who live in cities and towns – big and small; people who are indigenous to this land; and those who’ve been here for weeks, months, years, or for generations.“
Canada is strong because of our diversity. No matter what our faith is, where we were born, what colour our skin is, what language we speak, or who we love – we are all equal members of this great country.“
Today, we celebrate the place we all call home. I know for some, our country’s historic wrongs can make that difficult. But while we can’t change history, we can put in the work to build a better future; one that reflects our values of hope, resilience, kindness, respect, and generosity.
“Generation after generation, Canadians have shown that we can deliver on those values. We did it when we adopted our charter in 1982, we did it when we took care of each other during the pandemic, and we do it every day when we welcome refugees with open arms.
“Today is an opportunity for us all to recommit ourselves to those values – values that the Maple Leaf represents. Because our flag is more than a symbol, it’s also a promise. A promise of opportunity. A promise of safety for those fleeing violence and war. And a promise of a better life.
“As we come together today, let’s think about what this country means to us – and tomorrow, let’s challenge ourselves to find new ways to live up to the great promise of Canada.
Chao Ratanak, Candlelight Party’s commune chief candidate in Poipet commune, stands next to her father, Chao Veasna, a former opposition councilor in the commune, outside her house on May 14, 2022. (Matt Surrusco/VOD)🔊 Listen to this
Reading the article “Election Committee Rejects Candlelight Complaint Due to Lack of Specifics” recalls to mind how for Cambodian voters back in the 1998 national election — after the coup d’etat in 1997 — the legacy of the professional election institution built by the UNTAC was demolished and a new National Election Committee rebuilt. And in 2017, when the Cambodia National Rescue Party was dissolved, the legacy of an NEC created by the spirit of “culture of dialogue” was also demolished.
The response of the local election committee in the latest case is not a surprise, as the professionalism of neutrality has not been embedded in their workmanship at all. If this local election committee was well-trained, comprehensive, professional, and fearless to perform their duty without reprisal, they would try to accommodate complaints filed by Chao Ratanak without creating any further obstruction. But their performance shows not only an incapability for professional conduct but also bias toward the ruling party without doubt.
Observing the leadership structure of the current NEC, regardless of the instalment of party activists, the bureaucratic hierarchy from the national level to provincial level and to local agents is not necessary at all, and this structure creates more avenues to favor the ruling party than to serve the interests of voters. The judicial system being used as a political tool for the ruling party also disincentivizes professional conduct for the NEC and its staff.
Since Cambodia has conducted elections according to the spirit of Paris Peace Agreements, only two elections have been regarded as credible and professional, i.e. 1993 and 2017. Hence, the political maturity of the Cambodian people and their dynamic activism have paved concrete hope for the betterment in the near future.
Sophoan Seng President, Committee for Election Right of Overseas Cambodians
Biography Documentation of Khmers Overseas Part I:
Mr. Marin Ngeth, Khmer-Canadian living in Calgary, Canada Saturday, March 26, 2022
១. តេីដឺស៊ីរ៉ក់ជាអ្វី? ដឺសេរ៉ក់ជាពាក្យកាត់ភាសាអង់គ្លេសដែលមានន័យថា គណកម្មាធិការដេីម្បីសិទ្ធិបោះឆ្នោតរបស់ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅក្រៅប្រទេស ជាអង្គការក្រៅរដ្ឋាភិបាល មិនស្វែងរកកម្រៃ មានទីស្នាក់ការធំនៅប្រទេសកាណាដា។ 1. What is the CEROC? The CEROC is an abbreviation of “Committee for Election Right of Overseas Cambodians”, is a non-governmental organization (NGO), non-profit orientation, and main office is based at Canada.
២. តេីដឺស៊ីរ៉ក់មានគំរោងដេីម្បីសំរេចយុទ្ធនាការរបស់ខ្លួនយ៉ាងណា? តាមរយះការចូលរួមពីប្រជាពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជានិងមិត្តអ្នកស្រឡាញ់លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យទាំងអស់ យេីងកំពុងតំរង់ទិសដេីម្បីសម្រេចគោលដៅរួមតែមួយគឺសិទ្ធិមូលដ្ឋានរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ ដែលកំពុងរស់នៅឯនាយសមុទ្របានចូលរួមបោះឆ្នោតនូវរាល់ការបោះឆ្នោតជាតិរបស់កម្ពុជា ដែលសិទ្វិនេះត្រូវបានធានាដោយរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញកម្ពុជានិងសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍ជាសាកលស្តីពីសិទ្ធិមនុស្សរបស់អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ។ យុទ្ធនាការចំបងរបស់យេីងគឺការផ្្តល់ចំណេះដឹងដល់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ ការស្នើរអោយរដ្ឋសភាធ្វើវិសោធនកម្មច្បាប់រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញដោយនិយាយអោយច្បាស់ថាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅក្រៅប្រទេសអាចមានសិទ្ធិបោះឆ្នោតបាន និងបោះពុម្ពផ្សាយនានាទាក់ទងនឹងសិទ្ធិបោះឆ្នោតរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅក្រៅប្រទេស។ 2. How does the CEROC plan to achieve this campaign? Through participation from all Cambodians and democratic friends around the globe, we are aiming to achieve the common goal: the basic right of all Cambodians overseas to vote in Cambodia elections, which are guaranteed by the Cambodia Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations. Our primary campaign is to provide well-informed education to all Cambodians, to propose Cambodia parliament to amend the laws to clearly state that Cambodians overseas have right to vote with Cambodia elections, and to disseminate information through publications relating to Absentee Overseas Voting (AOV).
៣. ហេតុអ្វីបានជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរដែលកំពុងរស់នៅក្រៅស្រុកត្រូវការសិទ្ធិដេីម្បីបោះឆ្នោត? តេីសិទ្ធិរបស់គេត្រូវបានដកហូតឬយ៉ាងណា? សិទ្វិដេីម្បីបោះឆ្នោតត្រូវបានធានាដោយរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញកម្ពុជានិងសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍ជាសាកលស្តីពីសិទ្ធិមនុស្សរបស់អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ។ ក្រៅពីអារម្មណ៍ជាប់ជំពាក់មាតុភូមិកំណេីត ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរក្រៅប្រទេសបានទំនុកបំរុងទាំងសតិបញ្ញាស្មារតីនិងសំភារៈក្នុងដំណេីរការកសាងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ ក្នុងមួយឆ្នាំៗ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅក្រៅស្រុកបានផ្ញេីរលុយចូលទៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមិនតិចជាង៥០០លានដុល្លាក្នុងរូបភាពជារូបីយប័ណ្ណអន្តរជាតិដេីម្បីអភិវឌ្ឍន៍សេដ្ឋកិច្ច។ តែផ្ទុយពីការគាំទ្រទាំងផ្នែកផ្លូវចិត្ត ផ្លូវកាយ និងហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ សិទ្ធិរបស់ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅក្រៅស្រុកត្រូវបានគេដកហូតមិនអោយចូលរួមបោះឆ្នោតនូវរាល់ការបោះឆ្នោតនៅកម្ពុជា។ 3. Why do Khmers Overseas need right to vote? Has their right been distorted? Right to vote is guaranteed by the Cambodia Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations. Beside of the attachment feeling with their motherland, Cambodians overseas have helped both soft skill and hard skill in building the nation. Each year, Cambodians overseas have sent in remittance not less than 500 millions US dollar for country’s economic development. In contrasting of continuing spiritual, moral, and financial supports; right of Cambodians overseas have been deprived in each Cambodia election.
០៤ ធ្នូ ២០២១ / 04 December 2021 – Article and comment in English (*)បើធ្វើសង្គ្រាម កុំច្រឡំសត្រូវបើធ្វើនយោបាយ កុំច្រឡំគូបដិបក្ខគូបដិបក្ខរបស់អ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យខ្មែរ គឺជនផ្តាច់ការ ហ៊ុន សែន មិនមែន សម រង្ស៊ី ឬ កឹម សុខា ទេ។https://asiatimes.com/…/cambodias-sam-rainsy-could-be…/សារព័ត៌មាន Asia Times ចុះថ្ងៃ ០៣ ធ្នូ ២០២១ បានផ្សព្វផ្សាយអត្ថបទមួយមានចំណងជើង ជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស “Cambodia’s Sam Rainsy could be stronger after CNRP split – Cambodia National Rescue Party is disintegrating on factional lines that could see Rainsy’s camp win out over Kem Sokha’s” បកប្រែជាខ្លឹមសារ ៖ “ការបែកបាក់គ្នា ក្នុងជួរគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ទំនងធ្វើឲ្យក្រុមគាំទ្រ សម រង្ស៊ី ឈ្នះលើក្រុមគាំទ្រ កឹម សុខា”។លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បានសរសេរប្រាប់ Asia Times ទៅវិញ ដូចតទៅ ៖”ចំណងជើងអត្ថបទខាងលើនេះ ខុសស្រឡះ ពីគោលដៅ (objective) របស់ខ្ញុំ និងពីយុទ្ធសាស្រ្ត (strategy) របស់ខ្ញុំ។ គោលដៅ (objective) របស់ខ្ញុំ គឺបញ្ចប់របបផ្តាច់ការ និងគ្រួសារនិយម ហ៊ុន សែន ដោយសន្តិវិធី តាមរយៈការបោះឆ្នោត ដោយសេរី និងយុត្តិធម៌ ពិតប្រាកដ។ ដើម្បីសម្រេចគោលដៅ (objective) ខាងលើនេះ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ (strategy) របស់ខ្ញុំ គឺបង្រួបបង្រួមកម្លាំងប្រជាធិបតេយ្យទាំងអស់ ហើយជម្រុញឲ្យមានការបោះឆ្នោត ដោយសេរី និងយុត្តិធម៌ ពិតប្រាកដ។ មានតែការបង្រួបបង្រួមកម្លាំងប្រជាធិបតេយ្យទាំងអស់ទេ ដែលអាចនាំមកនូវជ័យជំនះ សម្រាប់ចលនាប្រជាធិបតេយ្យទាំងមូល ដែលមានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ជាតំណាង។ ជ័យជំនះរបស់អ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យមួយក្រុម លើអ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យមួយក្រុមទៀត វាគ្មានន័យអ្វីទាល់តែសោះ។ មានតែអ្នកនយោបាយមិនគ្រប់ទឹកទេ ដែលច្រឡំគូបដិបក្ខរបស់ខ្លួន។ គូបដិបក្ខរបស់អ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យខ្មែរទាំងអស់ គឺជនផ្តាច់ការ ហ៊ុន សែន។ម្យ៉ាងវិញទៀត យើងក៏ត្រូវបែងចែកឲ្យដាច់ រវាងគោលដៅ (objective) យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ (strategy) និង យុទ្ធវិធី (tactic)។ ខ្ញុំជឿថាលោក កឹម សុខា និងរូបខ្ញុំ សម រង្ស៊ី នៅតែមានគោលដៅ (objective) និងចង់អនុវត្តយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ (strategy) ដូចគ្នា ដូចមានចែងខាងលើនេះ។ អ្វីដែលយើងមិនទាន់បានកំណត់ឲ្យច្បាស់ជាមួយគ្នា គឺយុទ្ធវិធី (tactic) ទាក់ទងទៅនឹងគណបក្សតូចៗ ដែលទើបតែបានបង្កើតថ្មី ឬ ចាប់ផ្តើមដំណើរការជាថ្មី ក្រោយពីលោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានប្រកាសរំលាយគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០១៧។ឥឡូវនេះ លោក កឹម សុខា និងខ្ញុំ សម រង្ស៊ី មិនអាចជួបនិយាយគ្នាបានទេ ស្តីពីការកំណត់យុទ្ធវិធី (tactic) រួមរបស់យើង ពីព្រោះលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ហាមឃាត់មិនឲ្យលោក កឹម សុខា ចេញក្រៅប្រទេស ហើយ ហាមឃាត់រូបខ្ញុំ សម រង្ស៊ី មិនឲ្យចូលក្នុងប្រទេស។ លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ចង់បំបែកបំបាក់យើងទាំងពីរនាក់ថែមទៀត ដោយគាត់ដឹងពីការលំបាក ក្នុងការកំណត់យុទ្ធវិធី (tactic) រួមណាមួយ បើលោក កឹម សុខា និងខ្ញុំ សម រង្ស៊ី មិនអាចជួបនិយាយគ្នាបានទេ។តែទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ យុទ្ធវិធី (tactic) នេះ អាចមានទិដ្ឋភាពច្រើនបែបយ៉ាង ហើយអាចមានការប្រែប្រួលគ្រប់ពេលវេលា។ អ្វីដែលសំខាន់ជាងគេបំផុត ហើយដែលមិនមានការប្រែប្រួលឡើយ គឺគោលដៅ (objective) រួម និងយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ (strategy) រួម។ក្នុងខណៈដែលយើង កំពុងតែខិតខំស្វែងរកយុទ្ធវិធី (tactic) ណាមួយ ដែលមានប្រសិទ្ធភាពជាងគេ ដើម្បីទ្រទ្រង់គោលដៅ (objective) និង យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ (strategy) របស់យើង យើងមិនត្រូវចាញ់បោកលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ហើយមិនត្រូវដើរចូលក្នុងអន្ទាក់របស់គាត់ទេ បើយើងដឹងហើយថា គាត់ប្រើល្បិចគ្រប់បែបយ៉ាង ដើម្បីបំបែកបំបាក់អ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យដូចគ្នា។ លោក ហ៊ុន សែន យល់ខុសហើយ បើគាត់នៅតែសង្ឃឹមថា គាត់នឹងអាចបំបែក សម រង្ស៊ី ពី កឹម សុខា។ យើងទាំងអស់គ្នា ក៏យល់ច្បាស់ថា ឯកភាពរវាង សម រង្ស៊ី និង កឹម សុខា គឺជាគ្រោះថ្នាក់ដល់អាយុជីវិតនយោបាយ របស់លោក ហ៊ុន សែន។ គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ក៏ជាឧបសគ្គមួយដ៏ធំធេង សម្រាប់គម្រោងផ្ទេរអំណាច ពីលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ទៅកូនគាត់។ លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានរង់ចាំព័ត៌មានបំប៉ោង ដែលថាមានការបែកបាក់គ្នា ក្នុងជួរគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ជាមុនសិន ដូចបានលេចឮ ថ្ងៃ ២៨ វិច្ឆិកា ២០២១ នេះ ទើបគាត់ហ៊ានប្រកាសបេក្ខភាពនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីរបស់កូនគាត់ ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត ៤ ថ្ងៃបន្ទាប់ គឺនៅថ្ងៃ ០២ ធ្នូ ២០២១ នេះ។”(*) Article and comment in EnglishAsia Times, 03 December 2021Cambodia’s Sam Rainsy could be stronger after CNRP split – Cambodia National Rescue Party is disintegrating on factional lines that could see Rainsy’s camp win out over Kem Sokha’sBy David Hutthttps://asiatimes.com/…/cambodias-sam-rainsy-could-be…/Dear David,The title of your Dec. 3 article in the Asia Times, “Cambodia’s Sam Rainsy could be stronger after CNRP split – Cambodia National Rescue Party is disintegrating on factional lines that could see Rainsy’s camp win out over Kem Sokha’s,” doesn’t reflect either my goal or my strategy.My goal is to bring about democratic change in Cambodia by bringing a peaceful end to the regime of Hun Sen, a despot who seeks a dynastic succession. To achieve this goal, my strategy is to unite the country’s democratic forces and to push for truly free and fair elections. Only a united democratic opposition can succeed.Among the democratic forces that I want to unite, the current represented by Kem Sokha is one of the most important. There can only be a shared victory. For me there is no sense in trying to “win out” over Kem Sokha, as the title of your article could suggest. There is nothing more stupid than choosing the wrong adversary.Although Kem Sokha can’t express himself freely, I sincerely believe that he continues to share my goal and strategy. The only possible difference between us is tactical and concerns for example the role of small political parties created or reactivated after the dissolution of the CNRP, which Kem Sokha and I created together. To determine the tactics to be used and avoid misunderstandings, Kem Sokha and I need to meet and talk. But we can’t do that under current conditions, because Hun Sen is preventing Kem Sokha from leaving the country, and is stopping me from entering.Hun Sen fears nothing more than unity between democratic forces represented by the CNRP, which shook the regime in the national and local elections of 2013 and 2017. It is to be expected that Hun Sen seeks to divide us and set traps for us. It is up to us to remain vigilant and not fall into them. Our unity rests on our shared aim and shared strategy. Tactics can change, and have many different facets. They can constantly be altered as circumstances change. The “split” between Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy which some have sought to highlight doesn’t have anything serious or irreversible about it. It’s important to avoid hasty conclusions. Many observers are mistaken in their analysis of the political situation in Cambodia.Best regards,Sam RainsyA strategy is a set of guidelines used to achieve an overall objective, whereas tactics are the specific actions aimed at adhering to those guidelines.
