The Concern of the Citizens, "Time to Change"

Political instability is the most concerned issue to all Cambodian residents. War, political conflict and economic crisis in the past along with border conflict, environmental problems and social issues still happen in this country catching the citizens' attention very much and make them so worried from day to day. 

Recently, the accuse of election fraud and the demonstration against CPP by CNRP get Cambodia down in term of the political stability because of the unbearable situation over the poor such as residential housing confiscation mainly in Phnom Penh and some parts of rural area, especially the flow of Vietnamese into Cambodia. Even though that is a relief that both parties has been on the table, there is still no resolution to solve the issue because of the different concepts; one still demands to find the truth with the equal power in the government while the other wish to run the government with today result in agreement with the king. Honestly speaking, the main trend for the change in the election poll is because of the running previous government without caring much about the social complaint on the government services and individually too powerful in the line of government officials. How could residents satisfy to such government in term of democracy and free market? Have the government officials ever asked themselves on how effectiveness and efficiency their leadership and management is? Do they serve the country with nationalism and best effort? If they do so, why such bad service still occurring in today government from low level to high level? Just an example, there is a comparison on Facebook between the service charge for doing passport in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia resulting the Cambodia in the highest pricing and long time service to get just this passport. Do they ever know how hurt Cambodian themselves get to see such comparison while the government is still too proud of their power? Cambodian has suffered from the war and political conflicts over decades, especially the bad sight from some foreign nationalities over Cambodia today. Who will take responsibility for this? All Cambodians will take this as the part of this nation. In the clear perspectives, the government is admirable from the start to stabilize the country and choose the right option for the economic development (free market); however, it is so disappointed with the corruption, the decrease of national resources, nepotism, the lack of food security check, the remarkable downward trend of food supply (fish), the rocketing number of Vietnamese plus many long term economic concessions, the low quality of educational system comparing to neighboring countries, and the bigger gap between the rich and the poor. This causes the political opportunism to CNRP newly created to get more votes from her residents. In contrast, CNRP shows the promise to people that they will change current situation and solve all the problems including the large number of illegal Vietnamese throughout Cambodia. On the other hand, there is also not fully trust to CNRP with just their promise; more and more people votes for them in exchange of the decreasing power of today government officials and the change for better; some regrets because of the view on the some political chaos lately. It is not sure for CNRP to be the best for Cambodia; it might be just the stepping stone for Cambodia to change for better meaning it does not matter whether to change the today leader or not, but the main purpose is to make the change to Cambodia in overall. 

In the conclusion, government themselves should reconsider for what kind of weakness they have and make a change of those in term of better Cambodian society and government service. It is not only simple criticism, but it is surely the complaint for better. Do not ever think that only you have the power of authority, but people are the main power of the country's leadership! You just get role to serve them, not to use them for yourself and family member! Similarly, CNRP should choose the right decision not only for power, but for better! The demonstration as well as other aims to hinder the the establishment of the new government is not the wise choice. Please accept the possibility and go on for better solution!

Khmer Movie and Song - Pheakdey Snae

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Google Translate for Khmer Language, Available Now! Congratulation!!!

Getting the local news on Khmer Language in Google Translate recently, the dream comes true now for everyone to translate from other languages to Khmer and vice versa. All Cambodian people are very happy to get this news and to use it more in the near future. Google Translate is already popular among Cambodian people for foreign language translate to English and vice versa; Khmer language available in Google Translate will make this Google Tool more popular inside Cambodia and around the world. More chat on Facebook with millions of likes shows the success of Khmer Language promotion in Google Translate for just the first start up. There will be more successful for more popularity throughout the world since Khmer is much more interesting among foreigners who wish to know about Cambodia's culture and to connect Cambodia to the outside world. Congratulation!!!! Thank you for Google Team including Cambodian Specialists involves in this project!

Jayavarman VII

Son Sreypich - Bondam Thommacheat - Tourism Song

Second Day of Khmer New Year in Battambang 2013

Being one of the oldest city in Cambodia, each family member in Battambang gather together and have a very good holiday. All relatives going to work or study away from home return to celebrate Khmer New Year within the family. This year more people descended from Battambang come to visit their hometown and  participate in the cultural and traditional events, especially popular dance like Rom Vong, Lam Leav, Madison, and Saravan. New Year Occasion becomes the most special time for all to enjoy the life and Khmer tradition with warmth of the family gathering. Before Khmer New Year 2013, many people among family did  their best to cooperate for the housing decoration for New Year Tevada. They clean the house, throw away the unused materials, and buy new equipment and cloths. Simultaneously, they wash all their cloths to cut off the unlucky to the previous year and to get the fortune for the new year.

On the day of Khmer New Year, each family prepare the food and flower to grant to the monks. Not only for taking to the pagoda, but also the food on the table for welcome to Khmer New Year 2013 is cooked. However, there were less people going to Balat Pagoda as more people migrated to Thailand for job and not returned for Khmer New Year. On the second day, my family went to orchard enjoyed picnic altogether along the national road No. 57A. Unfortunately, there was an accident occurred in Sneung Commune between motorbike and car; two were expected to get the serious injury. Additionally, youth trip or family trip to all famous natural resorts such as Sek Sork, Popus Pechchinda, and Chomlong Kuy was done noisily; many teenagers still kept the old practice of water throwing to each other. In Battambang Town at night, the popular dancing in the village is cooperatively done for already two nights of Khmer New Year 2013. The hope is to wish everyone more success on personal life, business, study and work. "Drive smart, Safe!" 

Khmer Kingdom and Her People

Smile! Smile! Smile! (Friendliness of Khmer People)

Khmer Village Along the River near Wat Phnom in 1866

Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder, locates in the Indochina Peninsula of the Southeast Asia Area. Nowadays, Cambodia covers the area of 181,035 km² and her border is along with Thailand in the west and north, Laos in the north, Vietnam in the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest. Cambodia used to be the most powerful kingdom, “Angkor Kingdom”, in Southeast Asia Region from 9^th to 15^th century that covered all the territory of Cambodia, most of Thailand, Laos, & the South part of Vietnam (Kampuchea Krom); the Gulf of Thailand, some part of Andaman Sea, and some part of South China Sea today. After Angkor era, this Kingdom was also known for her strong power again in Longvek Era, but it was damaged again by Siam (Thai) in 1594. 

Khmer is people for this kingdom. However, today Khmer is separated between the lost and remained territory. Majority of Khmer people are living in their own country “Cambodia”. Anyway, there are also millions of Khmer remain in the former territory of Angkor Kingdom around Cambodia. 

First, millions of Khmer, called “Khmer Sorin”, are living in Southeast territory of Thailand today such as Sorin, Nakhon ratchasima, Chanthaburi, Trat, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Srah Keo, Sisaket, Burirum, Yasothon, Oubun rachathani, Roiet, Chonburi, Lopburi, chaiyaphum, Mohasarakam, Amnatcharoen, Saraburi, Nonthaburi, etc. In fact, there are Khmer living in other provinces in Thailand, but they absorbed into Thai people like Sukhothai as example. Actually, Khmer temples remain in such provinces that Khmer are living and some other provinces like Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon, Phetchaburi, Lamphon, Kamphaengphet, Phisanulok, Phichit, Singburi, Nakhon Phanom, Ayuthyea, Nakhon Sawan, Uthaithani, Suphanburi, Lampang, Phrae, Samut Songkhram, Nongkhai, Udon thani, Nongbua Lamprio, etc. 

Second, in Laos, there are also Khmer people living in the south provinces, especially in Champasak. The main famous Khmer temple in these provinces is Wat Phu Temple, “the former Khmer capital in Chenla Era”. Obviously, Angkor Kingdom used to control all the territory of Laos today with her strong power. 

Finally, around 8 millions (Statistics in 2009 from Khmer Krom Federation’s Website) of Khmer, called “Khmer Krom”, are living in their own territory under Vietnamese Government’s control in the south of Vietnam. Khmer territory in this area include Mesor, Kuohkaung, Prey Nokor (Hochiminh City today), Peam Banteay Meas, Kromuon Sor, Teuk Khmao (Chroy of Cambodia in the French Map during French Colonial), Moat Chruk, Khleang, Long Hor, Prek Reussey, Kompong Reussey, Ou Kab, Preah Suorkea, Preah Trapeang, Pul Leav, Tuol Tamouk, Kompong Srokatrey (Changva Trapeang), Rong Damrey, Phsa Dek, Svay Taung, Peam Bareach, Chmouh Thmey, most part of Kontum & Dalat Plateau, and other islands, especially two large islands include Koh Tral (in front of Kampot Province of Cambodia today) and Koh Trolach. Furthermore, there are many Khmer Temple through out this territory, but most of them are broken down gradually. However, until now Vietnamese government has changed these entire Khmer name into Vietnamese name instead. 

Additionally, besides these areas, there are also some Khmer people living in the rest of the world after they fled from their homeland during the war such as Khmer Community in USA, Australia, France, Canada, Malaysia, etc. Even though Khmer people are living in different places, they still firmly continue their ancestors’ culture, language, tradition, religion, lifestyle, food, songs & music, etc. Unfortunately, Khmer Krom people are facing the restriction from Vietnamese government in continuing their culture, tradition, religion, language, lifestyle, and education in the pagoda. And one more problem between Vietnamese government and Khmer Krom today is the land conflict caused by the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese people confiscating the land of Khmer Krom for agriculture in some provinces that have continued since the control of Kampuchea Krom by Vietnam in 1949. 

In Short, there is a hope that in the future Khmer people who are living in different places will keep the good relationship with each other to improve the culture of Khmer towards the development of the bright future. Finally, there is just a request to appeal the Vietnamese government not to restrict too much on Khmer Krom in practice what they want because Khmer Krom people need only high living standard, development, and peace as Vietnamese people.

By: POK Panhavuth

Happy Khmer New Year in Battambang! Happy New Development!

"New Stone Bridge across Sangker River instead of Iron Bridge in Battambang City"

Battambang City is the provincial center of Battamban Province. During Khmer New Year 2010 there, many new infrastructure was seen in the city and also in other part of Battambang. New tall buildings, especially new hotels have been built welcoming the increasing tourists and travelers come to Battambang. Furthermore, several new bridges were constructed completely for peolple living in this province get across The Sangker River easily for their daily lives. Moreover, there are new smooth rubber streets in Battambang City which have been built over the dusty road for making Khmer Citizens there more comfortable. Another development that is conducted for Battambang is the new smooth national road number 57A (previously called national road number 10 since Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime) with new short bridges along it run from Battambang City to Pailin Province. By seeing these new developments for Battambang, there is the admiration for the efforts of Royal Government of Cambodia and its civil servants, especially Samdech Primeminister Hun Sen about smart ideas for leading the ship of The Kingdom of Cambodia as The Kingdom of Wonder towards the new developed and properous era in the near future and for spreading the good prestige of Cambodia and her culture nowadays to tell other nations throughout the world. Finally, there is the hope and strong belief on The Royal Government of Cambodia to bring more new development for the land of Battambang as "The Land of Hope" in the northwest region of The Kingdom of Cambodia.

By: Pok Panhavuth

"New Good-Looking National Road 57A Run From Battambang City to Pailin Province"

"Underconstructing Surrounding Battambang City Road Connected National Road Number 5 to National Road 57A"