Ending of National Election Campaign and Going to Vote in Cambodia 2013

Election is becoming more important in the concept of all residents in Cambodia. Historically, Cambodia already went through the national elections since 1950s even though it was not described as the proper arrangement while most of Cambodian did not really understand what the election was for and how the evaluation criteria should they consider before making decision. Anyway, there was more than one political party at that time to do the campaign for the election.

Dividing by the war period of 1970s, the first national election in 1993 of the second Kingdom of Cambodia was conducted with the assistance from the United Nations and the large population of Cambodian going to vote. We could see that two political parties won at the same time resulting Co-Prime Minister mandate, but at last in 1997 only one political party stood by and got more supporting vote again and again until today. Besides the conflict of politics, the social welfare and economic growth were seen as better than before. However, the most concern about Cambodia nowadays is related to the corruption, the conflict of interest, the confiscation of residential housing in various places (Boeung Kok, Borey Keyla….), the long-term land concession, deforestation, the weak natural resource and mineral management, social security, the increasing of Vietnamese population throughout Cambodia, the effect of Xayaburi Dam of the upper Mekong River over Cambodia in the future, salary, the long-term autocracy and the territorial border conflict with neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. That’s it leading towards the slogan “Change or Not” in the 2013 national election campaign while the new political parties running by Mr. Sam Rainsy just getting royal pardon as well as more supports in term of the good leadership. Around 1 month of the national election campaign by many political parties, only two main competitors appear to get strong support from residents, one led by Mr. Sam Rainsy and other led by current Prime Minister Hun Sen. At the public area, people asked each other about the election, “Change or not?” becomes more common among all Cambodian citizens and more people in this mandate seem to get interesting about the election and participate as the sign to set the destiny of Cambodia by going to the search for their name in the website of voter list (www.voterlist.org.kh). Surely, the campaign just ended yesterday and today all residents are going to do the movement to their election center. The hope and new perspectives will tell them which criteria are good and they are looking forward to finding the right political party for the next mandate.

In the conclusion, the election is meaning as the way to lead the country by choosing the best leader in order to find the right solutions for the today important issues, especially improving social welfare and the strong economic growth. It has been about 20 years Cambodia has been going on the journey towards the development in the condition of the world free market and the democracy. Whatever it is, the lesson from the past political and development situation must be in the mind of each leader what kind of strategy should be used and how to make those in reality in compliance with the current situation of Cambodia. Foreign support is good, but the independence and the creative idea of each leader might be much better for the sake of Cambodia. “Thanks all for the Best Effort to better Cambodia!”  “Strongly support for the good leadership towards the better future of Cambodia!” “Yesterday is History! Tomorrow is Mystery! But Today is a Gift!”

By: Pok Panhavuth

King Norodom Sihanouk - Lea Heuy Kompuchea

Jayavarman VII

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