Saturday, April 25, 2009

Madam Mu Sochua & PM Hun Sen: the gateway to strengthening the rule of law in Cambodia

The consequence from this lawsuit is huge for Cambodia. Importantly, the rule of law in Cambodia would be developed and drawn more attention from Cambodian people. This time, not only women in Cambodia see Sochua's crusade is important, the women around the world have also sent letters to both Sochua and Hun Sen to proceed this case peacefully. Sochua might face with retaliation if Hun Sen sues her back by any cases that Hun Sen will always win the case. If court needs the lift Sochua's parliamentarian immunity, it would be a piece of cake for the Cambodia's parliament to show its puppet behavior. But doing so, it only shows the traditional authoritarianism of Hun Sen to the world. If Hun Sen chooses to play this game, Hun Sen is risky to his power legitimacy gained by recent national election.

Recent report by the Phnom Penh Post wrote that Madam Sochua will sue Hun Sen for his defamatory speech at Kompot relating to a woman politician who was outspoken during 2008 national election. Hun Sen's speech didn't mention Mu Sochua's name directly, but everyone perceives to whom Hun Sen referred to. Hun Sen has to face with defamatory lawsuit once Hun Sen sued Sam Rainsy and others. Of course to sue Hun Sen is a big job for Sochua to expect the predictable outcome. The court is not independent and it is ruled by the CPP's domination. On the other hand, Hun Sen is the big brother in CPP. No one dare challenge him in both CPP's members and opposition's supporters. But this time, Sochua has simply stated that she has no personal interest or personal reputation to gain from this lawsuit. Sochua has decided to bring this lawsuit against Hun Sen because she is expecting to strengthen the rule of law in Cambodia. In the meantime, Cambodian people and observers appreciate Sochua's lawsuit which potentially impulses the strengthening of the rule of law in Cambodia. Both Sochua and Hun Sen can gain their credit through this lawsuit to bring the rule of law to Cambodia. As weak post-war country, Cambodia needs a strong rule of law to cement its foundation.

Cambodia's proverb says "egg don't hit the stone" implies to the weak don't try to challenge with the strong/powerful. Of course this proverb can apply only in the past, but current Cambodia, no one is stronger than the rule of law. This proverb is not applicable with current change. So both Mu Sochua is not egg, and Hun Sen is not stone. Both of these politicians just try to uplift the rule of law in Cambodia. We all should appreciate with this new shift of Cambodia. On the other hand, Khmer poet Krom Ngoy also said "don't make quarrel with woman, don't sue with Chiness" is also not applicable in current Cambodia. This poem phrase simply means don't sue with the rich people, and its meaning referring to fighting with woman is substitute to that. However, it is the respecting of woman is Khmer norms and culture. But I don't see lawsuit against Hun Sen this time signifies the glory of woman. It is just another effort to bring the rule of law to Cambodia.

Thus, can this legal lawsuit can bring the rule of law to Cambodia? The answer is wholly depending on the Hun Sen's government and the Cambodia court. Firstly, Hun Sen himself has to see this chance as the rule of law strengthening. It will not discredit him and make him loss anything. He dare speech it for public, he also dare apology it for the public. Secondly, the government which is wholly dominated by CPP has to bear in mind to push for the development of the rule of law through this lawsuit. Thirdly, it is very important that the municipal court should not reject the lawsuit sued by Madam Sochua. If the court rejects it by justifying the lawsuit has no legal base because Hun Sen didn't mention her name directly, it would be partial.

The consequence from this lawsuit is huge for Cambodia. Importantly, the rule of law in Cambodia would be developed and drawn more attention from Cambodian people. This time, not only women in Cambodia see Sochua's crusade is important, the women around the world also send letter to both Sochua and Hun Sen to proceed this case peacefully. Sochua might face with retaliation if Hun Sen sue her back by any cases because Hun Sen will always win the case. If court needs to lift Sochua's parliamentarian immunity, it would be a piece of cake for the Cambodia's parliament to show its puppet behavior. But doing so, it only shows the traditional authoritarianism of Hun Sen to the world. If Hun Sen chooses to play this game, Hun Sen is risky to his power legitimacy gained from recent national election.

In sum, the lawsuit against Hun Sen this time will benefit Cambodia more than loss. The benefit of the rule of law can always yield though lawsuit is successful or Hun Sen retaliate Madam Sochua. We are Cambodian people and younger Cambodians want to see Cambodian politicians to play their game fairly and honestly.

KY

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey KY,

Its a shame an intelligent young person such as you would fall into the scam and traps of Sam Rainsy and his fellow politically incapable, emotionally unstable group of followers. Can't you see that this is just another plot to gain attention and receive some sorrow from the international community conceived by the SRP party?

Do you really believe Sam Rainsy and his friends would do good for the country if they are ever elected? If you do, you are living in a hole. SRP are poor, and if given the chance would not waste the oppotunity to feed his family luxury, food, housing, cars, etc... Its a cycle. Cant you see that CPP is the best we have for the CURRENT situation?

Thyka

Anonymous said...

Thyka,

I understand your limitation of deep understanding. The transition and transformation of democracy and the rule of law is deeper than what you think. It is simpler than what you elaborated.

Part of the primordial theory, it fits with your thought very well. Khmer said "seed cannot fall far away from its truck" or it implies to your idea that every politicians are greedy and selfish. I think your assumption is absolutely childish.

If you take the principle of democracy in the rule of law to consider you will see that "individual's trait and tendency cannot mobilize their greed".

But your assumption is inclining in individual's trait rather than interesting in the principle of democracy. When Cambodia can strengthen the rule of law, CPP's members cannot see their richness can lessen greed or corruption, or see other poorness will become more corrupted than the rich. This kind of thought is childish and uneducated.

Cambodia needs a balance of power. Hun Sen and CPP, if this party wants to live long they have to provide more seats and power to SRP to balance its power. You would see in this way it would be better than your narrow minded head.

KY

Anonymous said...

KY,

"I understand your limitation of deep understanding. The transition and transformation of democracy and the rule of law is deeper than what you think. It is simpler than what you elaborated."

That statement itself proved you have not thought about what I just said, and being a typical SRP supporter on KI media. Instead of reading what is presented, you and those like you would go on an emotional trip about this and that, nothing to do with the issue at hand. Always attempting to gain sympathy in the wrong form. Never once did i mention democracy have I? I only questioned the credibility of SRP because you seem to be an a stout supporter towards their cause.

Previous examples have shown that SRP members are power hungry and selfish. Why else would high level SRP members defect to CPP? They realize that their cause with SRP will never boil to anything, and the promise of riches is just to tempting.

I have never questioned Cambodia's need for a balance of power and a legit form of Democracy. But present us with a candidate that will actually do his job (as MP) instead of working solely for the interest of his party 24/7. That my friend, isn't for the interest of the people.

Khmer Young said...

Dear Thyka,

You are still clinging to the idea of "Politics is about Money". Of course, there are many other conditions/circumstances that can motivate people to run politics rather than money, especially the unjust society and oppression can mostly turn people to play politics. I don't understand why you see SRP as the trouble maker rather than to see SRP as the main actor to strengthen democracy in Cambodia? Are you going to eliminate opposition parties and let CPP lead the country alone? If you have some background of intellectual scholarship, you should change your original thought. So your damned thought towards SRP in current situation will be changed if you think outside of the box of your favoritism/cronyism/patrimonial attitude!!!!

Cambodia needs a balance of power to sustain its future. SRP has utilized all its capacity to stabilize Cambodian politics. With this moment, many scholars, good people, CPP's members and educated individuals have paid much attention and provided sympathy to the SRP. If you are the one who cannot see that, it is your choice. But I choose to express my will and empathy to SRP. This party is still weak and still need our participation to push it move ahead. However, you can choose your own recipe and I do hope when your recipe is mixed with my recipe, it will become a very tasty food, not a poisonous food at all. Cambodian younger generation is subject to see in this way, not to see in a divisive or enmity way.

But what is making me sad and disappointed is that: CPP is still playing politics like Khmer Rouge. Both CPP's spokeman and PM have used the public rhetoric to divide Cambodian people and relentlessly tried to eliminate SRP. For instance, CPP has used tactic of "carrots and sticks" to destroy SRP. Recent abdication of few SRP's members is the witness of CPP's effort to worsen the feeling of Cambodian people. I don't see it is because of single cause by the SRP but it is hugely caused by the effort of CPP. Hun Sen might see it as his successful tactical campaign but he might not forget that his tactic is not different from the Khmer Rouge.

Cambodia really needs a new upgrading political game. Cambodian politicians should not play politics childish like this or play a very divisive politics like this. CPP has mobilized all its tools to topple their opposition, but CPP has evidently acted well to its Vietnam alliance. Vietnam has still played its role like a "big brother" to the CPP.

In every situation, we have decent evidences proving that Vietnam has helped CPP to topple/eliminate/weaken its opponents as well as helped some individual elites inside CPP to dominate one another continuously.

This is the win-win tactic of domination and hegemony over Cambodia of Vietnam.

SRP just need to hone its public rhetoric and policy. At the end, it will become the main body for all educated Cambodians to embrace.

In case of Mu Sochua, she is not considered the arrogant MP or the cause of the current legal issue. What is happening in this lawsuit problem is caused by Hun Sen who has non-stopped expressed his arrogant and childish rhetoric in the public.

The lawsuit in this time will enable the work of legal strengthening blossomed, and make Hun Sen's public speech become more matured.

In sum, what interests that MPs should work for the people in your mind? Actually, Mu Sochua is working for the interests of the people, through this lawsuit, to exercise her basic rights as well as to strengthen the rule of law in Cambodia.

KY

Anonymous said...

Ah Thyka, u will die like your cpp cronies and burn in 7 level hell. You must be youn and not khmer. if khmer, you will see h.e sam rainsy as our savor and will bring cambodia to our glory past. you are your youn family should go back to north vietnam you stupid mouth. you try to sound smart, but your head is full of shit.

Anonymous said...

To Thyka- are you a gay? You suck on Hun Sen dick you much your brain cannot think. Your idea of politics is the most powerful win, but not fair game for everyone else. Srok robos kngom ot trovka a youn niyum eng teh. such thinking is pol pot thinking. you must be a khmer red you sick way of thinking.

Khmer, PP

Anonymous said...

Wow everybody write so much! You know, the dialogue box says to "Leave your comment", not "Leave your essay" But I am loving the conversation, very interesting to read!