The Dark Side of Nationalism

Credit: Borort

It’s probably the first time since the reemergence of the Preah Vihear tension that I see a very thoughtful and fair commentary on the issue in a Thai newspaper. Written by Prof. Thongchai Winichakul, a historian and author of “Siam Mapped: A History of the Geo Body of a Nation,” in today’s edition of the Nation, the commentary is entitled “Preah Vihear can be a ‘time bomb’.”

Throughout the article, Winichakul stresses his support for the 1962 ruling of the International Court of Justice, which was in favor of Cambodia’s jurisdiction over the disputed temple.

For the boundary around Preah Vihear, the International Court of Justice in 1962 provided a settlement without which military might and heavy loss of lives would have been the only other option. We should respect the settlement provided by the court since Thailand has no better justifiable claim than Cambodia.

He continues by warning that ‘nationalism’ in Southeast Asia remains as common and dangerous as ever, although many countries in this region have over the years strived to unite as one community. Nationalists in these countries continues to discuss about and create maps of ‘lost territories,’ as in Lao nationalists talking about losing Issan to Thailand, the Cambodian ones to Thailand and Vietnam, and vice versa. In many ways, the idea of loss is a powerful tool used to whip up nationalism, especially in domestic politics.

Winichakul compares nationalism to ‘fire’ which can be destructive and generates greed, hatred and delusion. This is illustrated in Thai nationalism, which tends to be based on a few ideological premises that are powerful in creating hatred and delusion but historically dubious; yet many people believe them wholeheartedly.

According to him, “the Preah Vihear World Heritage case has gone beyond technicalities. It is abused to arouse delusion that the temple belongs to Thailand and a desire to revive the claim.” And what the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and their media supporters are doing is completely ‘foolish.’

Obviously they are irresponsibly playing with fire and are doing the same thing they despised when Cambodian nationalists drummed hysteria against Thailand a few years ago.  If they really want to fight for all disputable cases, there are probably hundreds of them to choose and to send soldiers to die for.

Totally agreed. Very well said indeed.

Burmese Propaganda In Color

 

Reports on the Burmese crisis has slowed on the international mass media lately. Based on a recent post by Fifty Viss, it seems that this quietness does not translate into more peacefulness at all. Have a look at these colorful yet intimidating propaganda below. If you were a Burmese in Burma, would you give up your fight?

Translation: Are we aiming for Progress or Decline?

Translation: What would you choose? This [arrow points upward] or that [arrow points downward]?

Translation: We don’t need the compassion of the world’s police [America and Bush dressed as a cowboy]!

Translation: The world already knows the true brand of democracy America gives.

Translation: The history of [Burma] will be written by [Burma]. The history that Bush is writing, [on the other hand] is not at all beautiful.

Pictures and translation courtesy of Fifty Viss

 

The World Is Going Against the Junta!

NEW YORK, USA

Buddhist monks demonstrate in front of the UN headquarter in New York.

ROME, ITALY

Buddhist monks protest against the Myanmar government in Rome, September 27, 2007. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

PARIS, FRANCE

 JAKARTA, INDONESIA

Indonesian foreign ministry employees stand during a minute’s silence in Jakarta in support of Myanmar’s people and monks September 28, 2007. Fuelled by “revulsion” at Myanmar’s violent crackdown on popular protests against military rule, Southeast Asia rounded on the generals on Friday and critics planned demonstrations at embassies across the region. REUTERS/Beawiharta (INDONESIA)

 MANILA, PHILIPPINES

INDIA

HONG KONG, CHINA

Human rights group activities, holding pictures of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, protest during the candle light vigil in Hong Kong Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 commemorating victims of Myanmar crackdown. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

SOEUL, SOUTH KOREA

South Korean protesters shout slogans as they hold candles and banners during a candle rally against Myanmar’s military junta in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. South Korea expressed grave concern Thursday over Myanmar’s crackdown on massive protests and called on the government there to exercise restraint. The Koreans read ” Stop, Massacre.” (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

BANGKOK, THAILAND

Thai monks pray outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok September 28, 2007. (Sukree Sukplang/Reuters)

SINGAPORE

Expatriate women living in Singapore wear red t-shirts as part of a global action Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 in Singapore to support the brave in Myanmar, as they walk past Buddhist women praying at temple. Myanmar’s deadly military crackdown prompted protests and warnings from the reclusive nation’s Asian neighbors, with China and Japan agreeing Friday to join efforts to help end the strife. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

TOKYO, JAPAN

Japanese Buddhist monks demonstrate against Myanmar’s crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo September 28, 2007. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN)

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Myanmarese demonstrators shout slogans during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur September 28, 2007. A large crowd of protesters gathered in the Malaysian capital on Friday to shout slogans and wave placards condemning violence in Myanmar outside the embassy of the military-ruled Southeast Asian nation. REUTERS/Zainal Abd Halim (MALAYSIA)
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The Yangon Bloodbath

Reported by the AFP, the two above images are believed to be of Kenji Nagai, 50, a Japanese journalist who died while covering the protests in Yangon for Japanese video news agency APF News.

A monk runs with tear gas filling the air as police cracked down on protesting Buddhist monks and their supporters in Yangon. Myanmar has told Japan that a Japanese national was killed in the crackdown on protests against the military regime.(AFP/The Irrawaddy)

In this photo made available by the Mandalay Gazette, Myanmar soldiers with their weapons are seen in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. About 10,000 anti-government protesters gathered in the city Thursday despite a violent crackdown by security forces that drew international appeals for restraint by Myanmar’s ruling junta. (AP Photo/The Mandalay Gazette, HO)

A Myanmar activist holds a portrait of Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok September 27, 2007. About 50 activists from Myanmar held a protest calling for a stop to violence against peaceful demonstrators in Myanmar. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND)

A street is littered with blood and sandals from protesters after armed troops dispersed them in central Yangon. Security forces swept through Myanmar’s main city, arresting hundreds of people and firing warning shots as they intensified a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators. (AFP)

 

It Ultimately Happened…

I was so shocked and saddened by what the Burmese junta at last resorted to. Why would such a terrible government ever exist at all? They should all go to hell.

BURMESE MONASTERIES IN NIGHT RAID

Witnesses say security forces in Burma have launched raids on monasteries and arrested scores of monks, as they try to stem a rising tide of protests.

About 200 Buddhist monks were reported to have been held when two monasteries in the east of the main city, Rangoon, were stormed overnight, witnesses said.

It followed reports of several deaths when police broke up demonstrations by monks and civilians on Wednesday.

The UN Security Council has called on Burma’s military junta for restraint.

A witness to one of the raids said she heard shouting and screaming.

There are also reports of raids in the north-east of the country.

Police barricades have been set up around Shwedagon Pagoda and Rangoon city hall, two of the focal points for recent demonstrations, as security forces prepare for another day of protests.

On Wednesday the UN Security Council in New York met in emergency session to discuss the crisis.

The US and European Union wanted the council to consider imposing sanctions – but that was rejected by China as not “helpful”.

We Are With You, Myanmar!

The largest street protest against Myanmar’s ruling generals in two decades gained momentum today, as thousands of people joined Buddhist monks in the streets of the country’s largest city Yangon on Monday.

The protest was the latest in a series of protests that began August 19 as a movement against economic hardship in the Southeast Asian country after the government sharply raised fuel prices. But arrests and intimidation kept demonstrations small and scattered until the monks joined and managed to bring people into the streets in numbers not seen since 1988.

The military government has so far showed restraint against the protests. For a fact, monks are highly revered in Burma, so as in other Southeast Asian countries. Any move by the junta to crush their demonstrations would spark an outcry. Even so, by late Monday, the junta finally broke its silence over the protest, saying that it was ready to “take action” against the monks. It repeated its warning in state media on Tuesday, ordering monks not to get involved in politics and accusing them of allowing themselves to be manipulated by the foreign media.

As a peace lover, I really appreciate this courageous move. I pray this remarkable display of desire for peace and freedom will not lead to any bloodsheds, as it used to. Sincerely, my heart goes to everyone out there! I salute the Burmese people’s power and let’s be the change!

Cambodia arrests senior officer in war against land grabbers

A major colonel from the border unit of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has been arrested, becoming the first senior officer arrested during the government’s high-profile campaign against land grabbers.

“We arrested Te Haing in Banteay Mean Chey province according to the warrant from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court” on Saturday, Sao Sokha, military police commander of Cambodia, told Xinhua here on Sunday.

In addition, an official at the court told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Te Haing was arrested for encroaching state land and cutting forestry to take about 1,567 hectares of land in Banteay Mean Chey province.

“Because he worked there, it was difficult to investigate the case. After checking the case, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued the arrest warrant and then transferred his case to Phnom Penh,” he said.

Te Haing, also registered as owner of the Te Haing Development Co. Ltd., was accused under Article 97 of the Forestry Law and might be jailed for five to 10 years, he said, adding that all his properties will be confiscated by the state.

On Thursday, Chao Phirun, director general of RCAF’s technical and material department, said that he had handed over more than 200 hectares of land to the government after Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to fire him on Monday in the war on land grabbers.

“I already gave the land to the government (on Tuesday). Hun Sen has written to thank me,” said the general, who is from Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

“I am not sad. This is a contribution to help the government,” he said of the 215 hectares of land in Kampot province’s Chhuk district.

He insisted that he was unaware that he was the target of Hun Sen’s threat, as the land was bought by his wife in 1999 from 46 families rather than being grabbed from their hands.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters that Chao Phirun will not be fired as he returned the land.

Earlier, a top government official from CPP called Hun Sen to inform about his withdrawal from a land dispute in Koh Sla area in Kandal province.

Hun Sen said on Monday that he will purge perverse land grabbers out of the government and CPP, who might otherwise cause social instability or even trigger off riots.

“The government is going to fight against illegal land grabbing at any cost. The war against land grabbers is starting right now,” he told hundreds of diplomats and high-ranking government officials at a national forum.

They should withdraw from land disputes by themselves, and if they don’t, they will be fired from the government and expelled from the party, he said.

“I am not going to tolerate anyone any longer on this issue,” he added.

Local media have reported recently that military officers and high-ranking government officials used to stand behind land disputes across the kingdom, causing much anger among the people, especially the deprived farmers.

In February, Hun Sen said that illegal land grabbing will destabilize the country.

“Our government has made tremendous efforts to build many roads, but it is sad to see that after the road is built, many people from the city rush in to buy or capture land (beside the road), squeezing the local community out of their property,” he said. All provincial governors, district chiefs and commune councils are held responsible for the situation of landlessness and land grabbing in their territories, he said.

“I promise to punish any officials who are found to be involved in land grabbing and clearing of state land for personal use,” he added.

Land disputes have been frequent across Cambodia in recent years, resulting in hundreds of death and injury, according to official reports.

Source: Xinhua

Invasion of the Land-grabbers

The London-based Economist Magazine this week presented a comprehensive report on Cambodia’s notorious land-grabbing epidemic…

ONE day in December, 70-year-old Doung Moeurn and her neighbours arrived to work on their rice paddies to find soldiers putting up a barbed-wire fence around them. As in China, across Cambodia growing numbers of small farmers and slum-dwellers have fallen victim to land-grabbing.

The country’s rapid economic growth in recent years has meant that land, having hitherto been almost worthless, is now a fast-appreciating asset. Almost any Cambodian with a bit of spare cash is taking a speculative punt, snapping up a chunk of land in the hope of easy profits. Small farmers, and poor people living in shacks in the towns and cities, usually have no proof that they own their land or homes. This makes it easy for the speculators—often politicians, civil servants or army brass—to work the corrupt legal system to take the ground from under their feet.

Public anger over land grabs has risen to the point where the prime minister, Hun Sen, an elected strongman, is having to distance himself from those among the upper ranks of his Cambodian People’s Party who are the worst culprits. On March 5th Mr Hun Sen publicly rebuked them for ruining the party’s reputation, and gave them a “last chance” to abandon their dodgy land deals or be sacked. An unnamed army general was being demoted for disobeying this order, he said. Others, he thundered in his typically no-nonsense style, may face an even worse fate: “I really don’t want bloodshed, but if you still fail to obey me, blood must flow.”

Doung Moeurn says her family had been farming their patch of earth, in the rural province of Kompong Speu, since 1979. They have complained to the authorities, but so far to no avail. As they point out the offending fence and the guard-post with dozing soldiers at one corner of it, the head of a nearby village, whose people also lost land, turns up. He says he went to the provincial court the previous day but was told it could do nothing to help.

Eliminated Without Bleeding

Produced by Rebecca Sommer, Eliminated Without Bleeding, is a one-hour documentary on the Khmer Krom indigenous people from the Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam. In the video, our fellow Khmer Krom explain how they are oppressed and eliminated as a people. There is no freedom of speech, religion or culture. Aggressively Vietnamized, the Khmer Krom struggle to maintain their way of life and identity…

It pains me so bad, deep down my Khmer heart and soul, watching these clips… Why does our race have to face so much agony?

Cambodia’s New War

In Cambodia, hundreds, if not thousands of young girls and women are bought and sold, smuggled out of their villages into the larger cities of Cambodia or taken out of the country to places like Thailand and Malaysia — all for the purposes of turning them into sex slaves.

by Karoline Kemp

(Editor’s note: In September of 2005, Karoline Kemp travelled to Cambodia with Outer Voices, a California-based independent media group, to make a radio documentary program about sex trafficking in Cambodia. The story she told on her return is here. This is a follow-up to her original story.)

Cambodia, a country still recovering from years of strife and a resulting genocide, is now in the throes of another kind of war. Capitalizing on poverty, the breakdown of familial and social structures and a system riddled with corruption, Western pedophiles and sex tourists have long found Cambodia to be an easy place to conduct their business. But now they are taking things a step further. Using the internet and media services, pro-pedophile groups have set up shop in the tiny South East Asian country.

Related News for Land Eviction in Cambodia

Source: Everyday.com.kh

Land Eviction in Cambodia

This issue has been hot since I was Cambodia. I’ve seen articles and reports about it but never had I seen such live pictures.. Pictures truly paint a thousand words. It pains me to see how bad our poor people have suffered and how serious social inequality is getting. O my poor Cambodia! O my dear people!

How could things be so disheartening…? When will all of such social injustice end?

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The long arm of impunity

By James Pringle

PHNOM PENH- Soon after arriving in Pinochet-ruled Chile, some months after the military coup that overthrew Salvador Allende and resulted in his death, I made my way to a cemetery where the late Marxist president’s body then reposed.

A single, tall, bespectacled Chilean soldier stood on guard — against, I supposed, antimilitary demonstrations. It was, obviously, not an honor guard.

Unable to make out where Allende’s grave was among dozens of others, I asked the only other person around, a boy of about 10, if he could point it out. The bolt slid back loudly on the soldier’s rifle, and the boy’s face flushed red. He was very frightened.

Without looking back, I discreetly withdrew. Endangering the boy was unpardonable, but I hadn’t quite realized the strength of the military’s animus against Allende. Even in death, the former president’s name couldn’t be mentioned.

Even so, the Chilean Navy let me visit a prison island where hundreds of political prisoners were detained, and I was free to listen to their denunciations of ill-treatment by the sinister DINA, the National Intelligence Directorate.

I also visited frightened families whose loved ones were being held, some tortured in venues like the air force’s “scream room.” A front-page Chilean newspaper article accused me of “reporting infamies.”

Afterward I covered a whistle-stop tour of southern Chile by the ramrod-straight Augusto Pinochet in his trademark dark glasses, and it was clear he enjoyed support of his own — Chile is also a deeply conservative country.

Despite the military repression, one had to wonder why Allende, who in free elections had won only a plurality of the vote — 36 percent — and thus not a complete mandate, had pushed ahead so fast in attempting to create a full-blown Marxist state and “people’s militias” to protect it.

This provoked the armed forces, leading to the coup that brought Pinochet to power for 17 years. He died Sunday without ever having to answer for the crimes he committed in front of a court.

When I look back at the Pinochet era, though, my memories of it are overshadowed by what I have also witnessed in Asia.

In 1979 I flew into Cambodia after the Vietnamese invasion and the defeat of the Khmer Rouge. I visited the Toul Sleng S.21 Khmer Rouge interrogation and torture center, where the dried blood of the victims was still on the floor.

I had known Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge takeover. In less than four years, it seemed to have regressed to the 14th century, at least in the countryside. As for Phnom Penh, it was still largely devoid of people; civilians who did manage to enter were facing starvation, picking up odd grains of rice in the street.

I realized that revolutions in Asia (I had also witnessed China’s Cultural Revolution) made Latin America’s tough dictatorships seem pallid in comparison. Mercifully Latin America, unlike Asia, is now composed mainly of freely elected governments.

Pinochet’s henchmen killed more than 3,000 people, but under Pol Pot’s rule 1.7 million Cambodians died, and Mao was responsible for millions of deaths in China.

As the proceedings of Cambodia’s mixed foreign and international Khmer Rouge tribunal moves forward at a glacial pace through its initial investigatory phase, and Human Rights Watch alleges government interference in the process, one wonders if justice will occur here for those who carried out one of the great atrocities of the 20th century.

After all, 28 years after the slaughter ended, Pol Pot and several of his top collaborators have died. Only one, “Brother Duch,” a former commandant of S.21, is held in a military prison awaiting trial for 16,000 killings. Other aging mass murderers live freely in Phnom Penh or on the Thai border among their victims, protesting that they had been out of the loop.

Impunity is one of Cambodia’s curses, as it appeared to be one of Latin America’s.

Most of the current leaders of the Cambodian government are members of a faction of the Khmer Rouge that defected to Vietnam. Some of them fear what will be revealed of their own past if a real trial gets under way as scheduled here next year.

Like Pinochet, will the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders also end up cheating justice? Many Cambodians fear that they will, unless the international community pushes the reluctant Cambodian leadership here to permit a real independent judicial accounting.

Source: The International Herald Tribune

សមធម៌នៅក្នុងបរិបទប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្តកម្ពុជា

ដោយលោក David Chandler

ប្រែសម្រួលដោយ លោក តេង សុមង្គល

“ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រមិនកើតជាថ្មីទេ ប៉ុនែ្តនាពេលខ្លះ​ហេតុការណ៍ស្រដៀងគ្នាអាចនឹងកើតឡើង។ “

–សុភាសិតរបស់លោក Mark Twain

សេចក្តីផ្តើម

នៅក្នុងកិច្ចបន្ទាប់នេះ ខ្ញុំនឹងពិភាក្សាអំពីបញ្ហាសមធម៌​នៅក្នុងន័យប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្ត និង​ ជាចំបងទាក់ទងនឹងប្រជាជនដែលនិយាយភាសាខ្មែរនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ ខ្ញុំក៏នឹងរៀបរាប់អំពីបញ្ហានានាទាក់ទង​នឹងការទទួល​បាននូវ​ឪកាស និង ភាពអវត្តមាននៃការបំបិទសិទ្ធ​នៅក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្តកម្ពុជា​ ដែលប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្តនេះ អាចត្រូវបានបែងចែកចេញជាបួនសម័យកាលសំខាន់ៗ រួមមានសម័យកាលដើម និង សម័យអង្គរ ដែលមានរហូតមកដល់ឆ្នាំ១៥០០, សម័យ​កណ្តាល​ដែលលាតសន្ធឹង​រហូតដល់ការដាក់អាណាព្យាបាលរបស់បារាំងនាឆ្នាំ១៨៦៣, សម័យអាណានិគមដែលមានរហូតដល់ឆ្នាំ​១៩៥៤ និង សម័យកាលឯករាជ្យ ដែលនាំយើងមកដល់បច្ចុប្បន្នកាលនេះ។

ជាច្រើនសតវត្សកន្លងមកនេះ យើងអាចសង្កេតឃើញនូវការឈានទៅមុខជារឿយៗ​សំរាប់ប្រជាជនខ្មែរមួយចំនួនទាក់ទងនឹងការទទួលបាននូវឪកាសច្រើនជាងមុន និង ភាពអវត្តមាននៃភាពជ្រុលនិយម។ ប៉ុនែ្តជាការគួរឲ្យសោកស្តាយ ការវិវត្តន៍​ទាំងពីរនេះ តែងមានសភាពមិនសូវស្របគ្នា មិនសូវមានស្ថេរភាព និង ម្តងម្កាលប្រែជាអាក្រក់លើសដើម។

សមធម៌ មិនដែលបានក្លាយជាក្តីបារម្ភដ៏គួរជាទីចាប់អារម្មណ៍នៃបណ្តា អ្នកកាន់អំណាច និង អ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរម្តងណាសោះឡើយ។ ទើបតែពេលថ្មីៗនេះប៉ុណ្ណោះ ដែលការទទួលបាននូវសមធម៌ បានក្លាយជាគោលបំណងសំខាន់សំរាប់ សកម្មភាពសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាតិ។ នាពេលថ្មីៗនេះ បញ្ហានេះ ក៏បានក្លាយទៅជាគោលដៅ សំខាន់សំរាប់ផ្នែកនានានៃសង្គមផងដែរ។

ការមកដល់នៃគោលគំនិតទាំងនេះនាពេលថ្មីៗនេះ មិនមែនមានន័យថា ក្នុងរយៈពេលភាគច្រើននៃប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្តកន្លងមក ជនជាតិខ្មែរមិនដែលចេះ ខ្វាយខ្វល់អំពីបញ្ហាយុត្តិធម៌ និង ការបំបិទសិទ្ធនោះឡើយ។ តាមពិត ភាសាខ្មែរ គឺជាភាសាមួយដែលសំបូរទៅដោយពាក្យពេជន៍ជាច្រើនទាក់ទងនឹងការគាបសង្កត់ សោដនាដកម្ម និង​ ភាពអយុត្តិធម៌។ រឿងព្រេង និង សុភាសិតខ្មែរជាច្រើន បានចាប់យកនូវគំនិតទាមទារតុល្យភាពសីលធម៌ ឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងនូវភាពផ្ទុយពីការពិត និង ការប្រកួតគ្នាដោយយុត្តិធម៌។ ប៉ុន្តែ ជាទួទៅ មាគ៌ាឈានទៅរកផលប្រយោជន៍ សង្គមបែបនេះ តែងមានសភាពតូចចង្អៀត ឬក៏ស្ទើរតែមិនមានលេចជារូបរាង តែម្តង។​ រីឯប្រព័ន្ធយុត្តិធម៌វិញ ក៏នៅមានសភាពខ្វះចន្លោះ ហើយការរៀបចំ ឋានានុក្រមនៅក្នុងសង្គម ក៏នៅតែគ្របដណ្តប់លើរាល់ទំនាក់ទំនងសង្គម និងព្រឹត្តិការណ៍បំបិទសិទ្ធដ៏ហួសហេតុ ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយបញ្ហាសង្រ្គាម ទឹកជំនន់ គ្រោះរាំងស្ងួត និង រោគឆ្លងដែលតែងតែកើតមានឡើងជាញឹកញយនាអតីតកាល។

មតិដែលគិតថា មានច្រកចេញមួយចំនួនសំរាប់បញ្ហាទាំងនេះ (ដែលភាគច្រើន លេចចេញពីពាក្យថា “សមធម៌” ដូចជាពាក្យថា ការបោះឆ្នោតដោយ “សេរីនិង​យុត្តិធម៌”, មនោគមវិជ្ជាម៉ាកលេនីន, សាកលភាវូបនីយកម្ម, ប្រព័ន្ធCyberspace និង សិទ្ធមនុស្ស) សុទ្ធសឹងតែជាគំនិតទើបនាំចូលថ្មី​។ ពាក្យថា “សង្គម” ទើបតែឈានចូលក្នុង​ភាសាខ្មែរក្នុងអំឡុងឆ្នាំ១៩៣០​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ការពិតដែលថា គោលគំនិតជាច្រើនត្រូវបាននាំចូលមកក្នុង​ភាសាខ្មែរក្នុងអំឡុងឆ្នាំនេះ មិនមែន​មានន័យថា កម្ពុជា”មិនចេះផ្លាស់ប្តូរ” ឬ​ក៏ថាគំនិតអំពីសមធម៌មិនអាចប្រើប្រាស់ នៅកម្ពុជាបាននោះឡើយ។ ខ្ញុំនៅតែជឿ​ជាក់ថា ការប្តេជ្ញាដើម្បីសមធម៌មាន សារសំខាន់យ៉ាងខ្លាំងសំរាប់កម្ពុជានាឆ្នាំ២០០៦នេះ និង ទៅអនាគត។​ ដោយវាយតម្លៃ​តាមប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្តដ៏វែងអន្លាយរបស់កម្ពុជា ការងារនេះអាចជាឧបសគ្គ ដ៏លំបាកមួយ។ ប៉ុន្តែបើវាយតម្លៃទៅលើសមត្ថភាព និង ភាពងាយធូរស្រាលពី វិបត្តិរបស់ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាក្នុងការជំនះទំនាយនេះ វាពិតជាមិនខុសបន្តិចណាឡើយ​ក្នុងការដែលយើងមាន​សុទិដ្ឋិនិយមដោយក្តីប្រយ័ត្ន។

សម័យដើម និង សម័យអង្គរ

មនុស្សដែលមានរូបរាងស្រដៀង ហើយដែលប្រហែលជានិយាយភាសាដូច ជនជាតិខ្មែរសព្វថ្ងៃ បានរស់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាអស់រយៈពេលប៉ុន្មានពាន់ឆ្នាំ មកហើយ មុនពេលដែលពួកគេ ចាប់ធ្វើកំនត់ត្រាដែលខ្លះមាននៅសេសសល់ដល់ សព្វថ្ងៃនេះនាសតវត្សទី៦។ មុននឹងឈានដល់ដើមសម័យនេះ ខ្មែរបានចាប់ផ្តើម បង្កើតនូវឧបករណ៍ប្រើប្រាស់ អាវុធ និង គ្រឿងតុបតែង​នានាជាបន្តបន្ទាប់អំពីថ្ម សំរិទ្ធ និង លង្ហិនរួចមកហើយ។ បីបួនសតវត្សក្រោយមក ពួកគេបានស្វែងរក និង ចាប់យកនូវតួអក្សរ, រូបភាព និង ពាក្យពេជន៍ដ៏​វិសិដ្ឋ (ភាសាសំស្រ្កឹត) ជាច្រើន​ពីឥណ្ឌា។ ពួកគេ ក៏បានផ្លាស់ប្តូរពីការប្រមាញ់ និង ប្រមូលផ្តុំបែបពនេចរ មកជា​ការផលិតស្រូវដ៏ស្ថិតស្ថេរសំរាបភូមិឃុំរបស់គេ។ ពួកគេ ក៏បានបង្កើតជាតំបន់ក្រុង​នានានៅភាគខាងត្បូងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាបច្ចុប្បន្ន និង នៅក្នុងទឹកដីដែលយើង សព្វថ្ងៃហៅថាវៀតណាម ហើយបានបង្កើតបានជាបណ្តាញធារាសាស្រ្ត និង ព្រែកជីកដ៏ទូលំទូលាយ។

យើងបានដឹងអំពីវិធីដែលអាណាចក្រដំបូងៗទាំងអស់នេះបានកកើតឡើងតាមរយៈ សិលាចារិក និង កំនត់ហេតុដ៏រប៉ាត់រប៉ាយជា​ភាសាចិនយ៉ាងច្រើន។ លោក Michael Vickery​​ បានសរសេរថា នគរដំបូងទាំងអស់នេះ “ត្រូវបានផ្សំឡើងដោយតំបន់ សាមន្តរាជតូចៗជាច្រើន ដែលត្រូវបានបែងចែកចេញជាពីរវណ្ណៈ (អ្នកដឹកនាំ និង ប្រជារាស្រ្ត ធម្មតា) និង បីកំរិតធំៗ៖ ប្រធាន ឬ ព្រះរាជា, មន្រ្តី ឬ អ្នកមានមុខមាត់ និង ប្រជារាស្ត្រសាមញ្ញ”។ អ្នកដែល​មានអំណាច បានផ្តល់ជូននូវការការគាំពាជា ប្រចាំ ក្នុងខណៈពេលដែល គំរោងការងារធារាសាស្រ្តនានា បានជួយធានាឲ្យមាន​ការប្រមូលផលយ៉ាងទៀងទាត់។ ប៉ុន្តែ សិលាចារិកនានា ហាក់ដូចជាមិនបាន រៀបរាប់អំពី គោលគំនិតទាក់ទងនឹងការដែលសមធម៌បានជ្រាបចូលក្នុង ការសំរេចចិត្តនយោបាយនានានៅឡើយ។

នៅក្នុងសម័យអង្គរ ការរៀបចំឋានានុក្រមទាំងនេះ (និង បញ្ហាដ៏ក្តៅគគុកទាក់ទងនឹង “វណ្ណៈ”, “ទាសករ” និង “ការបង្កើតរដ្ឋ”) មានសភាពកាន់តែស្មុគស្មាញឡើង ដោយសាររដ្ឋកាន់តែបង្កលក្ខណៈរំខាន​ ហើយព្រះរាជារឹតតែមានអំណាចឡើង។ ចាប់ពីពេលនោះមក ក៏ចាប់ផ្តើមមាននូវការកាត់ផ្តាច់ឥតឈប់ឈរ រវាងភូមិឃុំ និង គ្រួសារ និង​រវាងចំណាប់អារម្មណ៍ផ្នែកសម្ភារៈរបស់ពួកគេ និង អ្វីដែលជាការទាមទារ របស់អ្នកមានអំណាច។ នៅពេលដែលរដ្ឋរឹតតែខ្លាំង មន្រ្តីនៅក្នុងភូមិឃុំនិងតំបន់ ច្រើនតែទន់ខ្សោយ ហើយនៅពេលដែលរដ្ឋចុះទន់ខ្សោយ រដ្ឋអំណាចភូមិឃុំ និងក្នុងតំបន់បែរជាមានអំណាចច្រើនបង្គួរ (បើមិនបាន ច្រើនស្មើនឹងរដ្ឋ)។ ខ្ញុំ សង្ស័យថា ព្រះរាជានានានៃសម័យនោះ គឺអាចប៉ះពាល់បាន ហើយក៏មិនល្អឥតខ្ចោះ ដូចត្រូវបានរៀបរាប់ក្នុងសិលាចារិកនោះឡើយ ហើយបញ្ហាអំពើហឹង្សា និង ភាពវឹកវរនៅក្នុងនគរ មានលេចឡើង ច្រើនជាងអ្វីដែលត្រូវបានសារភាព និង រ៉ាយរ៉ាប់នៅក្នុងសិលាចារិកទៅទៀត។ ប៉ុន្តែ វាមានលក្ខណៈគ្រោះថ្នាក់ខ្លាំងណាស់​ក្នុងការទស្សន៍ទាយបែបនេះ ដោយហេតុថាកំនត់ត្រាទាំងអស់នោះ ច្រើនតែ​មិនសូវពេញលេញចប់ចុងចប់ដើម និងដោយសារប្រជាពលរដ្ឋសាមញ្ញ ដែលជាធម្មតាសមតែចាប់អារម្មណ៏ខ្លាំងចំពោះបញ្ហាសមធម៌ បែរជាចូលរួមស្ទើរតែ ទាំងអស់ក្នុងនាមជាអ្នកបំរើដ៏ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រជូនដល់ព្រះរាជា និង មូលដ្ឋានសាសនា​នានា។

ដូចជាពេលនេះដែរ សហគមន៍ និង ក្រុមគ្រួសារតូចៗនានានៅកម្ពុជា តែងតែខិតខំដើម្បីទទួលបាននូវ​សេចក្តីសុខ និង​ ភាពស្រុះស្រួល គឺធ្វើយ៉ាងណាឲ្យជីវភាពរបស់គេ​ (ដែលរួមមានការរស់នៅ, ការចិញ្ចឹមកូនចៅ, ការដាំដុះ និង ការប្រារព្ធបុណ្យទានជូនដល់ព្រលឹងបុព្វបុរសឬ​អ្នកតា) អាចបន្តទៅបាន។ អ្នកភូមិទាំងនោះ បានពឹងផ្អែកយ៉ាងខ្លាំងទៅលើចៅហ្វាយនាយ ដែលអាចការពារពួកគេពីការទាមទាររបស់រដ្ឋ។ ការរៀបចំទាំងនេះ សុទ្ធតែបានជួយ​ជំរុញឲ្យមាននូវសមធម៌មួយបែបក្នុងកំរិតតូចមួយនៅក្នុងចំណោមអ្នកចូលរួម​ទាំងអស់។ ចំណែកឯរដ្ឋខ្លួនឯងវិញ បានធ្វើការយ៉ាងសកម្មតាមរយៈបណ្តាញ​អ្នកចូលរួម និង តាមរយៈអាទិភាពសំខាន់ៗមួយចំនួន ដែលជួនកាលត្រូវបាន បន្ធួរបន្ថយដោយសារការសម្តែងចេញនូវភាពស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ​​និង ក្តីបារម្ភ។

បើយោងតាមគំនិតបែបសតវត្សទី២១វិញ យើងអាចសន្និដ្ឋានបានថា ភាពវឹកវរ និងការមិនសប្បាយចិត្តជាច្រើន បាន​កើតមានឡើងដោយសារវិសមធម៌ នៃអំណាចនាសម័យអង្គរ។

តែទោះជាយ៉ាងណា សេចក្តីសនិដ្ឋាននេះ អាចជាការយល់ច្រឡំ។ នៅពេលរុងរឿងបំផុត អង្គរគឺជាក្រុងដែលធំជាងគេលើលោក តែមានដង់ស៊ីតេ ប្រជាជនទាប។ ទីក្រុងដែលមានផ្ទៃដីជាង ១.០០០គីឡូម៉ែតការ៉េនេះ មានប្រជាពលរដ្ឋចំនួនប្រមាណ៧០០.០០០នាក់។ កត្តាជាច្រើនបន្ថែមពី លើការប្រើអំណាច ឃោរឃៅ បំភិតបំភ័យ និង ការជិះជាន់កេងប្រវ័ញ្ច បានបង្រ្កាបមនុស្សជាច្រើនឲ្យស្ថិតនៅក្រោមបញ្ជា។ អ្នកការទូតចិននាម ជី តាក្វាន់ បានរៀបរាប់នាឆ្នាំ១២៩៦ ថា អង្គរ ជាក្រុងដ៏ធំហើយរុងរឿងមួយ។ ខ្ញុំសង្ស័យថា កត្តាដែលជំរុញឲ្យមនុស្សសុខចិត្តនៅក្រោមបញ្ជាបានយូរយ៉ាងនេះ​ រួមមានកត្តា មានទឹកគ្រប់គ្រាន់ កត្តារកអាហារបានងាយស្រួល កត្តាទទួលបានការការពារពី សំណាក់យោធា និង កត្តាដែលបុគ្គលខ្លួនឯងមាន អារម្មណ៍ថាខ្លួនគេជាចំណែកមួយ នៃទឹកដី ដែលត្រូវបានប្រោះព្រំឲ្យពរដោយទេវៈ និង ព្រះរាជាមួយនេះ។ មនុស្សម្នាសាមញ្ញទាំងអស់នៅក្នុងក្រុងអង្គរ ស្ទើរតែគ្រប់ពេលតែងរួចផុតពី ទុក្ខវេទនានៃការបំបិទសិទ្ធ ប៉ុន្តែយើងនៅតែមិនអាចនិយាយបានថា ពួកគេសុទ្ធតែបានរើសយកជីវភាពបែបនេះនោះដែរ។ ពួកគេ សុទ្ធតែគ្មាន បទពិសោធន៍ ឬក៏ទស្សនទាន អំពីពិភពមួយផ្សេងទៀត ដែលមានស្ថានភាពសង្គម គួរឲ្យទាក់ទាញ ហើយ​ស្មើភាពជាងនេះ។

នៅមានត

ដកស្រង់ពីបឋកកថារបស់លោក Chandler នាសាកលវិទ្យាល័យភូមិន្ទភ្នំពេញ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី ១៥ មិថុនា ឆ្នាំ២០០៦កន្លងមកនេះ។

Help Sponsor A Young Cambodian Woman’s Education

American blogger Beth Kanter is rasing fund to sponsor a college education for a Cambodian girl named Leng Sopharath. An orphan from Kampong Speu, Sopharath is now an accounting student at Norton University. Together with the Sharing Foundation, Beth has been sponsoring her and 9 other orphans to pursue their college education in Phnom Penh since 2005.

This year, Beth hopes to raise US$750 for Sopharath’s education. She has set up an online donation widget on her blog, where you all can donate electronically. If any of you would like to contribute to this campaign, please do so by clicking on this link. Any amount is welcome. As of today, US$95 has been raised. I myself have just donated US$20, and I hope all of you will follow.

Click to learn more about the campaign and Sopharath

A kid like Sopharath really needs your support. Please pass this info to everybody you know. A few cents or more from you are breeding a new seed of intellectual for Cambodia’s future.

Norway No. 1 in UNDP list; Cambodia is 129th

The  United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI) for 2006 recently ranked Norway as the best country to live in and Niger in West Africa at the bottom.

The HDI, which rates countries based on wealth, life expectancy and education, is part of the UN Development Program report launched in Cape Town, South Africa, on Thursday.

Cambodia has moved a level up (129) from last year’s ranking—No. 130 out of the 177 countries in the index. In Southeast Asia, it ranks better than Myanmar (No. 130), Laos (133) . Singapore fared best among all at No. 25, followed by Brunei (No. 34), Malaysia (No. 61), Thailand (No. 74), Philippines (No. 84), Indonesia (No. 108) and Vietnam (No. 109).

Countries in the top 10 are Iceland, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, Japan, the United States, Switzerland and The Netherlands.

Countries at the bottom of the list are Mozambique, Burundi, Ethiopia, Chad, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali and Sierra Leone.

Rich Vs. Poor in Burma

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — A video of an extravagant wedding for the daughter of Myanmar’s military leader has stoked criticism about the lifestyles of members of the ruling junta in the impoverished country.

The leaked video shows Thandar Shwe, the daughter of junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe, wearing a staggering collection of diamond encrusted jewelry and extravagant clothing.

There also is a lavish bridal chamber, seemingly the size of a small ballroom.

The Irrawaddy, a respected online magazine put out by Myanmar journalists exiled in Thailand, said the wedding cost $300,000 and the couple received wedding gifts worth $50 million, although the publication didn’t say how it obtained the figures.

The video of the July wedding at a military reception hall in Myanmar’s capital, Yangon, began circulating on DVD about three weeks ago. Irrawaddy posted a link to it on the video-sharing site YouTube this week. (Watch the ritzy wedding and struggles of people in Myanmar — 3:44 )

Campus Hate Crime

Race is a sensitive issue. Before coming to the U.S., I regard racial issue as inquisitive but unimportant. To me, Cambodia is a homogenous country – I am convinced of this notion since I was born. And while I am aware that there are some small portions of ethnic groups other than the Cambodians/Khmers living in the country, school textbooks and national media hardly include the information relevant to minority groups residing across the country. Up until now, to what extent these groups of people (Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotians, Muslim communities and tribal people) have been discriminated against or mistreated by the dominant group remains a rarely touched on topic. In fact, tracing back the history of my ancestors tells me that I belong to a mixture of Cambodian, Chinese, and Vietnamese origins. However, since the way I look, behave, or speak does not make me any different from the surrounding majority, I often regard the occasionally encountered mistreatments as some kind of misunderstandings rather than racial discriminations.

Being caught up in a context as diverse and complex as the U.S makes me feel different, however. From the first day of my graduate class, I start to feel uncomfortable in a context where I cannot locate familiar faces: those of Asian students other than myself and a couple of others. (Everytime I find a Cambodian, I am just as pleased as finding a million dollars.) The more I read news and articles describing people from one racial group being harassed by another, the more I feel discrimination in the U.S. is on the rise.

As a matter of fact, Americans are divided into two big groups–the liberal and conservative. The liberal are open-minded and normally live in cities or towns along the coasts, where the demographic makeup is highly diverse. The conservative stick to the ideology of white superiority and mostly reside in the midwest and southern parts of the United States. The fact that Boston College is on the east coast convinced me that racial harrassment should never happen here.

Reality Vs. Honor

Cambodian authorities announced Wednesday that they will round up beggars from the streets of Siem Reap — Cambodia’s main tourist destination — in order to burnish the country’s image ahead of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, which will run from Nov. 21 to Jan. 9, 2007.

“We need to protect our nation’s honor. It’s shameful for us to see beggars chasing tourists for money,” said Siem Reap provincial governor Sou Phirin.

He said that beginning Sunday, police and social workers will comb the streets and markets of the tourist town for beggars, who will be gathered in a designated area before being taken away by trucks to their hometowns.

Sou Phirin was unable to give estimate of how many beggars are now in Siem Reap town.

Personally, this is really rediculous. If it is so shameful to have beggars around, the government and municipal authority ought to seek solutions that can better deal with this issue. The tactic of keeping them in a designated area and then sending them home, which had been used prior to major international events before, is not a good choice. Sooner or later these poor people are going to be back.

Everybody knows that Cambodia is poor. Learn to face the truth, sir.

Cambodia Introduces Military Service

Cambodia’s national assembly has voted to introduce conscription so young men aged between 18 and 30 will be liable to serve 18 months in the military. The move comes despite years of international efforts to reduce the military’s excessive size.

A government spokesman said conscription was an important way of reinforcing the army.

But it may be a crude attempt to head off a looming unemployment crisis, a BBC correspondent says.

Worsening job situation

Defence Minister Tea Banh told reporters that while Cambodia’s army was numerically strong, many of its soldiers were not fit to serve.

“Many of the military personnel are old and physically fragile,” he explained.

Who is to blame for the N. Korea crisis?

Watch these two responding pro-Republican and pro-Democrat ads in regard to the North Korean crisis..

Who is to blame?

Cambodia’s Modern Moral Crackdown

By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh

To save its culture from “pernicious modern influences”, official action is currently being taken against everything from adultery to video phone calls in Cambodia. But some argue that Cambodian society was actually a lot more permissive in days gone by.

I have just got back from Siem Reap, gateway to the ancient temples of Angkor.

While I was there I started to see one of Cambodia’s national symbols in a new light.

The Apsara is a bare breasted dancing nymph – and there are thousands of them carved into the walls and lintels of the ancient monuments.

Lithe of limb, generous of bust, and with a cheeky, come-hither expression, the Apsara certainly has a lot more sex appeal than other female national symbols like Britannia or the Statue Of Liberty.

But it is just as well that Apsara’s got hundreds of years of history to fall back on because there is not much chance of a topless dancer being celebrated in modern Cambodia.

If the Apsara had made her debut in the past year, she would have been labelled as “against the culture”.

In fact these days going topless would be unthinkable.

Coup D’etat in Thailand

By Ann Nichaya, TPY 2005

Breaking news! Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin and his Democratic Reform Council staged a coup d’etat and ousted the current Thai government yesterday while the caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was still in New York for the United Nation General Assembly. The main reason they gave for staging the coup is that the government administration has caused conflicts and undermined the harmony of the people as never before in the history (this, I think, includes the long unrest in the Muslim communities in the South and the protests by people who stand both for and against the Prime Minister). But personally, I think another reason why they make a coup last night is to prevent possible clashes between the Anti-Thaksin rally by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (which was planned to take place today and in which I planned to join) and the Thaksin supporters. If they’d let that happenned, a peaceful protest could turn into bloodbath.

Now, the question is “Is a coup d’etat good for Thailand? To answer this question, we have to look back into our political history.

9/11 5 Years Later: The World Remembers

Click on the picture to see a slideshow of photos taken during 9/11 and five years later.

May the world be in peace!