Op-Ed by School of Vice
Cambodia went to war with Thailand a couple of times over the Preah Vihear-related territorial issue, in addition to asking the ICJ to review the underlying legal wrangle that underpinned the conflict between the two countries since 2008. Yet, not once since the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1979 has the Hanoi-installed Phnom Penh regime made any official complaint against Vietnam's land encroachments along the border in the east.
Va Kim Hong [the regime's expert on border affairs] is known to have expressed preference for a policy of shearing chunks of one's flesh off [Cambodia's territory] to feed and satisfy the tiger [Vietnam]. Ke Kim Yan [former RCAF chief] was unceremoniously stripped off his army post for having detailed a series of territorial infringements by Vietnam along the border in an otherwise obligatory routine report expected of his duty as a soldier. The 'leaked' charge or allegation made against Kim Yan was that he was removed from his post due to the vast personal land deals he had accumulated in his name. But if the charge of abuse of one’s position and power, and of massive corruption constituted the real reason behind his demotion, then he was hardly an exception out of all his CPP colleagues holding powerful positions in the military or elsewhere.
It is clear that Mr Hun Sen would rather opt for the policy of 'appeasing the tiger' favoured by Kim Hong whenever the tiger demands to be fed, rather than exploring other possibilities that would not end up violating Cambodia's territorial integrity as affirmed under the terms of the Paris Peace Accords of 1991. Just as he publicly threatened to abolish the monarchy for its perceived reluctance to give the royal seal of approval for the controversial 2005 supplemental Treaty demanded by Vietnam.
Fitting into this same pattern also entails the favourable land leases [99 years of ELCs] to Vietnamese companies; open-door policy on Vietnamese immigration/settlement; allowing Vietnamese nationals to enjoy a lion's share in ownership and control over vital economic arteries of the country, ranging from the Angkor Archaeological Park, national airline, telecommunications, timber and mining industries, Bokor resort, numerous prime real estates, Vietnamese 'advisors' and nationals holding government ministry positions, including within the inner cabinet of the CPP regime itself as well as the military [that's one reason why Kim Yan was caught off-guard so timely!], the imprisonment of the two Svay Rieng province farmers and conviction in absentia of opposition leader Sam Rainsy for the border stakes uprooting incident a few years back, ... The list goes on and on. Yet, Mr Hun Sen would like to claim: 'There is no traitor in my family line'!
The tragedy for the Khmer people and perhaps, the saddest part in all this is that, [unless Mr Hun Sen himself is Vietnamese somewhere at the core of his soul and being] he really didn't have to do what he had or has done in the course of his time in power. True political wisdom [or even a modicum of good leadership sense] points to better means and approaches of dealing with one's more powerful neighbours or patrons. In opting for the course of brutality and violence even where the perceived threat or danger to his rule had not warranted the means used, he had allowed the savage inside of him to overpower his emotions and take complete reign of his judgement and resolve. Each time this happened, the savagery in him multiplied and the humanity in him further diminished.
So it was that many precious and innocent lives had been ruined along with this mortally diseased soul of a mad man [or beast] viewing himself as a genius nevertheless; all in self-destructive devotion to feeding the blood-lust of the Savage inside him on the one hand, and the insatiable hunger of the Tiger, on the other.
3 comments:
I am not impress by these CPP ministers. Their explanation are only their words and words are cheap.
1. Where is the 1/100000 scale map that they used to negotiate to plant those border posts with Youn?
2. Everyone on this round table discussion are all CPP loyalists, where are NGO, students, monks, CNRP ? It is still one side discussions very suspecion.
3. Am I to believe that those border post teams are all real Khmer nationals. Have neutral peoples examine them. How about that one-leg hero that they described. All we know he could be Viet Cong who lost leg fighting Pol Pot troops. Minister Phay Siphan is a CPP parrot. I never trust this guy.
4. They used Preah Vihear against Siam to justify our eastern border problems. Managed to protect 2.3 sq. km on western side while Cambodia possibly loosing much bigger areas on eastern border. All we know this disputes with Siam was a diversion from Youn stealing our territories in the east.
5. These CPP said Cambodian peoples intruded 100 acres into Youn territories. Yak !! Our land was all the way to South China sea. Don't these CPP know history ! Lol.
6. PM Hun Sen gave 5.5 hours speech at NA 2012 regarding a border treaty with Hanoi. NO QUESTION WAS ALLOW AT THAT TIME. EVERYONE SCARED TO EVEN OPEN THEIR MOUTH AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. CNRP only had 20 seats and CPP over 90 seats, 2 seats FAILCINPEC.
7. I am willing to listen to CPP explanations only if NGO, students reps., monks reps., CNRP MPs, independent European & Asian on international border experts, were allow to examine the borders areas and treaties, map thoroughly. If they found that it is legal and Cambodia didn't loose or gain any territories than I will never question CPP works on border again.
To solve Khmer problems, prosecute
Hanoi key leaders.
You have to have owners claim, other wise will end up in pounds.
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