“It is untenable for Hun Sen to
continue to be Prime Minister.”
Theary Seng, founding President of Center for
Cambodian Civil Education.
Prime Minister Hun Sen is the
Darth Vader of Cambodian politics. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is Luke
Skywalker.
Hun Sen, an old-fashioned 20th
C dictator in the Mugabe mold, represents a discredited past. Rainsy, a 21st
C democrat, represents the hope that democracy could flourish soon in Cambodia.
Hun Sen’s style of government
necessitates intimidation, the jailing of critics and opposition party members,
tanks, razor wire barricades and a
10,000 strong personal body guard armed with state of the art weaponry.
Rainsy’s, a pacifist, is
committed to the rule of law; to adhering to the will of the people as expressed
through the ballot box. His bodyguards carry no weapons.
Hun Sen’s Camodian People’s Party
has been in power for 28 years now but the Cambodian people have made it clear
that they have had enough of him. This
is clear from the election results that saw Sam Rainsy’s Cambodian National
Rescue Party come close to winning the elections - despite the massive ‘irregularities’
that saw up to one third of Cambodians robbed of their votes.
As the political stalemate
continues, Theary Seng – a brave and vocal opponent of Hun Sen’s dictatorial
style for many years - has written eloquently of the path that Hun Sen could
pursue now for the good of the nation and to secure himself a place in history:
It is in Hun Sen’s long term
personal interest for himself and his future generations to step down. The
natural inclination is for Hun Sen to continue with the defensive reaction.
After all, he has been accustomed to 28 years of unrestrained dictatorial
power. But he and the CPP must ask themselves, does it serve their interests.
I am banking on an enlightened
moment of wisdom for Hun Sen: he acts proactively and steps down ‘voluntarily’.
Just think of the consequences which we know would naturally flow: in one deft,
difficult, surprise move, Hun Sen instantly transforms himself into a
statesman, an icon. In the annals of world history. The front page headlines of
every newspaper in the world would herald the transformation: Former Khmer
Rouge, Cambodia Strongman Steps Down
Theary Seng’s advice to Hun Sen
can be found in full at:
http://www.ki-media.blogspot.com/2013/09/honorable-exit-strategy-for-hun-sen.html
As an Australian, I hope that our
new Foreign Minister, the Hon Julie Bishop, takes a strong and principled stand
and insists, in appropriately diplomatic terms, that Hun Sen either (a) agree
to an independent investigation into the voting irregularities or (b) consider
stepping down as Prime Minster now that it is clear that the Cambodian people
no longer want him running the country in a way that allows land-grabbing,
illegal evictions and other acts of human rights abuse to continue.
Australia’s more than $75 million
in foreign aid may not give Julie Bishop much bargaining power but if she were
to convince a coalition of other International Donor Countries to put pressure
on Hun Sen she could establish her credentials as a woman of principle who will
not be cowed by dictators such as Hun Sen in order to safeguard Australian
investment in this much exploited country.
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