Help Stop Wicked Politicians!

It is necessarily for Cambodian citizens inside and outside Cambodia to understand current Cambodian politics and carefully study all Cambodian political leaders.

Their interests:

It is unfortunate that most politicians nowadays have been in politics “primarily” for their personal interests rather than Cambodian national interests. Those who have gone into politics purely because of the love of the people and their country do not last long because they are the minority. Politicians belong to the latter group usually do not have any financial and political backing from political elites or from powerful personalities in Cambodia and elsewhere.

Their connections:

If we cautiously examine key players in the opposition political parties, we will find that many of them have family members, friends, relatives and business partners who belong to the ruling party—the Cambodian People’s Party and its allies. Such special ties are their personal safety net which they can exercise as bargaining chips to personal freedom and, as we have already been seeing, to a better government position. At the same token, those who lack influential connections are surely to face the unknown and unimaginable consequences. They have to face not only the pressure from their own prominent party’s leaders but also from the powerful leaders of the parties in which they are asked to oppose.

Their backgrounds:

Before committing to support any political party, the supporting public must also look into the backgrounds of each important political party’s leaders. What were their political roots? The people must scrutinize their personal activities if they have been authentic actions or just political maneuvers to get public supports so that they can achieve their personal interests. It is also crucial to study if some political figures have been actually used and funded by the powerful ruling party and its allies to open up and operate additional political theaters in order for them to stay in power for the longest time.

Their victims:

It is clear to me that some political leaders have exploited their supporters for many years, especially those financial supporters from overseas whom have had very little or no knowledge of how politics have been playing inside Cambodia. We have been victimized not only by our own naïveté and by believing in false propaganda of certain wicked politicians, but also by our blinded patriotism. At the end it is those who go into the politics primarily for Cambodia’s national interests that pay the price. Regrettably, many Khmer patriots have given their life and not knowing that their sacrifice were merely for a few politicians to exploit their next victims.

Our prevention:

There is not much Cambodian citizens can do to stop politicians from their rhetoric, but we must be vigilant. Those who have experiences and gone through the processes must share them with the next generations so that they will not become victims of wicked politicians. It is acceptable to make mistakes and learn from them, but it is cruel to hide them from our own people.


Sathonne Chhim
New York 5/3/2009