“Choon Tam Sam-Noeur” Premier Hun Sen's Magic wand...
During his July 1st speech, in Damnak Chang-oeur, Kep; Premier Hun Sen mocked his opponents for their sarcastic complaints against his “Choon Tam Sam-Noeur” or “approve as requested” or “requests are granted” practice which he has been carrying out for many years in responding to many proposals or appeals from various groups during his inaugural speeches or appearances throughout the country. Hun Sen was trying to prove his argument that while his oppositions have the right to criticize him, he, too, has the right to criticize his opponents. And he complained that while he and his party are out to help build Cambodian infrastructures for the people, his opponents were good at nothing but to criticize and to complaints.
For those who are not familiar with the “Choon Tam Sam-Noeur” expression here are the scenarios that may help you understand the powerful slogan that has become the center of political quarrels.
In most of his appearances throughout Cambodia, in front of thousands of people, Premier Hun Sen is asked to deliver his speeches, normally a lengthy one. In many of those speeches he uses some opportunity to criticize his political opponents, members of NGOs as well as members of international organizations. Although, his style of speech and his verbal communications are considered unprofessional by many people, they are proven very effective indeed in current Cambodian society. It is the kind of speeches that the majority of his listeners love to hear.
Before his speech is over, Premier Hun Sen reads the proposals or requests submitted to him by the local community leaders, head of monks or civic groups. It appears that all requests are prearranged prior to his speeches. Every request is usually enthusiastically approved by the Premier with the expression of “Choon Tam Sam-Noeur” following by his order to have certain Okhnas or business noblemen/women completed the specific projects. This is where the oppositions criticize that the Okhnas complete the project at the expense of the poor or national resources. Nevertheless, the local communities seem to take pleasure in with what they are given and don’t care too much about where the money come from.
In Cambodian society, the people are generally being indebted or grateful forever to the people who give them what they want or need. What the people see nowadays are: while the CPP delivers, the oppositions promise; and while Premier Hun Sen is out to help build the nation, the opposition’s leaders are spending time overseas criticizing his works. Rightly or wrongly, with its financial resources, the CPP’s officials spend more time than the oppositions with the people at all levels to build and strengthen it infrastructures. They interact on a daily basis with the local people; hence the people are being programmed to be pleased with the “Choon Tam Sam-Noeur” slogan. So far, the slogan works very well for the CPP.
The challenges for the oppositions are: what else can they do besides their continuous complaints and promises that the people have not seen the concrete result thus far? How can they argue effectively against the “Choon Tam Sam-Noeur” practice which the people seem to enjoy? It appears that the oppositions are really good in making a number of overseas Khmers happy with their political promises and speeches, but in reality they have lost contact with the local people who will cast their votes in the future elections.
When the oppositions laugh at the “Choon Tam Sam-Noeur”slogan, the CPP benefits from such practices.
Check these links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czKZnTSJz7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiqNaGKE7a8
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