New Name, same people; are old batteries going to perform differently?
The “National Rescue Party” are being created by the same people who have been “playing” politics against the ruling party—the CPP—from the get-go. These individuals, many of whom have been working directly and indirectly with the CPP or the Cambodian government, have been using the same thorny issues pleading the Cambodian voters to bring down the CPP via the electoral processes which they have always claimed that the processes are unfair and biased.
However, recurring demands and complains have not been translated into victory for the oppositions. Barrages and attacks on the CPP using negative languages attempting to prove that the CPP are monsters have not been effective.
Nonetheless, the CPP seems to get stronger and gain continuous support from its members and some major international players.
Major Powers like the United States, China, Japan and Korea, etc. have been dealing with Hun Sen like “business as usual”.
Financial supports by Cambodian supporters inside and outside of Cambodia have been dwindling. IRI, for example, believes that Cambodia is moving in the right direction. Foreign observers have considered that the results of the past elections have been acceptable.
There is no question that the CPP is no angel, but why the oppositions--who supposed to be better--, have been unable to gain enough supports from the international community and the majority of Cambodian voters?
What else can the oppositions do besides forming an alliance with the same people, threatening to boycott the elections and begging the international donors and community to apply pressures on Hun Sen’s regime? All of these tactics have been used for decades and they have not been effective.
Regardless of the new change--- to a different banner, logo or slogan or from candlelight to moonlight to the sunlight ---the old batteries have been completely used up. The only change is to a new emblem; the inside is the same. New Name, Same People: Will Cambodian voters buy it?
Perhaps it’s time for the non-CPP people to take a step back and examine why what they have done in the past failed.
Perhaps it’s time for the non-CPP politicians to change the ways they do business.
Or better yet, maybe it is time for the new blood politicians to step in and take over Cambodian political arena for a real change.
Cambodian people are getting tired of seeing and hearing the same rhetoric from all parties, including the CPP. Fresh energy is needed to boost up Cambodia to a new height.
Timothy Chhim
September 26, 2012
1 comment:
I agree with you, new name, same people, same desperation. Not that i agree with current government, nor do i support them.
I do see progress, but at what price? Top down government doesn't work. This type of government has many names. We see it throughout Southeast and some part of the world. The opposition party need to separate themselves from the CPP and offer those borned after 1979 a better future. One only need to look at current US election..
Cambodian tend to be self serving and self promoting. ie. name, title or how many stars you have etc...sometime Cambodians forget the teaching of Buddha.
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