Clean your house first!

ON CORRUPTION:

http://vodhotnews.com/19482#.Uwj8G2bZJsp.facebook

Corruption must be curbed in all areas of Cambodian society including corruption and abuses within every political party. Perhaps it is time now for all political parties to look into their leaders and members' defective behaviors--corruption, nepotism and favoritism, etc. There are growing concerns that politicians, not only misrepresent their statements to the public (some people call them lies,) they also mismanage funds given to them by their respective members to use for political purposes. 

For those parties which depend on moral and financial supports to survive, they must clean their own mental and financial house first before declaring that they can clean up the whole country. Certain politicians are morally and financially corrupted. They are unable to take care of their personal and familial issues and yet they promise the people that they can help rescue Cambodia--a country with has more complexed problems than their personal matters. 

CNRP, for example, should take a lead in cleaning its own house if it is to earn additional trust from members and potential supporters. While Cambodian government has set up an institution to fight corruption, CNRP, too, can set up their own anti-corruption entity to help curb abuses within the organization. The ongoing infighting between CNRP supporters and organizers in the U.S/Canada is a wake-up call for all leaders to find a better way to build and rebuild trust and cooperation.. Personal egos and money handling problems are among the main concerns.

Timothy Chhim

"Silence is not necessarily golden"

One Monk to Watch...

Is Cambodia lucky enough to have Ven. Loun Sovath

to hepl protect Human Rights?

Enthusiasm is a double-edged sword that can make or break an individual if it is not properly controlled.

I like Venerable Loun Sovath’s courageous activities to help bring justice to Cambodian victims of human rights abuses. And I also like his enthusiasm and passion in doing his gracious works to let the world know about Cambodia’s need ---to improve its human rights record. It is a much needed record for the Cambodian government, IF it wants to be recognized as a civilized and dignified government.



It is indeed a tough job for Ven. Loun Sovath…for being a prominent monk who must balance between Buddhist disciplines and the day-to-day life and politics of laypersons; especially, when he is in a spotlight and being watched by thousands.

Any activity contradicts to Buddhist rules of conduct can become problems. Problems that may hinder his own progress toward his personal purposes as well as the long-term progress of thousands of people who may count on his works.

It is very important for Ven Loun Savath to control his enthusiasm. Turn it on when it is necessary and tune it down when it is not. Watching his own steps and actions is one of the most important things he must do.



It is understandable that sometimes, people unconsciously do things that may cause adverse effects to his/her success or the success of the majority. But, for Ven. Loun, he must not let his personal pride and pleasure control his mood and actions. He must not give weapons or alibis to his opponents who may effortlessly use to destroy his good cause.

Buddha preaches proper balancing and adhering to certain behaviors and ethical conducts to achieve your goal. Follow his path and you will surely reach your destiny.

Timothy Chhim

Jan 16, 2013 



For those hopeful candidates: What to look out for...

For those hopeful MP candidates: What to look out for...

For those hopeful opposition candidates running for Cambodian Parliament Members of National Assembly --in 2013 election.

A few of you, hopeful candidates from overseas, will pour a huge chunk of your hard-earned savings into Cambodia mainly to help finance your political activities hoping to be elected as a Cambodian congressman/woman representing your political party.

You may not be well informed by your Cambodian political team inside Cambodia. They may intentionally keep you in the dark or not giving you some facts fearing that you would not join them or support them.

I am putting this information to help you discover a few important things and my past experience may help you run your campaign more effectively.

It is good that you have a heart to help your country and to help make a difference, I personally commend you for that.  On the other hand, you should know a little better before you go or "get in." Unless you are in politics for some other reasons, you should not let anyone take advantage of your love for your country and our people.

Here are some information:

1-Watch for political boasting or gross exaggeration:

If the numbers of projecting winnable congressional seats is unreal, it surely is.  For example in 2008 HRP's leaders wildly believed and projected that they would definitely win more than 60 seats. It got 3.

If the number is too good to be true, you should know the answer to that. There is no system in place to take a decent poll in Cambodia. There is a difference between motivational speeches and misleading information intended to gain your monetary support. Remember it is not what you know, but what you have that counts. Trust but verify!

2-Look out for the elitists:

Some so-called elite individuals will use their political heredity or influences (former or present positions) to be listed as the top candidates in a certain prime territory where more seats are available . They will use their past and present records to take priority over your qualification and capability. It is unbelievable, but such a practice should be stopped.

These people will pay no or little money to help you with the campaigns. Using their social and political inheritance, they expect the lower ranking candidates to also pay for their expenses including food, hotel room, travel costs for them, their drivers and security guards and more.

As time goes by, be prepared to dig deeper into your pockets.  ATM machines are available everywhere. You will need to fund your territory as well as to feed your party leaders when they visit your province or district.

Local leaders will also become the middlemen or brokers to help you spend your campaign funds at local and national level. Prices are usually marked up to feed the middle men and receipts for expenditures are readily available at your request.

These elites will use their internal connections to push themselves up higher and will kick other people out or around when the election date is nearer. There will be no short of reasons for top leaders to justify their moves. Be cautious! By that time most of your money would be used and you would not have many choices to make.

Competition to be on the top "listing" will be ugly. You may be placed on the top for the beginning, but don't be surprised if later on you would be switched around. Look out for your initial "deposit" and other expenses. I knew a number of people exhausted their funds by being kicked around from place to place.

You should push for a change! No political elites should be honored as such. They must be qualified to lead as well as to share the cost like anyone else.  Most importantly they need to illustrate their good (if not high) morality to show the people that they do love them--not their titles and or positions.

To be continued...

3-Watch for the opportunists:

Other seasonal "positions" or "titles" besides MP candidates like the "titles" of local, provincial and national leaders within the party will be offered at a certain price tag.  The Competition for such positions is fierce and may cause strong resentments and frictions among party's leaders and supporters. Backstabbing may occur without your notice. However, most positions for those who live overseas are merely symbolic.

As for overseas organizers or leaders, you have little power in any decision making processes inside Cambodia. What the party leaders need is your ability to get them financial support . In addition, you need to gather people to come to the meetings, receptions, to hear their political messages and for photo opportunity. Unfortunately restaurant owners or caterers do make more profits than your party does.

You are also expected to raise funds for transportation, hotel cost, food, etc... for your political leaders who come to visit the U.S. and other countries. Some top leaders use this opportunity to visit their family members at your expenses. This must be stopped. They are wasting your hard-earned money--the money that can be used to get more votes inside Cambodia.

Donation given to these leaders is generally concealed and kept for their personal use--not for the party. I find it absurd that donors and recipients are taking the advantage over your generosity. All funds should be transparent.

Look out for some close relatives and friends of certain political leaders, they will join the party for personal business rather than national interests usually for the money.  Many will defect back to their political base after the election is over. Do not believe in the "swearing" practice or ceremony... So far lightning have not struck those who had betrayed their own political party yet. It has become rather a "business as usual" nowadays for those leaders who swear then jump ship (defect.)

Be prepared for the price hiking when the election date is nearer.  The price for infomercial on the radio like radio Sambok Khmum, etc... maybe 50 percent higher.

You may need to hire writers or professional "journalists" to help write and print newspapers for your party and they are not cheap. There are many writers for hire but they are seasonal...

However, make sure you don't fall for the propaganda on the radio or party's newspapers because most news and information are bias and not all true-- many are cut and pasted. Don't get excited. I think half truth are more dangerous than a lie.

The costs of everything else like campaigning materials will be increased as well.... I cannot figure out yet why those people who claim that they love the country so much need to put more burden on you.
 

Can you figure that out?

To be continued...

Yes, We Can Win Without the God King

Yes, we can win!

Losing a God King? Let's respectfully mourn and move on.

Stop accepting that we are the victim: the victim of the French colonialist, the past unsuccessful policy of King Sihanouk, the failed policy of Pol Pot, the Vietnamese cruelty and the regime's brutality, etc… because when we think and accept that we are the victim, we are the victim—forever.

We must rise above being the victim for we are not. We were born as Khmer and as Khmer we can become as strong as anyone out there in the world and we have proofs. The proofs are not just thousands of monuments and footprints out there throughout Southeast Asia and the world but they are in our blood, heart, mind and spirit.

Picture: From Travelog.Org

What ever happened in the past can be used as seeds, as stepping stones and as great lessons for us to move forward to rebuild and construct a bright and dazzling Cambodia. We must learn from all factors that have led to Cambodia’s temporary defeats with the understanding that every defeat carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit when we have the right and positive mental attitude—the attitude of being the victor instead of being the victim.

We have to realize that each defeat is just a temporary setback and not the total failure and we have to understand that it takes many defeats to achieve the final victory—comparing to a baby who needs to learn from his falls… so many times in order for him to stand up, walk and then run.

We must get off our knees and stand up to face all current challenges: immorality, poverty, oppression and foreign control.

To get off our knees is to take possession of our mind and use it. And we must use it … with the positive mental attitude that we are now and will be the victor---we are no longer the victim: No more crying for help, no more self pity, no more belittling ourselves, no more fearing and no more accepting any notion that Khmers are losers and cannot win--- for a loser and a victim are all the same.

From now on we declare that we are the winner and we can do whatever we want to rebuild and construct our own life as well as our country… and we can do it as a person, a family, a society and finally as a great nation.

Take possession of our mind, put our mind and thoughts together collectively and harmoniously and the victory is awaiting just a few steps away.

Yes, we can win! And we can win without the former King.

Timothy Chhim

October 18, 2012

7 Makkara? We got it!

http://www.spreaker.com/show/about_khmer





"Silence is not necessarily golden"