Good-Bye "God King"

Good-Bye "God King"

Picture: Author's record

For those who dislike the late former King, the most joyful day is here again. Their wishes are fulfilled and unfortunately their hatred will continue from here to eternity.

Nothing in this world that anyone can do to heal their injuries and hatred—for all they see is what the former King has done wrong.

They will consume much energy to talk about “evil” things that they think the King had committed. Among other things, they would criticize that the King was an absolutist; his behaviors had brought Cambodia down; his policies were self-destructive; his personal life had been nothing but a playboy; he had allowed Vietcong and North Vietnamese to station in Cambodia; He was siding with the Khmer Rouge; had kowtowed to Vietnam, China and never been friendly to the West, etc…

For those who look for the King’s positive side, they are deeply mourning the passing away of their revered “God King” with love, respect and compassion.

Regardless of what the King had done wrong, they will forgive and willing to forget. Their mind will be at peace and there is no hatred left. Perhaps they will be happier than those who possess hatred...

They would praise the King for his work to help gain independence for Cambodia; love him for giving Cambodia Peace for many years; admire him for standing strong against America; thank him for helping Cambodia to achieve a peaceful solution with the current regime, etc…

One chapter of Cambodian history is finally closed. The talk of the town will continue for a while and then Cambodia will move on without the former King. Another “God King” has not been created or born or perhaps Cambodians will become their own “King.”

The future of Cambodia will depend on whether Cambodians can learn from our adversity and defeat and figure out how to build a better Cambodia together.

Khmer people need to think right. With accurate thinking Cambodians will be able to see things clearly and in order to think accurately Cambodians must avoid negative emotions because such emotions will lead to more confusion. No one in this world can do things right when they are confused.

Universal law permits no one to become successful when he or she possesses negative emotions such as hatred, revenge, jealousy, anger, fear, greed and superstition, etc…For these reasons the best thing that we all can do is to stop recycling these destructive emotions.

Picture: Author's record

For me I would say farewell to the former head of State, the former Prince, and the former King…the history will judge him and he must deal with the law of Karma….the law of cause and effect or Karma which rules the Universe will determine the King’s fate.

Yes, I used to love him when I was once a young high school boy who was diving from the crowd to grab his hand under the hot sun;

...then I was disgusted with his policy and my blood boiled when I learned that he allowed the Vietcong and North Vietnamese to use Cambodia to fight the Americans;

Then…I despised him when the Khmer Rouge, his communist ally, sent me to be executed.

Then my heart melted when he decided to turn against the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1979…and the world knows the rest of the story.

…and then the one other thing that the King and I had in common was music. Music has no color and although he could not sing well, the King was a good musician… And for whatever will happen to Cambodia next, I will always like his music… and I will remember the times when he and I used to play together…

As for the King and I, he is gone and I hold no grudges: I am at peace.

R.I.P

Good bye "God King!"

Timothy Chhim

October 14, 2012
February 1, 2013



Showing love and respect when we are alive

Condolences!

Cursing for help! Will it work?

Cursing for help!

While Sam Rainsy is awaiting a possible compromise from Premier Hun Sen and the Cambodian King Sihamoni for a potential return of Sam Rainsy to Cambodia, SRP’s supporter staged a rather hostile protest condemning Hun Sen as a traitor to Cambodia by stepping on and burning Hun Sen’s portrait.

Pictures: RO of SRP-Europe

Such a protest probably was not approved by Sam Rainsy; regardless, it probably had gone too far under this particular circumstance.

It makes Sam Rainsy's recent request to Hun Sen meaningless. It may also mean that there is a lack of coordination between Sam Rainsy and SRP’s supporters.

We should also learn that hostile protests have never been really effective. Trained world’s leaders do not pay much attention or want to help any people who “curse for help.”

Peaceful demonstrations with positive slogans and appeals would bring positive results.Reacting make things worst, responding makes things better.

Democratic lovers should behave better than some dictators who know very little about good manners.

A good manner does matter.

Timothy Chhim
October 23, 2012

A Great Opportunity to Reconcile: Make that phone call now.

A Great Opportunity to Reconcile: Make that phone call now.

When the father is gone, the children should reconcile.

Every adversity, defeat, loss, disappointment carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit, said Dr. Napoleon Hill the author of “Think and Grow Rich” which had sold nearly a billion of copies worldwide.

Regardless of how each of us thinks or feels about King Sihanouk, the majority of Khmer people and the people of the world recognize him as the Father of ALL Cambodians and a god King of Cambodia.

Perhaps Khmers can find the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit from the loss of King Father. 

The very least I can think of now is that the death of King Sihanouk can definitely help bring unity for all Cambodians regardless of their political or religious beliefs. That means it is time for ALL Cambodians to reconcile.

Sam Rainsy should pick up the phone and call Hun Sen to let him know that as one of King Sihanouks’ sons and a son of Cambodia Sam Rainsy will be in Phnom Penh to join Hun Sen in the mourning ceremony of Cambodians “God King” or King Father. 

Hun Sen should reconsider and help facilitate one of his Khmer brothers to join him in such a rarest ceremony. Let King Sihanouk’s spirit leaves this planet in peace. By doing this Sam Rainsy and Hun Sen will both win, hence the Cambodian people will also win.

As a great gesture the Current Cambodian King Sihamoni should use this opportunity to help free all political prisoners including Mam Sonando and others. He should also request Premier Hun Sen to intercede with the Cambodian court to help remove all charges against Sam Rainsy. By doing this King Sihamoni will be remembered as the next great King of Cambodia after King Sihanouk.

Yes, there are more seeds or opportunities than we need to find good things to help Cambodia after her greatest loss in modern time: the death of the God King. 

But, someone needs to take his personal initiative: Make that phone call, now.

Timothy Chhim

October 15, 2012

Good-Bye God King....

Good-Bye God King

Picture: Author's record

For those who dislike the former King, the most joyful day is here. Their wishes are fulfilled and yet their hatred will continue from here to eternity. 

Nothing in this world that anyone can do to heal their injuries and hate—for all they see is what the former King has done wrong. They will consume much energy to talk about “evil” things that they think the King had committed.

For those who look for the King’s positive side, they are mourning the passing away of their revered King. Regardless of what the King had done wrong, they will forgive and willing to forget. Their mind will be at peace and there is no hatred left. Perhaps they will be happier than those who possess hatred...

One chapter of Cambodian history is closed. The talk of the town will continue for a while and then Cambodia will move on without the former King.

The future of Cambodia will depend on whether Cambodians can learn how to build a better Cambodia together. Khmer people need to think right. With accurate thinking Cambodians will be able to see things clearly and in order to think accurately Cambodians must not possess negative emotions for such emotions will lead to more confusion. No one in this world can do things right when they are confused.

Universal law permits no one to become successful when he or she possesses negative emotions such as hatred, revenge, jealousy, anger, fear, greed and superstition, etc…For these reasons the best thing that we all can do is to stop the cycle and the recycling of the above emotions.

For me I would say farewell to the former head of State, the former Prince, and the former King…the history will judge you and the law of cause and effect or Karma which rules the Universe will determine your fate.

Yes, I used to love you when I was once a young high school boy who was diving from the crowd to grab your hand under the hot sun; 

...then I used to hate you when I learned that you allowed the Vietcong and North Vietnamese to use Cambodia to fight the Americans; then I despised you when the Khmer Rouge sent me to be executed.  

Then my heart melted when you decided to turn against the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1979…and the world knows the rest of the story.

Picture: Author's record

…and then the one other thing that we had in common was music. Music has no color and you were a real good musician… And for whatever will happen to Cambodia next, I will always like your music… and I will remember the times when we used to play together…

For yours and my own sake: We are at peace.

R.I.P

Good bye God King!  

Timothy Chhim
October 14, 2012

Letter from Sisowath Sirikmatak to Norodom Sihanouk 08-27-73

To read letter in Khmer, please click here: http://www.box.com/s/vgqn3c6gyphvmbo9ic9t
To read it in English and/or French, please click here: http://www.box.com/s/l47hvx38czt6j70o42l7

Additional reading: http://www.box.com/shared/92vljr5rnn

"Silence is not necessarily golden"