STOP CORRUPTION FROM WITHIN!

ON CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM, ETC. 

"People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." You should not criticize other people for having the same faults, same mistakes and the same sins that you yourself have.

Politicians are trying to point fingers at each other. Many (if not all) claim that they love Cambodia and her people; however, such love-- for Cambodia and Cambodians-- comes very last.

Corruption permeates Cambodian society for many decades. It is is our personal, mental and social heredity. Cambodian social problems are the reflection of what we have thought and done for generations. THEY ARE OUR OWN CREATION.

It is good that many Cambodians are now realizing that it is our own thoughts and deeds or actions that have been destroying Cambodia and our own people. Looking to blame other people or nations for our own faults is a deadly habit.

Cambodians need to solve our own problems. No other countries can help us forever. And it starts with each Cambodian--everyone of us.

CLEAN OUR MIND SO THAT OUR BODY, HOME, FAMILY, SOCIETY AND COUNTRY WILL BE CLEAN.

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"Silence is not necessarily golden"

Clean your house first!

ON CORRUPTION:

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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"

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

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

Watch for the ghost supporters:

Ghost supporters are everywhere, there are plenty of them. If you look for ghost supporters and hidden members, of course, you will not find them.

Besides ghost leaders who never show up to support and to lead your party you also need to know that there are many ghost supporters and hidden members who will remain in secret and silent forever.

Local leaders will tell you that many of real supporters are afraid to come out to support your party. Regardless of their no-shows, according to the local leaders, those ghost members need your assistance with the money, too.

It is impossible to verify these members because they are really hidden.  Frankly speaking, majority of them exist only inside those local leaders' head.  The numbers of those ghosts are fictitious.

Don't count on their name, address and identification card because these things can be falsified. The money you spend on ghost members is likened to the money that Mr. Lon Nol's Generals spent on their ghost soldiers in the 70's.

The fear is real:

Although the fear of an oppressive regime is real in Cambodia, you need to understand that many people including professional politicians had used such a condition as alibis for their personal benefits at your expense. They would claim those hidden supporters as one of their reasons or sufficient grounds to ask you for more monetary support. You must not let your heart control you head. The expenses on ghost members and supporters must be brought under control, otherwise your funds will be exhausted much sooner.

It is good to remind yourself that politicking in Cambodia has become more like a seasonal business. Many leaders and supporters are very sensitive about the way they do business.  You may not received full support from your local leaders if you ask for clarification or transparency about how the money was/is spent. Therefore, you need to be cautious to prevent a possible backstabbing in the future. Many times it is the enemy from within that really cause you headaches, not the CPP.

You also need to be aware that many people who claim to support the oppositions are those members of the CPP who were allowed to participate in your party's gatherings. They do that for their personal interests. These people without fail would go back to their base and vote for their own party. When your political leaders brag about the participation of the CPP's members in your party's meetings, you should not count on those people's supports.

Just remember that this is how most people who live in many Cambodian communities interact. They are very loyal to those who feed them. They may like your party and realize that you have "good" ideas, but at the end of the campaign season they will vote for their friends, relatives and their community leaders who work, drink, play and pray together. Social conformity/heredity , communal norm and personal interests lead them to make such a decision.  Those who cross the political line will be outnumbered and outcast.  Hence they rather yield to such pressures.

The empty promises:

Your political party may have promised many things in the past, and they will do it again in the future. Nevertheless, none of those promises has yet been materialized.  This is one of the weaknesses that the oppositions face in every election. This upcoming election, for example, some of their promises are too good to be true. 

Somehow Cambodians nowadays are very skeptical of any campaign promises.  They have learned "well" and they are more intelligent than they were in the past.  The oppositions are somehow tainted as the parties that are poor, broke and unable to support themselves.  Internal fighting and defecting also the causes of the suspicion.

If the promises are put in writing, you may expect some mocking remarks from many voters. Many Cambodians now don't read and rather demand and expect bottles (of white liquor) not written pamphlets describing your promises to bring them a better future. They want to see, touch, taste and feel instant gratifications.

There is no immediate solution to this chronic immoral issue, it has been embedded in the mind of many Cambodians for decades. Education maybe the answer, but excessive drinking, smoking, gambling, prostitution and other dishonest behaviors may hinder their learning process. You can blame the current government for this, but it is appalling to learn that most of opposition leaders and members, too, are in the same boat. This is where democratic processes in corrupt society tarnish good and fair outcomes of the elections

One thing that every leader, especially leaders of the oppositions, can do and need to do instantaneously is to change himself or herself from within.  Be a good leader! Everyone  needs to lead not just in politics but in moral, mental and spiritual as well.  Personal growth is the most important development everyone of us need to do in order to effectively help develop a nation, region and the whole world.  However, developing ourselves is the starting point.

Part-time politicians:

You need to realize that many politicians, political leaders, and supporters of the oppositions are seasonal and they are only active during the campaign season. For that reason, the level of cooperation among them is very low. It seems that they are simply in politics for the money. To them, if you do not have enough money you are nobody. Your knowledge and education or your backgrounds carry little weight comparing to money.

You may run into a lot of frustration when you see people with less education, little experience, lack of good morality  yet they are listed as top candidates to become Cambodian lawmakers. You should be reminded that in Cambodia there is a perverted proverb that says: the money is number one, the woman (other women) is number two, and the party is number three. National interests are probably the least priority on their mind.

It is unfortunate that many part-time politicians can dominate political decisions because they are related and befriend with top leaders of your political party.  This issue, too, must be addressed!

To be continued...

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

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

4-Watch for the misinformation:

It is tricky indeed when "misinformation" becomes the only "information" you are given and you need to really digest.

As an outsider who have been exposed to different standard of morality, belief and background. You will have to learn how to separate facts and fictions on your own. Propaganda is being used and abused not only to mislead the public, but you can be deceived as well.

You may hear statements like these: "The whole country is supporting us! (like the collapse of the Earth and Water )", "The CPP is crumbled and many of its members will join us!", "Renown elites with high educational backgrounds or degrees will be supporting us and many of them are supporting us in secret."

The above statements may be used to lure you in, to secure your support and to give you hope. One of the biggest misconceptions is the notion that many CPP members or people who work  for the CPP support the CPP because they have no choice. It's a delusion. 

All CPP members are in "the CPP" together for better or worse. With Cambodia's national resources under its management for decades, this organization has become financially strong and it has given plenty of benefits and reasons for its members to bind together for life. Thanks to the many overseas Cambodians who have used their skills to help make that happen.

Although some of the so-called hidden well educated people may be sympathetic with your cause, they are not courageous enough to join your party. Their self-interests are still bigger than what we call national interests and in addition they do not have much confidence in your leaders. Your leaders know this quite well that  your party will never get the real support from the "ghosts," but telling you the truth is not an option. Those invisible educated individuals will remain unknown, perhaps, forever.

The best way for you to deal with this is to ask your leaders point blank for the names of those would be supporters. Generally, you will hear silence or you would be told that those names are being withheld for future announcement or for their safety. Be prepared for the "no show" meetings from those ghosts.

Most information you receive are distorted.  You will hear some party's leaders misinform you about the many things including the half-truth about your party and its organization. 

What you call the "political party" is merely a group of individuals who operate their political business as a private enterprise owned by a few influential people. This must be restructured . Hence, do not expect to see your party leaders use democratic principles as you know or learn them in the West. Whether it is intentionally or not, the word "democracy" is improperly used and in principle it is grossly misapplied and manipulated.

Most importantly you should take notice and be aware that the organizational structures of your party are still weak and fragile.  It is unquestionable. Most of its leaders are not well trained or simply inexperienced to lead or to follow. Some are just the "24-hour" recruits. This may relate to the financial problems--the problems that can be addressed with the changing of the mental and moral attitude of your political leaders.

Financially, your party is mostly backed by dwindling donors from overseas Cambodians. Unless a drastic change is made the supports from these people will come to an end. Leadership qualities, integrity, good morality and skills must be installed. 

Regardless how much you love your country, if you don't have the money to run the campaigns, you will not get enough votes to win additional seats. 

You may wonder if such an organization can effectively run Cambodia, right? 

Just remember this: if you have doubt about your organization, other Cambodian people will surely have the same impression.

To be continued...

Mr. President: Don't forget to say Hello to the King

Mr. President: Don't forget to say Hello to the King

AP reported that, “White House officials emphasized that Obama would not have visited Cambodia had it not been hosting two regional summit meetings the U.S. attends, a rare admonishment of a country on its own soil.”

It is understandable that Cambodia may not be good enough to earn respect from the U.S president at this time. However, America can be tough only with Hun Sen, the Cambodia’s strongman, but it should not be so tough with the Cambodian people and tradition. Cambodians had suffered enough from some of the American past policies that may have contributed to such atrocity.  

While he is already there, in the Cambodian Capital, it would be a nice gesture if President Obama would show some respects to Cambodian people by stopping by to say hello to Cambodia’s King and offer personal condolences for the passing of the late King. 

Better yet, to help rebuild U.S.--Cambodia’s relationship Premier Hun Sen should help make an arrangement to have such a visit possible.  

Cambodians will be more resentful with the Americans if President Obama is seen to be disrespectful, arrogant or snobbish to Cambodia. In addition, Hun Sen will be able to use such attitude as an alibi to justify his move--- against the United States or to become closer to China.