Monday, 13 January 2014
The Cambodia Herald
After spending the New Year with my family in the United States, I decided to cut my holiday short and return to Cambodia given the recent political upheavalin Phnom Penh. At this time, my thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost their lives on Veng Sreng Boulevard as well as to the family and friends they left behind. My in-box was flooded with questions and comments by Cambodians concerned that this tragedy and the new ban on demonstrationswouldhave a serious negative impact onthe country’s democratic development. For example, Vorleak commented, “I am afraid that our hopes for a true democracy died with the protestors that were killed.” Additionally, Makara asked, “Do you still have any hope that we can find a way out of the political crisis?”
It seems to me that there are two ways people can react when faced with tragedy in life – we can either lose hope and give into despair, or we can learn from the tragedy how to build a better future. For my part, I choose the path that holds the promise for a brighter tomorrow. As Robert Kennedy, the brother of slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy, once said, “Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.”
I have a strong faith in the ability of the Cambodian people to overcome adversity and tragedy, and I know they have a burning desire to see their country’s democracy grow. The unprecedented exercise of the freedoms of expression and assembly we have witnessed over the past several months have been a watershed development in Cambodia’s modern history. Until recent events, the relatively peaceful nature of protests and the responsible and restrained manner in which the Royal Government provided security for these events demonstrated an important expansion of the political space in Cambodia.
The deadly confrontation with labor protestors and the ban on the political opposition’s demonstrations, however, represent a significant setback in Cambodia’s democratic development. To resume Cambodia’s progress, I believe that all parties must re-commit to non-violence and dialogue.While the United States recognizes the fundamental responsibility of the Royal Government to maintain order and protect the general welfare of its people, appropriate proportional responses must be used. Part of exercising restraint is adhering to the rule of posse comitatus,which prohibits the use ofmilitary force in responding to civilian crises. Abiding by this principle in Cambodia will increase its citizen’s confidence in a non-violent framework and the rule of law.
Likewise, the future of Cambodia’s democracy depends on respect forthe freedoms of expression and assembly.The ability to freely voice one’s opinion is an indispensable aspect of effective, democratic governance. I amdeeply disappointed by the Phnom Penh Municipality’s decision to ban opposition demonstrations. I urge the Royal Government of Cambodia to reverse thisprohibition and once again facilitate the exercise of the universal freedoms of peaceful expression and assembly.
The need for sustained dialogue between the two major political parties is more urgent than ever.Both sides must accept responsibility for promoting peaceful cooperation to resolve ongoing disputes. Court summonses for opposition and union leaders, however, will make it difficult, if not impossible, to conduct productive negotiations. I am equally concerned about the 23 detained protesters in Kampong Cham and the apparent violation of their basic rights guaranteed by the Cambodian constitution. The judicial proceedings for the opposition leaders, union leaders, and the detained protestors must be transparent and respect due process and the rule of law. Addressing these issues isa critical step for the Royal Government to take and would demonstrate its willingness to work with the opposition and protesterstofind solutions to the challenges facing Cambodia. It is only through the hard work of negotiation and compromise that a sustainable and equitable way forward can be found.
In 2014, the U.S. Embassy’stop priority will remain supporting Cambodia’s transition to a strong and enduring democracy that respects human rights, encourages civic participation, and practices government accountability. An effective democratic system empowers citizens to play an active role in solving the country’s problems. Given the Cambodian people’s active involvement in the post-election discourse, I have great hope that all elements of Cambodian society – the Royal Government, the opposition, unions, workers, and the grassroots – can work together to resolve the ongoing political impasse through peaceful means and productive dialogue.
Thank you all very much for reading my first column of 2014. I look forward to a productive year of discussions regarding the various challenges and opportunities that await us in the months ahead. I truly believe that our ongoing dialogue contributes to a more effective partnership between our two countries. Please continue to e-mail your questions and comments to me at AskAmbToddPP@state.gov and comment on my blog at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd.
William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
Written by barokah
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