Khmer Circle:
Khmer people in general are kind, compassionate and noble in character. Travellers and visitors to the country have come to appreciate and respect this basic trait. Nevertheless, centuries of misrule via often imposed foreign tyrannies or puppet regimes from the West by the Siamese [Thais] and the East the Annamese or Yuons [Vietnam] have taught them to distrust and resent the sources of these manipulations and tyrannies. Pol Potism is one vehicle or outlet for this historical injustice and experience of national humiliation; self-destructive, obviously, but rooted nonetheless in external designs and ambitions.
When Khmers speak of the 'yuons' or the 'Siems' apolitically and in an ordinary day to day context, there is no indication or evidence to suggest that these terms convey 'derogatory' sentiment and prejudice or imply negativity and, both terms in themselves have never been a bone of contention in that context. In fact, until quite recent times there had been no other words with which in the Khmer language to refer to the two ethnicities or countries in question. Even so and granted, mutual distrust and animosity do exist and the sentiment could - in excess and in some quarters - boil over into extremes or xenophobic expressions.
Where many a pretentious Cambodia critic fails us is accounting for the roots and fuel for these expressions, historically, culturally, or politically. Equally and lest one forgets, the said collective experience of injustice is far from just being historical or limited to history - it is being enacted before our witness in probably their worst form and interpretation.
^^^
2023.02.27
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is continuing efforts to compel political opposition figures to back his ruling Cambodian People’s Party ahead of general elections in July.
Activists from the Candlelight Party — the main challenger to the ruling party — say authorities are defacing and stealing party signs and billboards, and police are monitoring their meetings. Candlelight Party activists in almost all provinces have reported cases of intimidation and harassment, party spokesman Kim Sour Phirith said.
Police and local authorities have threatened those who join the party, saying they will take away their state-issued poverty cards that allow struggling families to collect about 176,000 riels, or U.S. $43 per month, to buy dry food ingredients and products with long shelf lives.
Su Yean, deputy chairman of the party’s executive committee in Tbong Khmum province, said authorities directly and indirectly threatened him and others amid an increase of harassment of the party’s leaders and activists in February.





