The opposition is useless in Cambodia

Khmer Circle: 

 

Have you ever considered allowing these crowds to decide for themselves in an open, free and fair election whether they think the opposition is useless in Cambodia?

 

In fact, the fear of the possibility that the same crowds might turn against the Hun regime has seen the water festival banned successively for a number of years in recent time; a national event and tradition in the national calendar the Khmer people otherwise yearn to mark and celebrate wholeheartedly and instinctively regardless of who rules over them. 

^^^

Leap Chanthavy

Khmer Times
 

 

The huge throngs of people who crowded the river front for this year’s Water Festival. STPM


How many Cambodians would feel the same after enthusiastically enjoying the Water Festival, one of the most vibrant festivals of the year in Cambodia?

How many people would ask why Cambodia needs the opposition when its voice abroad often creates fear and instability in society?

In their memories, people still remember many water festivals that were canceled due to threats of massive protests from the opposition.

The crowd-packed event is reminiscent of a movie called “The Sun Also Rises,” which is a 1957 American film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel of the same name directed by Henry King. The movie features two bullfights and the famous “Running of the Bulls” in Pamplona, Spain. A crowded festival like the one presented in Spain can only be organized and enjoyed by the people in times of peace.

It cannot be organized when the country is faced with instability and insecurity.

If the opposition always presents themselves as the cause of fear and insecurity, probably Cambodia does not need them at all.

During the Water Festival, millions of Cambodians from all over the country gathered along the river, and in the garden in front of the Royal Palace. Some came to cheer for the boats of their own provinces, districts and communes. Some people have come to enjoy the liveliness of people crisscrossing one another, and enjoy losing in a crowd.

But there were also people who really lost in the crowd. At the information center, there were always announcements about kids who had lost their parents. This time, such information can also be found largely through Facebook. How convenient it is to have Facebook your source of many instant information. No one would dare to ask how many Cambodians today don’t know about Facebook.

The riverbanks were full of people but the cameras could mostly capture the colors of their umbrellas used to shelter them from the heat, instead of their smiling faces.

Normally, in the month of Kakdek, in the Khmer calendar, the weather would have been cooler. It is a custom in Cambodia that people get married in the month of Kakdek because the weather would be cold and they need “Phouy Sach” or “skin blanket” to keep themselves warm. Another practical reason is that people do not want to have a wedding during the rainy season.

Water Festival is celebrated at the end of rainy season, to thank mother nature for the abundance of water needed for agriculture.

Practically, rain can spoil the happy celebration, rain can spoil the beautifully decorated Hol or Phamoung (traditional Khmer silk skirts) worn by Khmer ladies, who require two or three hours of embellishment, or rather the heavy makeup, the makeup that transform women unrecognizably.

Nowadays, people would care less about such seasonal traditions. The wedding/convention centers can host the marriage anytime of the year.

Looking at how people enjoy the Water Festival, our common sense would raise the question: is this not the freedom that people want? Is this not the freedom that people from all walks of life can enjoy?

The freedom for which the opposition claims to fight against the allegedly oppressive government is in reality the freedom to live in peace, the freedom to enjoy the water festival, to get lost in the crowd, to shout to the rhythm of the fireworks, to admire the beauty of the shining full moon, to enjoy the light of decorated barges representing different ministries or institutions, to shout in support of the boats from your hometown, to sing along at the concerts of your favorite idols, and to shout and imitate the fighting movements of the famous Kun Khmer (Khmer martial art) fighters in the mobile arenas at the riverside garden in Phnom Penh, and another one in Kambol district of Phnom Penh, as well as in Kampot province, and in Pailin province.

The freedom from fear. The freedom from insecurity. The freedom from instability and chaos.

All these freedoms sound like the freedom from the opposition.

Cambodia’s opposition needs to define their role in terms of safeguarding peace, not breaking it. Or else, it is dubious whether they are trying to destroy peace for the sake of the people or whether they are using people to destroy peace for their own sake.

All Cambodian politicians should take responsibility for safeguarding peace if they are truly patriotic.

National interest must take precedence over political interest.

Politicians can serve their political careers by challenging each other in terms of policy differences, competition of ideas, not deceiving people with indomitable, shameless and unscrupulous lies to incite people to organize a battle on their behalf at the expense of peace.

The opposition should let the Cambodian people enjoy peace.

It is time for the Cambodian people to enjoy after a long, tiring and bloody history. The journey to peace that once seemed impossible. Peace that is now accessible to all Cambodians.

Cambodia under the bright full moon, the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers shining with the reflection of the full moon, the colorful river painted with the reflection of fireworks and the decorated barges.

Cambodia under the shade of peace. The happiness of the nation and its people.

It is not imagination. It is not a dream. This is reality.

This is the new Cambodia.

The author is a geopolitical and strategic analyst. The views expressed here are the author’s own.