A Change of Guard

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Wednesday 12 November 2014

Overseas Cambodians Told Cyber Law Applies


By Chou Leang Hak

Below is only a segment of a column, in Italic, written by Charles Rollet which was sent to my e-mail earlier. 

PHNOM PENH POST: Overseas Cambodians told cyber law applies  Fri, 7 November 2014 C Rollet
Cambodia's diaspora community is being recruited in a campaign for greater transparency regarding a controversial cybercrime law that critics say would muzzle dissent in the Kingdom. An unofficial copy of the proposed bill leaked in April criminalises online content that “slanders or undermines” government agencies, and according to the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Cambodians living overseas could be held accountable for flouting the law if it passes. “Critically, this law could also give Cambodian authorities extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute ‘crimes’ committed outside of Cambodia,” reads a letter sent from CCIM to several Cambodian-American associations in the US on Tuesday. “As a member of the Cambodian community abroad, this law will directly affect you, and we are therefore asking your help in petitioning the government for greater transparency in the drafting process.” - The Cambodia Daily


And the following is my (Chou Leang Hak's) belief:


There is a passionate war of madness and hatred being fought between two factions; the current Cambodian government vs. "everyone", Khmers and foreigners alike, who are compelled to stand up to this government against its insanity. But what insanity?  This government under this dictatorship of HS is being run NOT according to the definition of its obligation which is to oversee and assist, as needed, the livelihood of its constituents and to safe guard the territorial integrity of the country. But rather the elected body of this government is instead being used as a very secure base, assured by well equipped armed forces, for the Khmer elites to operate and run all sorts of businesses and earn their lavish lifestyle while hundreds of thousands or perhaps millions of Khmer men women and children are living in harsh conditions, let alone the torment of being evicted from their houses and lands, and many of whom go to bed hungry 30 to 40 per cent of the time. And we know all too well all other major issues that plague the Cambodian society under the CPP of HS. Our minds become restless and bothered. And that is the sole reason this unwanted cyber  war is set in motion.    


It's only common sense to ask why other neighboring societies such as Japan or S. Korea, or even Thailand, do not have the burdensome political mess that Cambodia is facing. No diaspora communities of their nationals have ever been so critical of their governments back home. It is obvious that they're pleased with the praiseworthy businesses their governments are conducting. It is only natural that all Khmer nationals, at home and abroad, would eagerly love to stand side by side and support their elected government in their home land - it doesn't matter much even if it's run by the same individual for more than two terms for as long as we can see that the good laws of the land are abided by all and no known criminals allowed to walk free and step on the physical and psychological wounds they inflicted on their victims. But what we have been seeing in Cambodia is quite a contrary to that wish.

Logically, no decent man or woman can and will have the strength of good common sense to scorn and criticize that which is good and respectable anywhere at any time. But the fact is all the members of the CPP are as foolish as ever not to see the real reason that brings about this war. They have not even an ounce of intellectual strength to sit down together in the senate and initiate the exploration of the real root cause and identify all aspects of the problems so to find the cure. They apparently don't know how to do that, and they haven't done it. But in this case to combat the war what they will do next is gather among themselves and say hey let's grab some paper and write out a law so that the world will read and heed and comply. Imagine what will be the next laws the CPP will write if this cyber crime law passes through international stage. Predictably, it will be the laws that prevent the ICC or other international authorities from interfering its internal affair. No matter what they'll do and how they'll run businesses in Cambodia the CPP wants all to respect its laws of no foreign interference. And eventually, they will legalize the use of deadly forces upon all protesters with no challenge. 

To my mind, what the HS administration is doing now, in this case of promoting a cyber crime law, is clearly a "contempt" of true judicial intellectuality. Because evidently this law is written to batter the freedom of speech which is an obstacle to its ill governance but not to raise awareness that all laws passed are to abide by as they guarantee the democratic way of life and defend the freedom of speech. And the CPP wants its new laws that are offensive to this freedom to be recognized and cooperated by all. How would that come about? The current HS government has violated even the Cambodian Constitution for it has time and time again used its forces to cause great bodily harm to the non-violent protesters who only exercised their right that is protected by their Constitution. Many of whom had lost their lives and justice had been tossed aside. In one instance the HS's  violent armed forces were praised with monetary reward for their loyal duty. And this is wrong. Why then is this government now compelled to write some new cyber crime laws to silence the war so it would have less and less obstacles in running its ill businesses "and" above all it expects the world to back it up? Its deliberate move is a contempt of all great minds and it's insane.    

There should be NO petition-begging- to anyone anywhere at any time in this case. But in my opinion there should be a real justice from real sources of judicial system that would demand and guarantee a national forum for all Khmer citizens to voice their grief  so that all issued concerning their daily living can be understood and solved accordingly. What is so difficult about that? Isn't it an "obligation" of the elected government to serve and protect its constituents? Listen to their complaints, accept the truths and solve the damned problems. Case closed. But there are real reasons behind its inability and unwillingness to accept the truths which allow the problems to accumulate. Look!! The truth is if things would go as smoothly as they can be in Cambodia there would be no war of any kind but praise and cheerful hail to the current Khmer government. To my humble mind the existence of the whole gang of CPP is the real problem. This group produces the gloomy political atmosphere in Cambodia for many decades. It's a disgrace to the Khmer race and it needs urgent help in opening its eyes to all aspects of lingering problems that are tormenting the defenseless poor Khmers.

Chou Leang Hak, U.S.A. hakchou@hotmail.com

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