Thursday, December 31, 2009
Justice Speech by Chanda Chhay
Originally posted at http://cambodianchildren.blogspot.com
In a corrupt justice system, the application of the law tends to be heavily biased against those who are poor, powerless and politically unimportant. These facts have been well known in Cambodia; but what makes these injustices more painful is the fact that the one who leads the fight against such injustices run away from the problems when the going get tough.
Let me be blunt. I am talking about Mr. Sam Rainsy and the poor, powerless and politically unimportant farmers in Svay Rieng Province, who have been accused of and charged with destroying state property after they pulled out six wooden stakes marking the border between Cambodia and Vietnam. From the video clips, the statements, and the actions of all involved, it is obvious that the farmers who pulled out the wooden stakes which were planted in their rice field took such action at the behest of Mr. Sam Rainsy. They (farmers) were led to believe that what they were doing was right, as a law maker was encouraging them to do so. Alas, when the state deemed the action a criminal act, it is quite unfortunate that the ones who have to face the consequences are the farmers.
Both Mr. Sam Rainsy and the farmers were equally charged with destroying state property by the Cambodian court in Svay Rieng province. It doesn’t matter if the Svay Rieng Court is a Kangaroo Court; Mr. Sam Rainsy and the farmers should confront the court’s proceedings together. A friend in need is a friend in DEED. Mr. Sam Rainsy should not let the poor, powerless, and politically unimportant farmers face the prosecution alone. As a politician, a political party leader, and a person with political means to defend and protect those powerless farmers, Mr. Sam Rainsy has a moral obligation to confront the issues head on. If this means going to prison, so be it. A person, especially a political party leader whose goal is to seek national leadership should not walk away from the sticky situation he has created. Claiming responsibility for one’s action in absentia while letting other partners-in-crime face the consequences alone is not the answer. We all know that in a dire situation and trying time, issuing statements and proclamation are cheap and meaningless. They have little effect in solving the problems. Only concrete actions count and could make a difference.
If my memory is correct, Mr. Sam Rainsy has engaged in Cambodian politics for almost 20 years now. As a politician and a law maker, he should at least be aware of how the Cambodian legal system operates. If he knows, as he claimed, that the Cambodian legal system is corrupt, incompetent, and prone to political influences, Mr. Sam Rainsy should use the opportunity the Svay Rieng Court has given him and his political clout as leader of a political party to expose these abominable weaknesses and bring changes to it. Otherwise, go to Greece and kowtow in front of Socrates statue to seek some divine guidance. Don’t let the poor farmers, especially Ms. Meas Srey, in Svay Rieng down. Those farmers might be naïve, but many of them do take responsibility for their action bravely knowing quite well that their plight depends very much on the whims of the flip-flop, full of promise-breaking politicians.
Chanda Chhay
Washington, D.C.
Let me be blunt. I am talking about Mr. Sam Rainsy and the poor, powerless and politically unimportant farmers in Svay Rieng Province, who have been accused of and charged with destroying state property after they pulled out six wooden stakes marking the border between Cambodia and Vietnam. From the video clips, the statements, and the actions of all involved, it is obvious that the farmers who pulled out the wooden stakes which were planted in their rice field took such action at the behest of Mr. Sam Rainsy. They (farmers) were led to believe that what they were doing was right, as a law maker was encouraging them to do so. Alas, when the state deemed the action a criminal act, it is quite unfortunate that the ones who have to face the consequences are the farmers.
Both Mr. Sam Rainsy and the farmers were equally charged with destroying state property by the Cambodian court in Svay Rieng province. It doesn’t matter if the Svay Rieng Court is a Kangaroo Court; Mr. Sam Rainsy and the farmers should confront the court’s proceedings together. A friend in need is a friend in DEED. Mr. Sam Rainsy should not let the poor, powerless, and politically unimportant farmers face the prosecution alone. As a politician, a political party leader, and a person with political means to defend and protect those powerless farmers, Mr. Sam Rainsy has a moral obligation to confront the issues head on. If this means going to prison, so be it. A person, especially a political party leader whose goal is to seek national leadership should not walk away from the sticky situation he has created. Claiming responsibility for one’s action in absentia while letting other partners-in-crime face the consequences alone is not the answer. We all know that in a dire situation and trying time, issuing statements and proclamation are cheap and meaningless. They have little effect in solving the problems. Only concrete actions count and could make a difference.
If my memory is correct, Mr. Sam Rainsy has engaged in Cambodian politics for almost 20 years now. As a politician and a law maker, he should at least be aware of how the Cambodian legal system operates. If he knows, as he claimed, that the Cambodian legal system is corrupt, incompetent, and prone to political influences, Mr. Sam Rainsy should use the opportunity the Svay Rieng Court has given him and his political clout as leader of a political party to expose these abominable weaknesses and bring changes to it. Otherwise, go to Greece and kowtow in front of Socrates statue to seek some divine guidance. Don’t let the poor farmers, especially Ms. Meas Srey, in Svay Rieng down. Those farmers might be naïve, but many of them do take responsibility for their action bravely knowing quite well that their plight depends very much on the whims of the flip-flop, full of promise-breaking politicians.
Chanda Chhay
Washington, D.C.
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