CAMBODIA, CAMBODIA HISTORY. SOUTH EAST ASIAN HISTORY, KHMER HISTORY
Has the past come back to haunt me?
I wanted to write this book since I was 5 years’ old, at the
end of the civil war 1970 to 1975. Finally I started to write it in May 2011,
after the impact of the “chicken shootout” in Broadbeach, which made me sick
for days.
While doctor and I were busy editing my book in late 2013, we
thought we should go to Cambodia on a book tour in early 2014, to promote and
launch this revealing and inspirational memoir. We were last in Cambodia in
late 2008, as part of doctor’s disastrous (and stupid) “migration projects”.
During the writing and editing time, I was a bit suspicious,
recalling that in the past the Cambodian government (or Prime Minister Hun Sen),
had banned girls wearing mini-skirts and revealing dresses on TV or in public
places. I heard from my family that the government frowned on the celebration
of Valentine’s Day.
I did not take this seriously. In late 2013, my sister Sokheim
told me to get permission from the Ministry of Culture and Education to promote
my book in Cambodia! This was because my book contains some political history
and comment, and in particular, many explicit sex scenes.
What is happening in Cambodia?
Therefore at the end of 2013, as the time had come to start
promotion, I decided to do some research on the internet. I was shocked and
devastated to discover that the Cambodian authorities now had draconian and
oppressive censorship regulations and practices. This covered any political
comment, or anything to do with morals or traditions.
We heard that many writers, journalists and others had been
jailed or their lives threatened if they do not comply. The effect now was that
everyone was frightened to say anything the censors may not like; hence there is
self-censorship. My proposed book tour was off.
This official or unofficial censorship also concerns culture
or morals; what right does a government official have to decide about these
things? Where is freedom of speech and expression now? It appears from our
internet research that the regime is restricting and clamping down on these
freedoms. Locals are brainwashed to believe that all this is necessary to
protect public morals, traditions, and is needed for stability in the country.
Where have our
freedoms gone?
In the past, before the civil war, and since early 1990 until
about 2007, there was freedom of speech and expression. Books and magazine
contained information about sex, even explicit sex-related stories. So why has
this all changed?
For me it is clear: the present regime is afraid of dissent,
so it has clamped down on social media and the internet. We read that internet
café’s were going to be banned within 500 meters of any school. I wouldn’t be
surprised if international phone calls are being tapped. Who knows, what was
revealed by Edward Snowden could equally apply to Cambodia. It is a frightening
thought.
Afraid to visit my homeland
Now I am even scared just to go to Cambodia to visit my
family, as long as this repressive Hun Sen dictatorship continues. Who knows
how long it will last?
What a tragedy, now that I am about to reveal and promote my
memoir, I cannot go to my own beloved country. All the sacrifices made by my
father, those who joined him (his “band of brothers”), and those who died for
freedom and democracy, must be turning in their graves. Have they all died in
vain?
The last elections in July 2013 revealed that the younger
generation is not going to tolerate this situation forever. I saw on facebook (“I
love Cambodia, hot news 2), and heard from relatives, about the ongoing street
protests. During this time, Cambodians were not able to leave the country, or
apply for passports. Expatriate Cambodian opponents of the government (visiting
Cambodia), and many foreign reporters, were deported.
I read in newspapers that millions of young voters (like my
two nephews) could not vote because the authorities made excuses not to
register them (like keeping offices for registration closed). I also heard that
corruption was getting worse, with VIPs and district and provincial
governments, grabbing well-located and productive land all over the country. This
includes some of my family’s land.
Cambodia, one of the worst in the world
We saw on the internet, in a ranking of countries by freedom
of speech and expression, that Cambodia now ranked 143 out of 175 – one of the
worst in the world: Reporters Without Borders,
press freedom index 2013,
http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2013,1054.html This report comments that
Cambodia has dropped
to 143rd place, because authoritarianism and censorship are on the increase.
I would like my book to be another voice calling for change,
and for restoration of normal human freedoms, as enjoyed by most western
countries. I am speaking out against injustice. Doctor is completely on my
side, we are fighting for freedom of speech and expression, just like Socrates
did in 450 BC. Citizens of all countries should be free to question anyone,
including the Authorities.
The
government decides what is right or true
A post in the Cambodia Daily on 27 May 2013 refers to the
National Election Committee (NEC), which insisted that
the intention is not to limit freedom of speech and expression ahead of
July’s national election.
“As we know, many
people right now are using social media and especially the youth. We want them
to share the right information about the election,” Mr. Nytha said.
President
of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia,
Hang Puthea, also said the NEC was right to encourage caution on social media.
“Relating to the use of social media, users should post the truth,” Mr. Puthea
said. “Facebook has two faces - it provides full information, but also
sometimes it causes problems.”
So
now a government official can determine what “the right information” is, and
what “the truth” is. I found a regulation issued by the Royal Government
of Cambodia, 19 September 2013, relating to freedom of expression in social
media, internet, newspapers, radio “and others”. Essentially it provides that there is freedom
of expression on condition that there is no criticism of the king or the
government. It also provides that freedom of expression must be in the context
of preserving morals, the economy, security of the country and peace – which
the government will determine.
Obviously, there is no freedom of expression or speech in
Cambodia anymore. This is very sad. My political comment, but definitely my
book’s sex scenes, will put me in jail on arrival. Now Cambodia is ruled by a
tyrant, a dictator, and has become a police state. The past election was
stolen. Everyone is afraid. The “winds of change” must sweep, even howl, over
Cambodia.
Coming book
(non-fiction): “Cry my Beloved Country”
I am writing a new book about Cambodia, particularly its
political history before, during and after the Khmer Rouge. It will highlight
the corrupt regimes since liberation, and what should be done to restore
democracy. For details about the new book, see:
I am a “Woman General”
I am fighting for democracy in Cambodia, doing this daily
through strong and deadly posts on facebook pages. Thousands are following my
posts. The CNRP, the official opposition party led by Sam Rainsy, has now got
into bed with that tyrant, Hun Sen. Now there is no effective opposition
anymore.
Summary of major
political events in Cambodia, since 1979
For those not familiar with recent Cambodian history, and to
put my memoir into recent perspective, I provide the following very brief
summary.
1979-1989: Cambodia
under pro-Vietnamese governments. Heng Samrin (ex Khmer Rouge) the first prime
minister 1979-1991, followed by
Hun
Sen. Ongoing guerilla warfare by Khmer Rouge. Vietnamese troops withdraw in
1989.
1989-1998: Paris Peace
Agreement between factions. The Monarchy restored. Khmer Rouge guerillas
surrender, granted amnesty (1994). Funcinpec under Prince Ranariddh wins 1993
elections. Hun Sen mounts a coup against Ranariddh, and takes over (1997).
April 1998, Pol Pot dies in his jungle hideout. Hun Sen’s CPP wins elections.
1998-2013: Hun Sen
wins election 2002. Hun Sen re-elected in 2004 after over a year of deadlock.
King abdicates. Tribunal to try Khmer Rouge leaders approved by the UN, April
2005. Sam Rainsy becomes the opposition leader. Nuon Chea (brother number 2)
arrested September 2007. Hun Sen wins new elections, July 2008, criticized by
EU monitors. Hun Sen wins elections July 2013, opposition and outside observers
allege widespread irregularities and fraud. The opposition refers to the 2013
election as “the stolen election”.
Ongoing protests against the election result. Factory workers
protest against slave-labor working conditions. Hun Sen’s CPP kills protestors.
New laws restrict freedom of speech and expression. Political turmoil spreads
into the provinces.
Blogs on political
events in Cambodia
The following blogs will keep readers up to date with
political events in Cambodia:
See me live on
YouTube
Recent event - repugnant
refugee agreement
A recent event in September 2014 is the
shyster Abbott-government dumping 40,000 or more unwanted (mainly Muslim)
refugees on Cambodia, and bribing that tyrant Hun Sen with billions to
facilitate this. This is discussed in detail in Chapter 47, "Living in
Australia - great country, pity about the (white) people".
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SOKHOM PRINS - AUTHOR, WOMAN GENERAL, FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY |
