Thursday, June 04, 2009 Markus Karbaum's "Cambodia Under Hun Sen"
Book Review Published by The Southeastern Globe Magazine May 2009 "[Karbaum] suggests that when Hun Sen steps down, there will be a more "democratic" government in charge." Dec. 25, 1978 PM Pham Van Dong launched an invasion of Cambodia. Some 100,000 Vietnamese with 20,000 KUFNS troops, under the direction of Gen.Van Tien Dung, launch an invasion of Cambodia. UN Passes Strong Resolution on Cambodia Human Rights Abuses Feb. 27, 1982 : UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva adopted a resolution condemning Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia as a violation of Cambodian human rights. The vote was 28 in favor, 8 against, and 5 abstentions. Oct. 21, 1986 The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/41/6, by vote of 116-21 with 13 abstentions, calling for a withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. 100 TORTURE CENTERS across CAMBODIA. Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia 1979-1989 under Le Duc Tho rule. An estimated 460 000 innocent Cambodians died , killed , tortured, etc... 100 Torture centers were established across Cambodia. (Methods of torture described to Amnesty International). Methods of torture described to Amnesty International as being used by the Vietnamese forces of invasion and occupation of Cambodia under Le Duc Tho's rule, from 1979-1989, through the CPP/HUN SEN regime.( an estimated 460 000 innocent Cambodians died during that period) 1. Beatings with truncheons, sharp-edged wooden staves, and iron bars and whippings with chains and rubber hoses.( Methods of torture described to Amnesty International) 2. Near-suffocation with plastic bags,( Methods of torture described to Amnesty International) 3. Near-drowning in vats of water,( Methods of torture described to Amnesty International(Methods of torture described to Amnesty International) 4. Burial alive, and(Methods of torture described to Amnesty International) IT CONFIRMS BY THIS BOOK : on the behavior and character of a Vietnamese. BOOK " GIAI PHONG " by T Terzani. It describes a Vietnamese as THIEF, A LIAR, A KILLER, A DECEIVER , a sleeper ...... America too, she sees the Vietnamese leaders as liars expressed in this statement made by the US President Reagan. US president Reagan calls Vietnam to restore Cambodia Independence . President Reagan's address to the 43d Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York,September 26, 1988. "Mr. Secretary-General, there are new hopes for Cambodia, a nation whose freedom and independence we seek just as avidly as we sought the freedom and independence of Afghanistan. We urge the rapid removal of all Vietnamese troops ...." DOWN WITH THE COMMUNISTS BE THEY CHINESE OR VIETNAMESE Winston Churchill once remarked: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." In his analysis of Cambodia's political System, produced for Germany's Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development, Markus Karbaum seems to suggest that its current government employs an autocratic mandate that is in many ways the antithesis of the liberal democracy that Churchill saw as the least of the evils of governance. Since the early 1990s the international Community has implemented programmes to encourage the establishment of a truly democratic System in Cambodia, but the author believes the country remains mired in a climate of nepotism, fear, violence and corruption. Cambodia Under Hun Sen is a comprehensive portrayal of the kingdom's political setup and an astute analysis of the way in which its prime minister maintains his grip on the reins of power. Karbaum pays particular attention to the country's electoral system and examines the level of legitimacy of the most recent polls, which returned Hun Sen to power with a landslide of support. Karbaum also studies what he believes is a recurring pattern of political violence, even though all evidence points to a vast improvement in that area over successive elections. He also analyses the country's economic development in the light of persistent charges of corruption from both inside and outside the nation's borders. Karbaum feels he needs to question the legitimacy of the entire System of governance based on what he describes as Hun Sen's "neo-patriarchal style". Fortunately, and quite rightly, Karbaum concludes that democratic values are well established in the country. Perhaps the only real quibble he has with the democratic process is that too few schemes allow grass roots representatives to communicate issues directly to those in power — except, of course, at election time. Although, as a political analyst, he will recognise that Cambodia's progressive foundations have been achieved by decisive decision-making amidst a dislocated and chaotic political environment. Karbaum has to balance his criticisms with the strength of Hun Sen's support across all sections of modern society despite his "undemocratic" tactics. He suggests that when Hun Sen steps down, there will be a more "democratic" government in charge. Through this he sees the strengthening of a liberal and democratic ethos throughout the country's institutions - hopefully, allied to like economic achievements. Given that the book is a highly coherent and unique study of a little-known political arena, an English-language version is in the pipeline. _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. 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