From: Alternatives Watch <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Jan 9, 2010 at 3:42 PM Subject: Five Second Heroism To: Alternatives Watch <[email protected]>
Alternatives Watch – 10i10 FIVE SECOND HEROISM SRP president Sam Rainsy, who is evading an arrest warrant for inciting racial discrimination and wilfully damaging state properties offers he will return from exile to face whatever the government has in store him if it releases villagers jailed in connection with the removal of six temporary border poles, and returns to them their land that they claim the poles have chipped away to neighbouring Vietnam. The president acts heroic. He says, “I am willing to die so that the country can live, so that all Khmers have land, and decent, respectable livelihood”. He demands he be prosecuted in Hanoi so that Cambodians and the world can watch him denouncing Vietnam’s violation of Cambodia’s territory. The heroic gesture generates an emotional outburst among his supporters who are led to believe he would return to face the music; some beg him not to. But returning to Cambodia is not really on the president’s card. After making the offer, he says he is waiting for any response before his next move, and only then, “I will consult with my colleagues in Cambodia and abroad to decide on the next step”. This means the president keeps open the Paris option even if his offer is accepted. Furthermore, to ensure that the offer is outright unacceptable, he now demands the government release “all farmers” – not just victims of the pole removal – being detained for protesting land grabbing, and gives back their property. However, if the offer were genuine, Sam Rainsy’s commitment to die for the country might be misplaced. First, if the SRP is running some kind of a war against Vietnam and its beneficiary, it may be wise to note what US general George S Patton has to say: “No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” The president would need to live, and be creative to make his opponents die for their country, which he may find it too tough. Second, the two wishes – all the farmers would be released from jail and get their land back, and Cambodians would live happily ever after (without Vietnam breathing down their neck) – might not materialise after his demise. They would be possible only if Vietnam honoured the exchange, or with a regime change in Cambodia. But retired King Sihanouk could attest Vietnam does not have a good track record of honouring its promises. Thus, the regime change may become necessary, and the task of mobilising sufficient “people power” would fall on the SRP. It is most unlikely, however, that the SRP would be able to muster sufficient power to force the regime change, to make the president’s sacrifice worthwhile. Among the party’s claimed membership of over 750,000, only about 3,000 of them bother to sign a petition calling on the King and King Father to intervene and restore their president’s immunity. Therefore, whether the offer is accepted or not, it sounds heroic for at least five seconds. Ung Bun Ang Quotable Quote: “The hero appears only when the tiger is dead.” Anonymous. Burmese proverb. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Alternatives Watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<alternatives-watch%[email protected]> . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/alternatives-watch?hl=en.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org
