Honorable Exit Strategy for Hun Sen, Commentary by Theary C. Seng, 17 Sept. 2013

https://app.box.com/s/oafenpevlkhz3rs2wrq3

1.9 million hits for this commentary HONORABLE EXIT STRATEGY FOR HUN SEN I wrote on 17 Sept. 2013, almost two months after the July 2013 elections during the Season of Cambodia Flourishing, of high hopes for regime change.

Hun Sen is now given another rare and LAST opportunity by and only with Sam Rainsy. I am hopeful of and support this "Culture of Dialogue", as the offer of reconciliation by Sam Rainy is genuine and I believe Hun Sen knows it's genuine (which is important and needed for it to be long-lasting) However, we still need Kem Sokha and civil society individuals like Brad Adams and myself to put pressure on Hun Sen to know deeply what is at stake for him and his family by reminding him of his bloody legacy which are documented and potentially part of a legal brief. Yes, the stakes are also high for Sam Rainsy and the CNRP, but not as high as for Hun Sen. 

Even if hopeful, the situation is still new and premature to ascertain whether it will be a South Africa-like transformative moment, whether Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy could be Cambodia's Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem De Klerk.

A more formal commentary tomorrow.

- Theary C. Seng, 27 April 2015

* * *

Honorable Exit Strategy for Hun Sen
in the Season of Cambodia Flourishing
Theary C. Seng

Phnom Penh, 17 September 2013

On 22 July 2013, I had written that it is in “Hun Sen’s long-term personal interest of survival for himself and his future generations” to step down, that it is the “most face-saving option, and potentially most honorable in salvaging their goods and legacy”.  

Read full commentary here...