Tuesday, May 5, 2015

[UPDATED May 5] Hun Sen's Last Chance: Promising Culture of Dialogue to usher in Reconciliation - commentary by Ms. Theary C. Seng

See Honorable Exit Strategy for Hun Sen


Hun Sen's Last Chance:
Promising Culture of Dialogue
to usher in Reconciliation

Theary C. Seng
(Kirirom, 27 April 2015, edited/expanded 29 April, 30 April, 4-5 May)
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COMMENTARY
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[excerpts]

In one masterstroke, Hun Sen could make all serious reprisals obsolete by accepting Sam Rainsy’s offer of reconciliation by genuinely reforming and making way to step down peacefully.  Any lawsuit will be greatly deflated with a genuine reconciliation.  

Second, Hun Sen’s bloody legacy of the past 30 years can be redeemed, his children’s future given a cleaner start.  And this can only happened with reconciliation and the peaceful transfer of power.  

Imagine the materials being written or to be written condemning Hun Sen’s rule and his crimes.  As the Gang of Four (Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and wife Thirith) and S-21 Duch could not have imagined, shrouded in the damp of the Cold War and darkness of communism, international law catching up with them and the mounds of materials convicting them in the public arena almost 40 years later, so Hun Sen and his CPP must realize how much more the materials and greater the condemnation in the age of social media and liberalism? ...

The question is for Hun Sen and Hun Sen alone.  The redemption is also for Hun Sen alone, even if the fruits will flow to the larger Khmer society.  Everyone gives lip service to a “win-win” situation, but the hard reality is still zero-sum gamesmanship, an all-or-nothing, either-you-or-me politics.

In this Culture of Dialogue, we are beginning to see genuine efforts to change this zero-sum mentality to one where everyone wins.  For this Culture of Dialogue to be workable everyone must win and that possibility must be understood and believed by the individuals involved, here mainly Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy. 



5 comments:

  1. Ms. Theary Séng [aka Khmer Democrat],

    As a private Cambodian-American citizen like yourself, we are not underestimating Sam's [Rainsey] political capabilities nor are we overlooking HUN's [Sen] 30-years plus of culture shock, but the fact remains that HUN SEN has been too deep into serving the Viet's interest [to the point of no return]. Be pragmatic - how would you, Ms. Theary Seng, override the Viet majority's voice [quantitatively, you tell us] in Cambodia. Regardless of the new NEC, and everything else, Ms. Séng! Khmer [Cambodian] has been dead a long time ago. HUN SEN will never leave his Viet's slave post, ever!!!
    Respectfully,
    Kal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:09 AM

      That is very depressingly pessimistic to say the least.

      Delete
    2. Well, give me something optimistic at best if you could please?

      Delete
  2. A picture is worth a thousand words [as the saying goes], but yours up there speaks millions, Ms. Theary Séng [aka Khmer Democrat]! And thanks a million for your priceless commentary.

    Kal

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2:57 PM

    A fascinating piece of work ,yet it gives a scenario that threatens hun sen and his cpp clans.

    Jackel

    ReplyDelete