Cambodian democracy alive and well

In response to the editorial, I wish to clarify the following points. 

First, Cambodia today is not the same Cambodia of yesterday. To state that “Hun Sen has done nothing over the past two decades to support the fundamental principles of democracy” is a calumny. Cambodia has thousands of civil-society organisations and a free press. Please open your eyes and look around at the countries in this region and around the globe. You can also do an introspection of your own society as well, before you judge others.

Second, Cambodia does not have only one opposition leader or one opposition political party, as the article implied. In the upcoming elections on July 28, Cambodia will have eight parties, and many of them are opposition parties.

Third, the Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen did not change the “game”, as the article said in attempting to manufacture facts. He did not topple Prince Norodom Ranariddh from power in July 1997. It was Prince Ranarridh who brought Khmer Rouge soldiers to Phnom Penh in order to grab power. It was Samdech Techo Hun Sen who was the victim of the July 1997 event. Is there a political motivation to rewrite the history of Cambodia?

Fourth, Cambodia has political prisoners? Sam Rainsy has never been imprisoned in a Cambodian jail. Yes, he was convicted on several occasions for the crimes he committed. Despite conviction, it was Samdech Techo Hun Sen who requested His Majesty the King to pardon Sam Rainsy, in the spirit of national reconciliation and democracy, as has been done again in order to allow Sam Rainsy to participate in the upcoming elections. Therefore, to say “he has been imprisoned several times” is a complete lie and a serious act of manipulation.

Fifth, it is ludicrous to state that “Hun Sen and his CPP seem fearful of their opponent’s popularity”. Neither Samdech Techo Hun Sen nor the CPP is fearful of the opposition in the upcoming elections. All of the parties have been actively campaigning in an open and conducive environment. And with the return and participation of Sam Rainsy, it proves once again that Samdech Techo Hun Sen and the CPP always welcome opposition leaders to participate in the elections.

Sixth, Cambodia today is an open society, with a functioning democracy. Foreign media, such as Radio Free Asia, Voice of America and Radio France International, just to name a few, have been broadcasting freely in the country, including during the present election campaign. 

Furthermore, Cambodia is one of the very few countries in the world that has allowed the UN Centre for Human Rights and UN Secretary-General’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to operate. So to accuse the government of having a “poor human-rights record” and “the suppression of political opponents” is either complete defamation or an attempt to paint a bad picture of Cambodia.

Koy Kuong 

Under Secretary of State Spokesperson