Cambodians urged to overcome 'rumors
and hearsay'
The Cambodia Herald-13-08-2013: Cambodians should overcome political rumors and hearsay
that could provoke political conflict, a local academic says.
Ly Sok-Kheang, assistant professor at the School of Genocide, Conflicts and Human Rights Studies at the Sleuk Rith Institute in Phnom Penh, made the remarks after Monday's release of provisional elections results.
"It's almost typical for Cambodian society to live with the unverified truth that ended up with seeing their innocence often exploited and their nation, sometimes, in great danger.
Ly Sok-Kheang noted that rumors of a possible conflict have circulated since elections on July 28, which have indicated the ruling Cambodian People's Party winning a reduced majority.
"After the first provisional result declared on this Monday, rumors could be heard in every corner of Cambodia," the assistant professor said.
"What kinds of measures should the Cambodian people take to prevent rumors that might cause a civil unrest? The answer would be simple. The people have to master rumors and hearsay; rather than letting it master us.
"If so, politicians will be in no position to use us. As the Cambodian people are the owners of a sovereign state, they have already exercised their rights to vote for a political party in accordance with their conscience.
REFUSAL TO ADOPT NORTH AFRICAN MODEL
"Their obligations as good citizens are already being made, thus, it's highly inappropriate for any party to place the people in a confrontational situation. Their democratic practice has proven their steadfast refusal to adopt a North Africa model of revolution to topple the regime they dislike.
"The CPP should shy away from using the armed forces to crack down on its own citizens, while the CNRP should never ever use people, especially youths, to provoke any mass protests that would put our national stability at great risk.
"Both sides need to tackle this problem in an acceptable manner that would not resort to any kind of conflict. This would undoubtedly plunge our country into a new round of instability after the decades of consecutive civil wars and genocide.
"Both the CPP and CNRP should study the policies of both sides in a manner that would serve the interest of our beloved motherland and people. People from all walks of life should bear in mind that as the owners and masters of Cambodia, they should never be placed in a position in which they are pitted against each other by political parties — the ruling or the opposition."
Ly Sok-Kheang, assistant professor at the School of Genocide, Conflicts and Human Rights Studies at the Sleuk Rith Institute in Phnom Penh, made the remarks after Monday's release of provisional elections results.
"It's almost typical for Cambodian society to live with the unverified truth that ended up with seeing their innocence often exploited and their nation, sometimes, in great danger.
Ly Sok-Kheang noted that rumors of a possible conflict have circulated since elections on July 28, which have indicated the ruling Cambodian People's Party winning a reduced majority.
"After the first provisional result declared on this Monday, rumors could be heard in every corner of Cambodia," the assistant professor said.
"What kinds of measures should the Cambodian people take to prevent rumors that might cause a civil unrest? The answer would be simple. The people have to master rumors and hearsay; rather than letting it master us.
"If so, politicians will be in no position to use us. As the Cambodian people are the owners of a sovereign state, they have already exercised their rights to vote for a political party in accordance with their conscience.
REFUSAL TO ADOPT NORTH AFRICAN MODEL
"Their obligations as good citizens are already being made, thus, it's highly inappropriate for any party to place the people in a confrontational situation. Their democratic practice has proven their steadfast refusal to adopt a North Africa model of revolution to topple the regime they dislike.
"The CPP should shy away from using the armed forces to crack down on its own citizens, while the CNRP should never ever use people, especially youths, to provoke any mass protests that would put our national stability at great risk.
"Both sides need to tackle this problem in an acceptable manner that would not resort to any kind of conflict. This would undoubtedly plunge our country into a new round of instability after the decades of consecutive civil wars and genocide.
"Both the CPP and CNRP should study the policies of both sides in a manner that would serve the interest of our beloved motherland and people. People from all walks of life should bear in mind that as the owners and masters of Cambodia, they should never be placed in a position in which they are pitted against each other by political parties — the ruling or the opposition."
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