Dear Dina et al;
Thanks for picking up this important question. Of course, this is the existing question and we have no way to change the course of this question. As we all know, foreigner or our competitor in their cultivating for their nation building, they (Thailand and VN) have striven hard to get what they think that thing is their national pride.
Thailand and VN have taken all seconds of possibility to choke us for their benefit. And yes we cannot blame on them because it is the nature of competition and the game of the nation-state.
The important things as we are Cambodians/Khmers must look at ourselves first. We have always looked beyond our own flaws. We have always looked at them and assign blame or point finger at them which this action have only given prowess to them more and more.
So let start our new course on asking “what have we done for our country?”, not to ask “What our country has done for us?”
For that perspective, historically speaking, our country has likely led by the leaders who put their personal/power interest before national interest in the excuse that if they don’t have full power how can they develop the country. This embedded idea is contradictory to other leaders in other countries that their power is flexible in accordance to the need and interest of the nation. Most of the time, our leaders will use the excuse of the national sovereignty to persecute our own nationals. This excuse and rhetoric have been using ever since.
I would like to ask our CAN members here that “what does it mean and its boundary on the concept of sovereignty?”
All the time, Buddha has never given priority or value to any special individual if that individual doesn’t absorb into ultimate peace and enlightenment. Though among all the members of the congregation mixing by those enlightened individuals, the Buddha encouraged individual to strive for their own freedom – Everything is Subject to Constant Change, so individually you must strive on by heedfullness for your own salvation – This is the last advise of the Buddha.
From that perspective, who could be named “leader”? The Premier, the Minister, the Abbot, the Commune Chief etc? According to Buddha, no one is leader, our own is the leader, our own has full authority – why we must to Korob (respect), Bomreou (serve) and Kapea (guard) others?
Buddha set up the “Dhamma” for all Sangha (monks, laymen and laywomen) to live together harmoniously. This means not by anyone authority to be Korob, Bomreour or Kapea. This means everyone has full potential to lead, to develop and to exercise authority under the umbrella of the Dhamma or the Rule of Law. The law or the Dhamma is the supreme, no one is the Supreme.
Looking at Cambodia, because we don’t have Dhamma or the Law as our Supremacy, that why our two neighbors are continuing to take advantage from us…because we don’t have the Dhamma or the Law as our Supremacy that why our Cambodian compatriots are still delving into the realm of division and suffering which actually caused by chronic abuse of power, chronic corruption and chronic delusion….etc
If our politicians and powerful leaders wish to see Cambodia move forward they must take the Dhamma or the Law as their Supremacy, they should avoid to use the past war, the genocide, the sovereignty or the security as excuse to persecute their own compatriots. When Obama got re-elected, he stated that all people status in society, all colors, all gender regardless of straight or not straight, all politicians etc must shoulder together for the interest of the nation, the past is the great lesson to learn, to change and to better future etc.
Have you heard our leaders have ever come to this statement in their national rhetoric?
Peace,
Sophoan