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Political Platform Crafting and Debating
Reading article by Cambodia Daily on “CNRP Leaders Hammer Out Party Platform” intrigued my deep thought on Platform and Reform agenda in which CNRP has stepped beyond imagination. The political platform in this page is also one of the examples.
Cambodia is not disturbed by political platform debating at all. In reality, Cambodia has been daily disturbed by Political Realism ie. abusing of power, impunity, corruption, unjust court system, wide gap of rich and poor, or destitute rural livelihood and city cast-system dwellers, inadequate public infrastructure and services etc. The immediate agenda should be REFORM, not PLATFORM at this moment.
CNRP’s parliamentary members as well as the party’s manpower has pushed for genuine REFORM from within of the 20 years old monopolistic government. The outcomes are at the reaching fingers while the framework for REFORM is at its play: many ministers, dignitaries and high profile powerful elites are in row to be questioned by the law-makers to clear the way for ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY and GOOD GOVERNANCE.
REFORM shall be useless if those powerful elites are not properly tamed and rule of laws are not properly enforced. CNRP has held ball with full grip in hands to play with the CPP. When each team has been discharged to the field, don’t think you are protesting on the street, or you are advocating for some special right such as the rights for the GAYs etc.
CNRP can play the REFORM GAME at the fullest within the prospect of law making to change the corruption system such as strengthening national assembly, NEC reforming, judiciary impartiality, neutrality of all types of arm-force and public servants, sound economic, sustainable and equitable development, and fair distribution of the nation wealth etc.
Hence, for political platform, I don’t think someone else is better than CPP in term of their written policy and long term plans. Their Triangular Shape Policy Platform as well as their Proposals for Foreign Aids and Loans are at the international standards, but one weakest thing for the CPP is the IMPLEMENTATION and MISMATCHING OUTCOMES.
CNRP has well utilized the 7 points policy platform successfully to raise awareness among voters but this platform was just mainly focusing on Economic Development and Quality of Life in term of Standard of Living. It was lack “full package platform”.
Full package platform for Cambodia is very different from other countries. It is heuristic or holistic, the Cambodia Political Platform can not be imported, or handed over by the foreign think tanks. In Canada, the platform (as shown with the picture), the neutral court and national arm-force are not on the agenda, or the corruption is not on the table for face to face striking at all; and the voters are variable in need and in debate about the platform as politics and elections are the “place-based contraction”.
Thus, Cambodia is in contrast. The corruption issue and patron-clientele administration is at the door-step of the CNRP, the parliamentary building. MP Son Chay has taken a leading step to clean this door-step first before broadening its mission to other places.
I would request the CNRP to focus on Three Motto: Responsible + Respect + Reform.
- Responsible is the core value all human beings. Each of us deserves to having Freedom but the Freedom must come along with Responsibility. Cambodian people who are 18 years of age must be responsible in front of the law and the society. Individual Cambodian must primarily learn Responsibility from their parents, family, community and school. These factors are imperative.
- Respect means individual Cambodian must respect the righteousness and the rule of laws. CNRP has adopted strict and constructive internal leadership and regulations, for instance, every member must respect or comply by the regulations to effectivate the tasks of the party etc.
- Reform refers to key outstanding issues occurring in Cambodia right now: NEC, Judiciary, Assembly, Corruption, Non-neutral arm-force and public servants, Disparity of Economic Development, Land Grabbing and Forced Evictions, Abusing of Power by the Elites, Sovereignty Independence, Garment Labors and Displacement Workers, Child Labor and School Abandoning, Public Violence and Family Violence etc.
In short, political platform or party platform should not be secretly discussed by few top leaders. It must be engaged by all party member activists, supporters and general citizens. To craft a platform means everyone can voice their concerns and shared responsibility. In the meantime, it is a good time to propagate it to the larger audience on behalf of a liberal and democratic party. The party must create “working group” or “task force” by selecting those academics or experienced researchers to outreach with survey as well as public forums and conferences/seminars to brainstorm as well as to collect accurate first-hand data. A successful political platform means it is applicable, practical, comprehensive and due diligent.
Political Party Platforms
Political Party Platforms
OK, you may affiliate with one particular political party, but be honest — are you really aware of where the party stands on all the issues? Or for that matter, where the opposition stands? Check out our handy table below for a list of your political party platforms.
| Issue | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Libertarian Party |
| Social Security | Social security should be privatized (not to be confused with private savings accounts, but rather, private investments). | Social security should remain a government sponsored insurance plan for retirees. | Believe in an “opt out” policy in which one can choose to privately invest (they believe this to be the better option) or go with a government sponsored social security plan. |
| Jobs | Pro small business. Supports giving small businesses tax incentives so that more jobs can be created. | Encourage businesses to keep jobs here and not outsource them overseas. Supports unions and advocates for the rights of low income workers. | Free market should dictate the job market. |
| Economy | Supports free market competition and entrepreneurship, corporate deregulation and cutting entitlement spending. | Increase taxes to cut deficit. Believes large deficit negatively affects government services and that low deficits stimulate the economy. | 100% Free Market. |
| Security/Defense | Believe in a proactive military and defense. Supports building weapons and technology that serve to protect our nation. Believe that peace is achieved through strong defense. Increase defense and research budget. | Believe in a limited missile defense. Oppose nuclear buildup in the U.S. Believe that peace is achieved through worldwide relationship building. | Believe in reducing nuclear arms in the U.S. Military should be used to protect people’s livery and property only. |
| Legal/Tort Reform | Supports tort reform and limiting victims compensation, especially for frivolous lawsuits. | Oppose tort reform and oppose limiting liability of doctors and/or businesses. | Generally does not support tort reform. |
| Tax Reform | Supports tax cuts, low interest rates and the repeal of the death tax penalty in effort to stimulate the economy. | Generally supports raising taxes on the wealthy, lowering taxes for the middle class. | Stridently opposes all government imposed taxes and employer withdrawal of employees money for tax purposes. |
| Immigration | Generally supports closed or tight borders and tracking system for foreign travelers. | Support illegal alien’s ability and right to become citizens and giving them more protections under the law. | Support open borders. |
| Faith | Religion strongly associated with Republican party. Advocate free exercise of religion. | Strict adherence between the separation between church and state. Promote secular issues and a more secular nation. | Strong belief in separation of church and state and by contrast, Libertarians hold a strong belief in freedom of religion. |
| Education | Promote school choice/vouchers and homeschooling. Supports voluntary student supported prayer in school. Opposes gender and race quotes in colleges. | Oppose vouchers. Increase NCLB federal funding. Enact new taxes to decrease class size and hire new teachers. | End government financial support of public schools, believe that all public schools should be privatized with tax credit for tuition. |
| Abortion | Generally pro-life with emphasis on promoting alternatives to abortion. | Generally pro-choice owning the mantra, “Safe, legal, rare.” | Adamantly pro-choice but oppose any government financial aid to subsidize abortions. |
| Energy | Oppose Kyoto treaty. Support tax incentives for energy production. | Wish to find environmentally friendly energy sources and solutions. Oppose increased drilling, especially in the U.S. | Supports deregulation and believes all government energy resources should be turned over to private ownership. Opposes government conservation of energy. |
| Heathcare | Keep healthcare private. Would like to impose caps on malpractice suits. Supports reformed medicare to give seniors more choices. | Supports more federally funded healthcare programs. | Strongly supports a complete separation of healthcare and state. Supports the deregulation of the healthcare industry. |
| Foreign Policy | Spread Democracy. Supports UN reform. Wants to stop WMD proliferation countries. Believe that nations who support terrorist are just as bad as the terrorist themselves. | Strongly supports worldwide coalitions and multi-national programs. Supports aid for disadvantaged countries. Supports the UN. | End all foreign aid because it’s the same as welfare for nations. Believes that aid perpetuates independence on your government. |
| Campaign Finance Reform | Generally support soft money contributions from individuals but supports limiting it from corporations. Also supports full disclosure. | Favor more regulation with spending limits on individuals and corporations. | No restrictions on contributions form any legal resident. Believe that politicians holding an office should not be able to run for another seat until term is over. |
| Environment | Supports privatizing federal land. Believe in cap and trade market based air pollution reductions and that the market should regulate itself. | Generally puts the interest of the environment over business. Wants to maintain federal land under government control. | Believes that land and animals should be sold to private organizations or ranchers and taken out of the hands of the government because private citizens will care for it better. |
| Guns | Limited gun control. | Strict gun control. | No control whatsoever. |
| Gay Rights | Oppose gay marriage. Supports constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. | Generally supports gay marriage although Democrats remain largely divided on the issue, as some only support civil unions. | Pro private choice and equality including marriage. |
Source: Imperfect Parents
Paris Peace Agreement: The Peace and Freedom in Context (Part V – end)
សាមគ្គី សាមគ្គានំ តបោ សុខោ – ការសាមគ្គីបង្រួបបង្រួមគ្នានឹងនាំសេចក្តីសុខមកអោយ – ព្រះពុទ្ធអង្គ
Samakii Samakea Nam Tapo Sokho – Unity brings us happiness – Buddha
This above Khmer popular saying is suite well with the context and functionality of the Paris Peace Agreement. During the negotiation processes, within the successful written agreement, and post-Paris Peace Agreement implementation, we are stunned by the terms “national reconciliation”, “unity”, “solidarity”, “conflict resolution”, “comprehensive peace settlement”, and “dialogue or negotiation” etc.
Now, it is time for Cambodia politics to update itself to compete with the global change. Confrontational strategy has been changed to diplomatic policy and negotiation. The new paradigm shift has transformed itself more complex and intricate – human subconsciousness to free themselves from all sufferings.
The Paris Peace Agreement is the blueprint for Cambodian politicians to put aside egoistic behavior by embracing principles and democratic value. Each party must be able to simply distinguish between the self and the nation clearly. Under this spirit, the PPA urges every politician especially the law-maker must stop lie their own constituents.
Courtesy: Facebook
I have a dream to see Khmer leaders can work together, can speak the language of nation building together with honest sub-conscience. When I was young, I cried because of hurting; but when I am grown up, I cried because I was overwhelmingly affected by bliss and joy. I remember the cry I made when watching the yellow robe army of Dhamma Yietra led Maha Ghosananda walked through the National Road No. 6. There were Japanese Mahayana monks preceded in the front with drums, gongs and strange chanting unusual to my ears. Parading after were hundred thousands of Cambodian Buddhist monks, with following white clothing nuns and laymen/laywomen. I was called to bring a bucket of water for water sprinkling on the edge of the road by the monks. Many drops of water fell unto my head with the word Peace and National Reconciliation deeply penetrated into my brain.
That memorable moment has never been disappeared from my head.
This year marks 23 years anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreement, I see more commemorative organizings by the Cambodian political parties, NGOs, activists and general citizens in both inside and outside country more than any years I have been witnessing. Thousands of youths, land activists and Buddhist monks are parading around the Phnom Penh city with petitions handed over to Co-Chairmen of the PPA: Indonesia and France.
The most significant sign is the evolving of Cambodia politics into two party system: CNRP & CPP; which is a good component for the concept of Mutual Understanding, National Reconciliation, and Comprehensive National Building Endeavor. Hence, those terms and efforts should not be the propaganda. Mutual understanding and national reconciliation shall happen only through the Rule of Law and Professionalism.
For the Sake of the Nation, These Two Parties must be able to Take Turn in Serving the Nation, like many civilized countries around the World have been Experiencing.
I would like to END my writing on PPA as of today. Below is the Movie Clips of “One Evening after the War” filmed by Social Engineering Rithy Panh.
“Peouv is recalling about the her story and the Three Unfortunate Disarming Soldier.”
“Srey Poeu is saddening about the social gap and injustice in Cambodian society, and her true love with Sovanna.”
“Srey Peouv is entrapped as Sex Worker or Srey Bar in Phnom Penh after she was sold to the brothel for $1400 dollars. She cannot make a family life with Sovanna with this dept.”
“At the end, Sovanna was shot by Maly, his friend, left Srey Peouv with Bophana, their daughter. Srey Peou is still a Sex Worker in Phnom Penh.”
Paris Peace Agreement: The Peace and Freedom in Context (Part IV)
As three parts were sent out, I was called in for interview by CMN radio and an honorable invitation to participate with Paris Peace Agreement Commemoration organized by CICP in Phnom Penh.
Regarding the interview that shall be broadcasted tomorrow or after tomorrow, I was asked to elaborate on the history of the Agreement, the validation and invalidity of the Agreement, mechanism to enforce parties to respect the Agreement in case of having violation, and the CNRP who joined the Assembly at the present.
The clip conversation between Sovanna and Phal allows us to figure out: the failed disarming policy, the bad effect of free market, and the pains that all Cambodian people can forgive but they cannot forget. This daily life politics illustration is invaluable!
Brief History
Brief History of Paris Peace Agreement. Slide Courtesy of Dr. Lao Mong Hay
Briefing to what said during the interview, the Paris Peace Agreement was crafted by two factors: four fighting fractions of Cambodia were exhausted in killing each other, and powerful countries pressured on all parties including Asean and Vietnam to sign the Agreement. Indonesia and France were co-chair of the Agreement.
Agreement Analysis
The original agreement are filed in both Indonesia and France. There are 32 articles divided by 9 distinctive parts. Many pro-Government commentators said that the Agreement is invalid since the creation of a legal government after the election with the complete amendment of the Cambodia constitution. Of course, their claim is right referring to the Part 1, Article 1 which say:
For the purposes of this Agreement, the transitional
period shall commence with the entry into force of this
Agreement and terminate when the constituent assembly elected
through free and fair elections, organized and certified by the
United Nations, has approved the constitution and transformed
itself into a legislative assembly, and thereafter a new
government has been created.
Hence, the commentators might be missing to comprehend the term “Transitional Period” in which 5 measures were taken into action: 1. This transitional period, 2. United Nations Transitional Authority of Cambodia (UNTAC), 3. Supreme National Council (SNC), 4. Withdrawal of foreign military from Cambodia, and 5. Complete ceasefire.
In reality, the Agreement is still valid and it shall have no deadline to be implemented by the signatory parties as stated clearly in Article 18 on the “International Guarantee”.
Cambodia undertakes to maintain, preserve and defend,
and the other Signatories undertake to recognize and respect,
the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and
inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia, as
set forth in a separate Agreement.
A separate Agreement has 8 articles and the most important statement in Article 5 that I mentioned within previous articles.
Beside this valid continuity, the Part III on “Human Rights” has maintained the continuing task by sending Special Rapporteur to Cambodia by the United Nations to report on progressive commitment of the Government on respecting Human Rights of their own citizens. Latest UNs Special Human Rights Rapporteur for Cambodia is Prof. Dr. Surya Subedi, and this Rapporteur has no mandate until the Human Rights situation in Cambodia is being well off.
In Part VIII, Article 24, is ongoing to the fact that the foreign aids are still flowing into Cambodia including many other development programs aided in according to the Agreement as stated:
The Signatories urge the international community to
provide economic and financial support for the rehabilitation
and reconstruction of Cambodia, as provided in a separate
declaration.
Impregnable Violations
During these 23 years, Vietnam violated the Agreement through their retaining power to force their former installed government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen to sign the Supplemental Border Treaty (SBT) ratified by the King of Cambodia on 30 November 2005. The SBT was in reverse to the Agreement to discarding all past illegal treaties during the Vietnamese occupation over Cambodia. The forced treaty was not only be able to grab the remaining land border, Vietnam can establish more enmity environment among Khmer political parties, activists and general citizens. Thailand also claimed the ownership over Preah Vihear Temple in 2008 in revenge to oppose Cambodia government to successfully listing it with the Unesco. Cambodia government used the legal provision of the Paris Peace Agreement through its instrumental organ of the ICJ to claim back from Thailand.
For Cambodia government let by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who were also party of the Agreement, at least, four violations are counted: The grenade attack on peaceful demonstrators in 1997 led by Sam Rainsy, the bloody coup in 2007 to monopolize power from Funcipec, the acceptance of bilateral supplemental border treaty with Vietnam is in gross violation to the Paris Peace Agreement that is a multilateral instrument, and continual human rights violations such as: emotion violence (impunity, extra judiciary killing, and biased court system), financial violence (corruption and forced eviction), physical violence (shooting to dead, battering and jailing), and sexual violence (allowing the existence of sex workers and brothels, and neglecting to punish those sex buyers as well as polygamy men).
CNRP
CPP has been so nervous about accepting and recognizing Paris Peace Agreement once they were the party of it. Their uncertainty and naive perspective towards Paris Peace Agreement is a setback to claim their past communist regime rather than to move forward for in-dept reform. Hence, CNRP has been vital to accept and recognize this day, and they have celebrated it annually. The entering into the Assembly of those 55 law-makers of the CNRP is a good sign to experiment their professionalism, the work ethics, and democratic commitment. CNRP has laid down the policy of nonviolence, cooperation, dialogue, and active leadership. The partnership and engagement within the Assembly shall help Prime Minister Hun Sen to speed up his in-dept reform in all fields he has frequently promised with the Cambodian people. Although with the aids of CNRP to push for reform is not successful, or Hun Sen administration is preparing to backfire their promise, the Cambodian people will judge them in the next 2018 nationwide election.