Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
On Memorial Week end
To honor and remember the people in the military fallen for the cause of the defense of the nation, the freedom, and the democracy. From World War I and II, and the many other wars... I was thinking of the Cambodian fighters fallen... do they were honored and remembered?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Democracy in Cambodia: The UN Organized Elections
As part of the implementation of the Paris Political Settlement of the Conflicts in Cambodia signed in Paris October 23rd, 1991, the UN organized the elections to allow the Cambodian people to choose freely their leaders through a democratic multi party system. The elections were scheduled for 5 days in June 23-28 to allow for trips and travels to all people to vote. There were 18 political parties competing. The Khmer Rouge boycotted. The winner is the FUNCINPEC followed by the CPP and the BLDP.
I pay a trip to New York to cast my vote at the polls organized by and in the compound of the United Nations. This is my only vote in the Cambodian politics. In the interview with a VOA people I praise the UN for their help in ending the war, restoring peace, independence and democracy to the Cambodian people and their nation.
Unfortunately, true and genuine democracy did not last long, interrupted by competing power and outside interference...
I pay a trip to New York to cast my vote at the polls organized by and in the compound of the United Nations. This is my only vote in the Cambodian politics. In the interview with a VOA people I praise the UN for their help in ending the war, restoring peace, independence and democracy to the Cambodian people and their nation.
Unfortunately, true and genuine democracy did not last long, interrupted by competing power and outside interference...
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Buddha Day: Visakh Puja
It is today on the full moon of the month of Visakh, that fall on May 17th, the new year 2555 of the Buddhist Era. It is also known as Visakh Puja Day or the Buddha Day to the Western World, that celebrates the Birth, the Enlightenment and the pass away of Lord Buddha.
Some hightlights on:
The Birth: The Buddha was born Siddharta from a royal family in Northestern India around 534 BC. Her mother passed away seven days later. He was married and had a child and at at age 29 he left to live a life of mandicity in the jungle searching for the truth on the human suffering. He practiced self mortification nearing death for no avail and finally found out that the 2 extremes of indulgence and mortification will not produce anything. He launch his doctrine of middle way.
The Enlightenment: After 6 years of study and a long meditation in the night of the day before the full moon of the month of Visak at age 35 he fullfill his enlightenment after finding the root causes of the human suffering.
First the law of Middle Way or Majjhimapaddipata, second the Four Noble Truths, and third the Noble Eightfold Path. That followed by the law of causality found in the theory of Padica Samupadda or the Dependent Origination.
The Four Noble Truths are: 1) the Truth of Dukkha (Suffering), 2) the Truth of the origin of Dukkha, 3) the Truth of the Cessation of Dukkh, and 4) the Truth of the Noble Eightfold Path to the Cessation of Dukkha.
The The Noble Eightfold Path are: 1) Right Understanding, 2) Right Thought, 3) Right Action, 4) Right Action, 5) Right Speech, 6) Right Livelihood, 7) Right Effort, 8) Right Mindfulness and 8) Right Concentration.
The Parinippana: The pass away of the Buddha to a world of no rebirth at the age of 80. He spent 45 years providing teaching to the monks and lay people on the doctrines or Dhamma that he discovered. The Dhamma was strancribed later in the Tripitaka composed of 3 big parts: The Vinaya Pitaka (Code of discipline for the monks of Sangha), the Sutra Pitaka (the Buddha Discourses and Sermons), and the Abhidhamma (the Ultimate Teaching).
The Buddha three events fall in same day and month but at different year, and that is the Visakha Puja Day or Buddha Day and is recognized as World Heritage Day by the UNESCO.
Some hightlights on:
The Birth: The Buddha was born Siddharta from a royal family in Northestern India around 534 BC. Her mother passed away seven days later. He was married and had a child and at at age 29 he left to live a life of mandicity in the jungle searching for the truth on the human suffering. He practiced self mortification nearing death for no avail and finally found out that the 2 extremes of indulgence and mortification will not produce anything. He launch his doctrine of middle way.
The Enlightenment: After 6 years of study and a long meditation in the night of the day before the full moon of the month of Visak at age 35 he fullfill his enlightenment after finding the root causes of the human suffering.
First the law of Middle Way or Majjhimapaddipata, second the Four Noble Truths, and third the Noble Eightfold Path. That followed by the law of causality found in the theory of Padica Samupadda or the Dependent Origination.
The Four Noble Truths are: 1) the Truth of Dukkha (Suffering), 2) the Truth of the origin of Dukkha, 3) the Truth of the Cessation of Dukkh, and 4) the Truth of the Noble Eightfold Path to the Cessation of Dukkha.
The The Noble Eightfold Path are: 1) Right Understanding, 2) Right Thought, 3) Right Action, 4) Right Action, 5) Right Speech, 6) Right Livelihood, 7) Right Effort, 8) Right Mindfulness and 8) Right Concentration.
The Parinippana: The pass away of the Buddha to a world of no rebirth at the age of 80. He spent 45 years providing teaching to the monks and lay people on the doctrines or Dhamma that he discovered. The Dhamma was strancribed later in the Tripitaka composed of 3 big parts: The Vinaya Pitaka (Code of discipline for the monks of Sangha), the Sutra Pitaka (the Buddha Discourses and Sermons), and the Abhidhamma (the Ultimate Teaching).
The Buddha three events fall in same day and month but at different year, and that is the Visakha Puja Day or Buddha Day and is recognized as World Heritage Day by the UNESCO.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The National Police: 66th Anniversary
The local daily paper, Koh Santepheap, reports today on a ceremony to celebrate the 66th Anniversary of the Cambodian National under Vice PM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng. This reminds me of many years of service there.
I joined this Department in 1958 after 2 years of training, then took a break to continue the senior level at the Royal School of Administration and completed in 1961 and returned to continue to serve in that agency. In the fall of 1962 I took another break and left to France for an internship with the Fench National Police for a year. In 1963 I came back to Cambodia and served until the fall of the Khmer Republic in mid April 1975.
During those years I was assigned to the special branch called "Police Speciale", a combination of intelligence and national security fighting the Khmer Rouge and the Khmer Serey. After the 1970 Revolution with the destitution of Prince Sihanouk I continued to serve as Deputy Director of the Polise Speciale promoting later to Director General of the National Police, Under Security of State for National Security, and briefy as Minister of National Security before the fall of the country to the Khmer Rouge.
In the old time the National Police was under the Ministry of National Security, then under the Ministry of Interior and back to the Ministry of National Security, and now back to the Ministry of Interior.
Like before, the National Defense "Gendarmerie" was also having police function. The system was inherited from the french system, but unlike in France where the Gendarmerie was serving only in the countryside, in Cambodia the Gendarmerie served also in cities. This law enforcement system may lead to competition among the military and the civilian forces that sometime create problem to the general public.
The Cambodian National Police was a fear full agency under the famous Hok Landy rules, but he was killed 2 years ago struck by a lightning while traveling in a helicopter to Svay Rieng... I hope that the new Director whould run the Force more humanely.
I joined this Department in 1958 after 2 years of training, then took a break to continue the senior level at the Royal School of Administration and completed in 1961 and returned to continue to serve in that agency. In the fall of 1962 I took another break and left to France for an internship with the Fench National Police for a year. In 1963 I came back to Cambodia and served until the fall of the Khmer Republic in mid April 1975.
During those years I was assigned to the special branch called "Police Speciale", a combination of intelligence and national security fighting the Khmer Rouge and the Khmer Serey. After the 1970 Revolution with the destitution of Prince Sihanouk I continued to serve as Deputy Director of the Polise Speciale promoting later to Director General of the National Police, Under Security of State for National Security, and briefy as Minister of National Security before the fall of the country to the Khmer Rouge.
In the old time the National Police was under the Ministry of National Security, then under the Ministry of Interior and back to the Ministry of National Security, and now back to the Ministry of Interior.
Like before, the National Defense "Gendarmerie" was also having police function. The system was inherited from the french system, but unlike in France where the Gendarmerie was serving only in the countryside, in Cambodia the Gendarmerie served also in cities. This law enforcement system may lead to competition among the military and the civilian forces that sometime create problem to the general public.
The Cambodian National Police was a fear full agency under the famous Hok Landy rules, but he was killed 2 years ago struck by a lightning while traveling in a helicopter to Svay Rieng... I hope that the new Director whould run the Force more humanely.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
"By the Year 2050 3 billion...
... more Asians may be affluent if Asia sustains its present growth momentum and avoids being trapped at midle income levels." This is what is reported by AP and published in the Seattle northwest Asia Weekly May 14, 2011 based on a report prepared for Asian Development Bank's annual meeting this week in Vietnam.
To continue...
To continue...
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
After Usama Bin Laden was Killed
The NBC Meet the Press this morning was about the operations by Navy Seals Team 6 that killed UBL and the aftermath. Credit was given to President Obama for giving green light to launch the attack. With the killing of the leader of Al Qaeda, responsible for the 9-11 attack on America, justice was done for the 3,000 plus victims. But as long as the Al Qaeda still exist, the nation is still in danger... all agrees.
... In the night I was having a strange dream on a class mate 60 years ago. I n the dream I met him in a humanitarian project, nothing to do him that I did not had contact since 1952... His name is Chan Youron.
I was questioning myself trying to find a clue to this strange dream. After a long while a flash came to mind and I found that Chan Youron had an older brother who served in the Khmer Rouge regime in the Foreign Affairs Department. His name is Chan Youran. And the Khmer Rouge was responsible for 1.7 million plus Cambodian people. In Cambodia, the Exceptional Court did not provide justice for all victims yet. May be a wake up call for me... my wife was killed by one of them. I was tormented by the dream...
... In the night I was having a strange dream on a class mate 60 years ago. I n the dream I met him in a humanitarian project, nothing to do him that I did not had contact since 1952... His name is Chan Youron.
I was questioning myself trying to find a clue to this strange dream. After a long while a flash came to mind and I found that Chan Youron had an older brother who served in the Khmer Rouge regime in the Foreign Affairs Department. His name is Chan Youran. And the Khmer Rouge was responsible for 1.7 million plus Cambodian people. In Cambodia, the Exceptional Court did not provide justice for all victims yet. May be a wake up call for me... my wife was killed by one of them. I was tormented by the dream...
Memphis, TN: Floods Fear
While people in western world celebrate todau on Mother's Day, people in Memphis, Tennessee were fighting floods fear due to extreme weather. This year it was not good, after the earthquake and tsunmais in Japon, there were many storms and in the east and mid-west with snow in april, deadly tornadoes in Alabama and severe floods compared to the ones in 1900. Residents were told to leave their home for higher ground. Thanks to FEMA and the Red Cross, responses to these Acts of God or Climate Change were timely... But we too should also be prapared for calamities. It can happened anytime anywhere... It is the law of Anicca or "impermanence" if you are follower of Buddha's Faith... like me.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Democracy in Cambodia - Part 2
After the first democratic elections in Cambodia's contemporary history on September 1, 1946, the Democratic Party that won the contest was assigned the task of drafting the first Constitution of the Kingdom. It was done by the Democratic under the laedership of Prince Sisowath Yutevong, then approved and promulgated this day in history, May 6th 1947, 64 years ago. In the old days, May 6th was a holiday. The Constitution was not perfect because it was stated in its Preambule that the Power still came from the King, but it did abolish the absolute monarchy and replaced by a constitutional one.
For the Khmer people it was kind of Democracy Day. Unfortunately during those years that Cambodia was under French protectorate, situations were still unstettled and true democracy was de facto coming to an end with the Huy Kanthul Government (October 13, 1951 to 15 June, 1952). The National Assembly run by the Democratic Party - in majority - was dissolved by King Norodom Sihanouk on January 13, 1953, and the Kingdom was declared in the state of Emergency. Seven Democratic Party representatives at the National Assembly were arrested, charged with supporting dissident groups.
King Norodom then formed his own government with Penn Nouth as his delegate and he embarked into his campaign for national independence from France, called Crusade for National Independence.
The rest of the story of Democracy in Cambodia will continue...
Ref: Previous post on "Democracy in Cambodia Part 1" in the Archives.
For the Khmer people it was kind of Democracy Day. Unfortunately during those years that Cambodia was under French protectorate, situations were still unstettled and true democracy was de facto coming to an end with the Huy Kanthul Government (October 13, 1951 to 15 June, 1952). The National Assembly run by the Democratic Party - in majority - was dissolved by King Norodom Sihanouk on January 13, 1953, and the Kingdom was declared in the state of Emergency. Seven Democratic Party representatives at the National Assembly were arrested, charged with supporting dissident groups.
King Norodom then formed his own government with Penn Nouth as his delegate and he embarked into his campaign for national independence from France, called Crusade for National Independence.
The rest of the story of Democracy in Cambodia will continue...
Ref: Previous post on "Democracy in Cambodia Part 1" in the Archives.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Ground Zero & Year Zero
I will be 7 more months plus to go to the 10th Anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on America by the Al Qaeda, but today President Barack Obama to New York City to lay a wreath at the site of the Ground Zero subsequent to the killing of Ubama Bin Laden last Sunday in a 40 minutes raid by the Navy Seals in a compound located in Abbottabad around 20 miles North of the Capital City of Pakistan. All together more than 3000 people dided in the 4 coordinated civilian plane attacks, 3 were successful because they hit their intended target: 2 at the World Trade Center Twin Tower in New York, and one at the Pentagon. One hijacked plane was down from the resistance of the courageous passengers in the fields of Pennsylvania.
Watching in live TV broadcast on the ceremony at the Ground Zero in New York and at the Pentagon, I was sad to think of the loss of the close to 2 millions Cambodian lives that brought Cambodia back to Year Zero by the Khmer Rouge.
Now the Al Qada head, UBL, was dead so as the head of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, and their living accomplices still living such as Duch and co. are fighting back at the Court. The process was long and costly and hopefully it will some day soon bring closure to the tragedy that affect many Cambodians. My wife was tortured, raped and killed savagely, making 4 children orphans.
I wished Kaing Gueck Iev, aka Duch, was arrested in the mid 1960's when a National Police team under my command went to his home in Prek Pra by the Bassac River not far from Chhbar Ampeou, for his arrest. He left home just a few hours before our arrival, alerted by a mole within our organization.
Congratulations to the Navy Seals and best wishes for future raids to end the Al Qaeda.
Watching in live TV broadcast on the ceremony at the Ground Zero in New York and at the Pentagon, I was sad to think of the loss of the close to 2 millions Cambodian lives that brought Cambodia back to Year Zero by the Khmer Rouge.
Now the Al Qada head, UBL, was dead so as the head of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, and their living accomplices still living such as Duch and co. are fighting back at the Court. The process was long and costly and hopefully it will some day soon bring closure to the tragedy that affect many Cambodians. My wife was tortured, raped and killed savagely, making 4 children orphans.
I wished Kaing Gueck Iev, aka Duch, was arrested in the mid 1960's when a National Police team under my command went to his home in Prek Pra by the Bassac River not far from Chhbar Ampeou, for his arrest. He left home just a few hours before our arrival, alerted by a mole within our organization.
Congratulations to the Navy Seals and best wishes for future raids to end the Al Qaeda.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
From Cambodia to Kent State
After President Nixon address on Cambodia protests flared up, the most violent is from an university campus in Ohio. The following is an excerpt from a text in internet:
The Kent State shootings—also known as the May 4 massacre or Kent State massacre occurred at Kent State University in the city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970. The guardsmen fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.
Some of the students who were shot had been protesting against the American invasion of Cambodia, which President Richard Nixon announced in a television address on April 30. Other students who were shot had been walking nearby or observing the protest from a distance.
There was a significant national response to the shootings: hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools closed throughout the United States due to a student strike of four million students, and the event further affected the public opinion—at an already socially contentious time—over the role of the United States in the Vietnam War.
The US intervention had led to more bombing in Cambodia and intensification of communist Vietnamese fighting alongside with the Khmer Rouges against the inferior forces of the Khmer Republic. The Khmer Rouge won on April 17, 1975.
The Kent State shootings—also known as the May 4 massacre or Kent State massacre occurred at Kent State University in the city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970. The guardsmen fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.
Some of the students who were shot had been protesting against the American invasion of Cambodia, which President Richard Nixon announced in a television address on April 30. Other students who were shot had been walking nearby or observing the protest from a distance.
There was a significant national response to the shootings: hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools closed throughout the United States due to a student strike of four million students, and the event further affected the public opinion—at an already socially contentious time—over the role of the United States in the Vietnam War.
The US intervention had led to more bombing in Cambodia and intensification of communist Vietnamese fighting alongside with the Khmer Rouges against the inferior forces of the Khmer Republic. The Khmer Rouge won on April 17, 1975.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The May Day
May 1st is celebrated by many countries in the world as Labor Day, but mostly by countries adopting the pro socialist system. To continue...
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