After re-reading my post, I'll admit the tone sounds really low. I'm not trying to dismiss or discredit LL's informative posts. He definitely ranks in my top five posters overall, and even higher regarding political or historical issues. I've just noticed his recent silence in the slow descent into dictatorship we've been witnessing these past few months. I made another snide remark a while on a similar topic back trying to bait him to no avail. He's just always been so vocal about his support for the ruling party. I just think it's a bit difficult to swallow what the ruling party have been up to, especially when the general situation gets downright brazen in both tone and action. For a long time I shared his views, but for the past two years or so my opinion has shifted as I've gotten tired of the status quo. It's easy to say no one else could do a good job when you don't give them the chance. However, I've said it numerous times though: change here will only come when the next regional or world economic depression happens. That could be a while though.sounds_never_seen wrote:LL's insights are often showing a different perspective. That is something I respect, even if I don't always agree. Regarding the second sentence, it is quite funny how many of the CNRP's ideas have been adopted by the CPP since 2013. (I often ask myself what policies the CPP actually has, it seems the elections are never fought over 'content'. Maybe LL could help with this question too.)
In my opinion, the constitution was forced upon Cambodia in 1993 and is incongruent with the (seemingly ancient) local political culture of hierarchy and obedience. To say it provocatively, it's like trying to drive a F1 racing car through the Cardamoms.
As for the CPP taking many of the CNRP's ideas on board (and sometimes claiming them as their own, or being silent) is the whole point. Opposition parties bring checks and balances on a ruling party, that's the very basis of democratic governance. They bring on ideas. The CPP's move to deal with the wages and working conditions in the factories comes as a direct result of the last election. That's why it's important to have at least a somewhat healthy opposition: they criticize certain actions (obviously), but also bring new ideas and a few checks (in theory) on governance. My only gripe with the CNRP wasn't really their ideas (though some were totally impractical or impossible political promises), but as with most foreigners who don't like them, their dangerously racist and nationalist rhetoric. Plus I never liked SR because he's a limp noodle, but otherwise I thought they were a good opponent.
I don't think Cambodia could ever be classed as a democratic state. I also don't think they would dissolve a new party that quickly. It would have to gain an unreasonable amount of support or momentum for them to try and attack it. I think even in his growing senility and increasingly bold actions, he knows that he needs to keep playing the charade at least for a little while, so parties are needed. Having many smaller parties would make life much easier for him anyways. Still, I think it's an opportunity for younger Cambodians educated abroad to try and get their voices heard before it's too late.ReasonstobefearfulP3 wrote:Just out of interest, what would you class it as now?
Also, if the CNRP gets dissolved for no apparent reason then surely they will just do the same for any new party set up and gaining traction?
If CNRP goes then the only way I can see it going is outright dictatorship, some may argue we are nearly there in all but name now
If it doesn't work out, then whatever. Democracy isn't all it's cracked up to be anyways. Plenty of countries are following China's model of rapid economic modernization (the good, the bad and the ugly) without all the strings and complications that democracy brings. Africa and Asia are now looking East for leadership, while Western countries are still blindly preaching for their own cultural and historical ideals to become the norm. Let's face it: the region has zero noteworthy experience with democracy. It's not that long ago that Lee Kuan Yew gave his "Asian Minds" speech/interview. It's a bit like Russia: why try to instill democracy in countries which have no legal or historical framework for it? As you say, the constitution was forced: another UN blunder, though in fairness Cambodia is a true success story economically-speaking. Still, I've made Cambodia home and hope it doesn't descend into a mini-Thailand or worse. Things can often turn very sour rapidly and it's only with hindsight that people then always wonder "why/how" people allowed it all to happen. I'm not worried about violence here, but we're definitely at a cross-roads I think, politically-speaking.