THE PROS AND CONS OF UNIFICATION

Recent efforts and attempts to unify different main political parties by Mr. Kem Sokha, leader of the HRP, has resulted in a failure. Given our past political history and nature of our Cambodian political culture, it is not at all surprising that this attempt would end up as such - NIL.

While many Cambodian democrats would love to see the unification of the three or four parties going into this July election, it is important that we need to look at this issue from a much more realistic perspectives. First, we need to understand the people involved, leaders of the parties per say, their past records, their personal ambitions and most important of all, their services and conviction to the cause of our nation's interests. Pick the best one.

Once you have understood that, then you look at the reality of political situation on the ground, the mistrust, the backroom dealings, the shifting and juggling for government posts whenever deem possible. We have seen that prior to election 1993 and the subsequent ones, where the CPP had tried to buy and successfully bought some generals and high ranking officials from the Funcinpec, Son Sann's Party such as Ieng Moly, so on and so forth. The CPP continues to employ the same strategy at any given time it needs to destroy its political adversaries. It has been fruitful for the ruling party and it is doing it again with such generous offering of large sum of cash and junior-ministerial posts to any Sam Rainsy officials, especially MP who wish to go for.

There are more than 50 political parties registered for this upcoming election. I am sure I can almost create one myself just to make the number looks a bit more interesting, and perhaps some fools would vote for me. I am sure my kids would. Just a joke.

It seems asthough many decent people, intellectuals alike, are not realizing that the main problem existing today in our Cambodian political domain is a direct bi and/or tri-products of an on-going marriage between the Funcinpec, Rannaridh and the CPP. The country lost its territories, its natural resources, islands, lake and forest combined. It plagues with entranched corruptions, political dictator, local lords, economic windfalls which could eventually lead to a much more unstable and perhaps, even undesirable consequences in the future. Look at closely for since 1993, who are running the government? Of course, Funcinpec and Rannaridh people have always been there with the CPP for the takings. They are and have been a true partners on this boulevard of richness and fame.

Therefore, there is no such reason for Funcinpec or Rannaridh to join with anyone, except the CPP. They have been and they will continue to be the perfect partners of the CPP. Got it! Let me say it again. Funcinpec and Rannaridh have always been a full-fledge partner of the ruling party. If it does want to join with Sam Rainsy or HRP because they are in a SH?t hole. Excuse my language, but I can't put it better than that just to make my point. They can't count on the CPP supporters to vote for them and there is even more likely that they will be no longer welcome as a useful partner from the CPP standpoint. The parties are not credible anymore and the people of Cambodia are beginning to see that truths. Our people are getting a lot more wiser now and they know what those people have done to the country and to their livelihood. In this regards, the only way Rannaridh and Funcinpec can hope for is to use Sam Rainsy Party as a vehicle to retain its position - a power to negotiate and defect to the CPP soon after the election. We all will be fooled all over again. Cambodian history tends to repeat iself and in this particular instant, I am positive that this will happen.

I wish to touch on the merit of Mr. Kem Sokha and his HRP. I commence him for the effort to unite the political groups although I have enormous reservation when it comes to his political judgment and personal ambition. The fact that Mr. Kem Sokha and his party is relatively new in this Cambodian political arena, it is hard to make anything out of it, except to take him at his words - at par value. However, politically and realistically speaking, I am sure he is realizing now that without solid grassroot's political and financial supports, there is a good chance that the morning after the election night, he might found himself without a single seat in the National Assembly - A total humiliation and a tragic end to his personal dream and ambition.

When I said I have doubt about Mr. Sokha's judgment and personal ambition, I meant it and I am willing to say it. I believe that Mr. Sokha has all the attributes to be a good leader. It is nothing wrong to be ambitious, but it is wrong to place your personal interests before the country's. Even he and his supporters refuses to admitted otherwise, I still believe wholeheartedly that he is indirectly benefiting and supporting the policy of the CPP and Hanoi. By forming a new political party in an effort to take away votes from Sam Rainsy at a time when the country needs a balancing force against the CPP, especially when Funcinpec and Rannaridh are in such a slump and disarray, I just could not compliment Mr. Sokha's logic and nationalist common sense. He could have served the country better by staying on humanitarian cause, or join Sam Rainsy to be the future leader of the party and the country.

One other problem that I have with Mr. Kem Sokha is his acceptance of Mr. Penn Sovann who has gracefully accepted the notion that Vietnam invaded Cambodia, not to occupy and annex the country. It is a legitmate concern and it should raise some eye brows if you are truly Cambodian.

Would it be possible that Mr. Kem Sokha and the HRP is in much needed of a transportation, a vehicle or a boat or some sort to get them to the co-CPP ruling position? That would be Sam Rainsy - a perfect choice in this regard. How can anyone say with certainty that Mr. Kem Sokha would not defect or join the ruling party should the offer be made? I guess not, and given what the CPP has on Mr. Kem Sokha in term of the pending lawsuit, he might not have much of a choice. So, when you look at the risk, after you put together your pros and cons, then you realize that your risk is way way out of your comfort zone.

Unity is good, but to do it in a way that is beneficial to the country and to your supporters. As one of Sam Rainsy's supporters, I would suggest that our leader and leaders need to reflect on consequences of that union, especially the morning after the ballots are all counted.

If you really care about your country, then your conscience and common sense would tell you to do the right thing. Not by creating your own party name and logo, but by realistically looking at all the facts, the needs of the country and the people and then choose a vehicle that will bring you and the country to destination you and other nationalists are long yawning for. To think that you can do better than Sam Rainsy in a matter of less than a year time, it is like looking at yourself and feeling like you are in Alice Wonderland. Everything takes times and energy, and in Cambodian politics that is what required, patience, convictions and perserverance.

This view is personal and should regarded as such.