“I am happy to confront it
[risk].”
Analyst
and researcher Kem Ley, personal email to Ung Bun Ang, 27 April 2016
“One crowded hour of
glorious life is worth an age without a name.”
British
officer and poet Thomas Osbert Mordaunt (1730-1809)
Kem Ley is a defiant
soul, and gets straight to the point when it comes to facing risks surrounding
his social development endeavours. As usual, his above statement is sharp, short,
and unambiguous. He may be well aware of the Mordaunt’s quote, and is committed
to putting every one of his breathes to a good use for Cambodians. While many
of his contemporaries see as unacceptable risks, Kem Ley sees them as opportunities
– to make things right by and for the people of Cambodia.
As a qualified researcher
he relies on surveys scientifically conducted whenever possible. He is not a
drunk who uses statistics as a lamp post – for support rather than
illumination. He believes gathering and sharing of accurate information will
help reduce destructive and unnecessary frictions in any contest.
His personal
observations also play a large role in gathering information and in formulating
his ideas. He travels widely and frequently into remote areas of the country,
and conducts countless conversations with villagers.
His analyses
and criticisms are largely positive. For instance, after Global Witness
publishes its third major report recently, Kem Ley suggests the CPP make use of
all the three to its advantages by addressing major issues they raise. He says
this would help earn them popularity and votes, and keep any oppositions at bay.
However, the CPP does not share that positivity. It simply dismisses those
reports as lies and something sinister.
His deep understanding
of issues facing Cambodia and his straight talk convey clear messages to his
audiences. And going by reactions to his demise and a lengthy funeral service,
the public has embraced his contributions. The fact that his messages are
coming through is the cause for concern to those would rather see him quiet.
Kem Ley has –
as lateral thinker Edward de Bono would put it – a beautiful mind. His Facebook
page is packed with fascinating ideas. One of Kem Ley fables collection tells
of a long-term Viet settler contemplating changing her vote from her ruling party
CPP to the opposition. She says a current large influx of new settlers from
Vietnam make it hard for her to compete with them in making a living. Another captivating
story of his speaks of a fish swimming downstream in the Mekong river. The
fable says it may now be happy but it will drop dead as soon as it hits the sea
where the freshwater ends. Another riveting fable recounts a conversation
between the haves and the have-nots. The haves tell the have-nots to be happy
with what they have, and to be patient as their party is delivering. The
have-nots say they want what the haves have – beautiful cars, villas, and young
wife; they retort what more do the haves want?
Ultimately, Kem
Ley shows it is not the years in his life that
count; it is how he lives the life in his years. He has crowded glorious ideas
and activities into his one fine hour that will prick Cambodian conscience for
generations.
Ung Bun Ang
18vii16
By The Way
Within twelve hours of Dr Kem
Ley’s death, a local intellectual with all their wisdom and sensitivity doubted
if Kem Ley, who was known to be ready to sacrifice his life in his endeavour,
had bought any life insurance for his family.
Anyway, it is not certain if any
honest persons, like Kem Ley, who commit themselves to righteousness and a better
society could be so calculating for self-interest.
Nevertheless, would any life
insurers write such a risky policy with affordable premiums? Would they honour
the policy when the risk is arguably cut from the same cloth as suicide?
Still, from the
intellectual’s financial gain prospective, Kem Ley’s preferred life policy is
being paid out with influxes of financial contributions to his family from all
over the world, wherever Cambodians live.
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