2019 Annual Awards

The year has come and almost gone. It is time to dish out some awards to well-deserved personalities and institutions in Cambodia politics.

Outstanding Bagman – Hun Sen

Easy cash has poured in as if Bank of China burst – thanks to Hun Sen for giving away Cambodia’s resources China finds irresistible. There is so much of cash that a high-profiler wonders, without it, “who would have invested” in Cambodia’s electricity, which gives an impression the country has suffered no power blackouts.

Hot Air Momentum Builder – Sam Rainsy

Sam Rainsy’s plan to return on 9/11 and take Hun Sen into custody has been hyped up as another dramatic regime change. It is a momentum that sees internal supporters scramble to mobilise people power. Hard-core overseas supporters rush to Thailand, waiting for a much-anticipated march with their leader across the border. Some are arrested, and some are still waiting.

However, the momentum balloon fizzles out. It is uncertain if the return is just hot air from the start, or it is punctured by Hun Sen’s sharp wit.

Win-Win Award – Hun Sen & Sam Rainsy

Both antagonists claim victory post 9/11. Hun Sen wins for all he wants is to keep Sam Rainsy out. Sam Rainsy also wins for all he wants is to stay out; he claims a “huge success” that Indonesia and Malaysia reject Hun Sen’s request for his arrest and extradition to Cambodia. Thus, the return plan seems nothing more than to embarrass Hun Sen.

Ranariddh Toothpick Award – CNRP Leadership

First, background to this Award. If PhD law professor Ranariddh were to make a toothpick, he would need a log. He inherits from his dear Papa election-winning party Funcinpec, and over time, he manages to shrink it, like chiselling the log into a toothpick.

The CNRP leadership deserves the Award; similarities between the CNRP and Funcinpec leaderships are striking. Both are well-educated, facing the same high-school leaver antagonist. While Funcinpec lets Hun Sen cheat them out of power after its 1993 elections win, the CNRP lets Hun Sen outsmart them out of winning power. Like Funcinpec, the CNRP is now dwindling despite a persistent all-is-one rhetoric. Two main CNRP fractions are trading insults, not ideas. Several members have walked out from the two and establish at least three new parties.

Hope Award – Unspecified Recipients

Many are so hopeful that they treat hope as a plan. CNRP supporters hope Hun Sen will let Sam Rainsy in and Kem Sokha out to oppose him and that an EBA loss will bring down Hun Sen. NGOs hope Hun Sen will take his foot off their throat. Commuters hope for a less chance of getting killed on the road. A prosperous few hopes for a status quo and Chinese easy cash… The list of hopes is endless.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen does not rely on hope. He has a plan – with a killer instinct – to weaken his opponents and move towards a dynasty.

Overall, 2020 will be another year of status quo with Hun Sen’s blessings.

Ung Bun Ang

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Memorable Photo You Can Use

This front row siesta must be very catching, regardless of glorified titles and positions of these sleep-deprived officials. Besides deputy prime ministers snoozing while the prime minister yapping, these police captains enjoy an equal opportunity with same rest time after all the hard work.

However, the captains’ master has no sense of humour and decides to reprimand – not the three captains – but their mate who has taken the shot perhaps just for fun and published it on social media. The punitive action is rather sad but consistent with modus operandi of a mentality that must take out messengers and reward culprits with at least impunity, if not promotion.

 The front row siesta, 8 June 2018

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