2010 Alternative Prizes

[Alternatives Watch]

Alternatives Watch – 31xii10 – Special Edition.


2010 ALTERNATIVE PRIZES


It is time again for the well-deserved in Cambodian politics to
receive awards for their remarkable actions in 2010.

No doubt, the “Collective Irresponsibility Prize” goes to premier Hun
Sen for coming up with a nifty conclusion – after a quick official
inquiry – that absolves everyone for the 353 deaths at the 22/11 Spean
Koh Pich stampede. He admits the biggest mistake is carelessness and
inept assessment of the situation. However, he says it is a joint
responsibility, so no one is going to be responsible, which gives much
comfort to those who are careless and inept. Effectively, the
Cambodian buck has nowhere to stop. Rubbing salt in the wound, the
premier claims the death toll would be higher if he were not in
charge, which means Cambodians are small potatoes who ought to be
thankful that only 353 of them are dead.

Prince Ranariddh grabs the “Will The Royal Soufflé Rise Twice? Prize”.
After suffering two years of being busy with what his father describes
as doing nothing in the Palace, the prince relies on drug addiction
metaphor to seek limelight again. After reducing his 56 seat party to
a mere 2, he says he comes out of the oblivion to reunite all
royalists under a brand new Funcinpec 81. He says he will not aim to
oppose – but solely to cooperate with – premier Hun Sen, which
indicates he is looking for wealth and glory again. It is immediately
rejected by leader of the prince’s target group royalist Funcinpec
Nhiek Bun Chhay, who needs the proposed unification like a bullet in
his head. Funcinpec has always been cooperating with the premier, and
enjoying all perks. There is no need to rock the boat, which could
only spoil its fortunes.

While the prince re-emerges to amass fund for his eventual retirement,
opposition leader Sam Rainsy secures the “Potential Early Departure
Prize”. He appears to have found some quantum of solace in exile with
a forced retirement staring at his face. He no longer seems to know
what he wants; he lately contents himself with a wait-and-see
strategy. When asked how he will return to the ring when he wants to,
he simply replies, “you just wait and see”. He may have an ace up his
sleeve, but it is clear his frantic lobbying with foreign friends and
sympathisers outside the ring is not as effective as he wishes. The
light at the end of the tunnel he keeps on promising his supporters
may just be an incoming train. Sam Rainsy is stuck between the devil
and the deep blue sea, which points to his imminent departure from
politics. If he remains in exile, his SRP leadership role will become
totally ineffectual; premier Hun Sen often claims – and SRP does not
even bother to deny – that there are elements in the SRP top
leadership working for him. However, if Sam Rainsy is allowed to
return, he will have to make colossal concessions to premier Hun Sen
that will end his political ambition.


Happy New Year, anyhow.


Ung Bun Ang