The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 578
Any and every society has its problems. This is normal. The problems maybe similar or different, according to history, present context, internal and external factors and influences. In spite of all these differences, there are some general assumptions how to find solutions, and these may apply to very different situations.
Whatever the problems, if one can have the impression that it is possible to understand the problem, how it emerged, who or what factors are related to it – when there is at least some understanding what and why things are happening and into which direction, it is often easier to bear problems in patience for some time. Because there is hope to find solutions.
But if people are just victims of events, there may be anger, there may even be silent grudge accepting what cannot be avoided. But then there is no hope, no enthusiasm to dedicate energy towards solutions, and toward contributing to build a better society.
There is widespread consensus that the road traffic situation in Phnom Penh is a problem because of two major reasons: the roads were not designed for the volume of traffic they have to handle now – and many participants in the traffic do not respect the rules. Anybody who wants to observe those who continue to drive when the green light has already changed to red, or those who just drive trough a red traffic light can see this chaos. This is just one field as an example, while there are many others.
This prompts the question: Is there improvement visible? With the ever increasing number of vehicles it seems that the situation is getting worse day-by-day. And as this is a complex problem, one has to ask: What are the steps taken by the authorities to get this problem under control? Or more to the point: What are the priorities for such an effort?
This is obviously not only a technical problem. It has an extremely important social side also. If there is no common conviction developing that the problem needs to be brought towards solutions by a broad community consensus, it will not happen.
Recently, there are many traffic jams as a result of groups of police officers flagging down vehicles and drivers for inspection: mirrors to observe traffic coming from behind, old license plates, drivers licenses. At many such places one can see they dealing mostly with people on small, often old motorcycles, some of the drivers look scared, surrounded and questioned by half a dozen of police officers. And in the traffic held up by this checking, there are a lot of new, big cars with no license plates at all – but the attention of the police is so often focused only on the weaker ones.
But will the public then be motivated to actively cooperate, when it is so difficult to see socially just priorities set – and not only declared, but also actually implemented? There are many signs in society that there is a clear notion of justice and the hope that it can be achieved. The frequent appeals to the Prime Minster by desperate victims testify: there is confidence, that somebody with power, will exercise it to achieve justice. If this faith in the state and its leaders, that they will act to establish justice, which could not be achieved on the local level, is eroded or completely lost, the state of law is in fundamental danger.
What role will the 11-Point Recommendations for the Environment of the Prime Minister play, when people from the Boeng Kak lake are, whose houses begin to be flooded gradually, representatives of the citizens and representatives of the company, are going to meet in court. The Prime Minister had said in February 2007, that the Ministry of Environment should work with officials at all levels to create community statutes for the management of natural resources, and that local people should participate in the implementation of related programs. Nothing of this nature has been done. Even the environment impact study to be made, and to be made public, has not been complied with.
Not only the expectation to find justice is an essential stabilizer for a society, but also an environment where one has a certain confidence to know and to understand what is going on, and according to which rules things happen in society. We list up some cases, where the public was faced with surprises: what was declared to be impossible, became possible. But how?
For many months, all public calls for a lowering of the price of fuel received the answer: No way – the increasing price for gasoline is just a reflection of the world market, nobody can act against the forces of the market, where external pressure on the market result in high prices locally. – Now the Prime Minister ordered the Ministry of Economy and Finance to find a way to lower the price: and it is going to happen quickly with the beginning of the new week.
For many months, any discussion that Prince Ranariddh, convicted by a court, might get an amnesty, was countered by the argument that nobody can get an amnesty if it is not established that there is a person actually accepting the guilt, and serving part of the prison term to which he was condemned. At least a minimum time of several months has to be spent in prison before a royal amnesty can free a person. – Now we read that a letter requesting an amnesty has already be sent to the Royal Palace.
After Minister of Defense Tea Banh and Thailand’s Supreme Commander General Boonsang Niempradit met on 21 July 2008, not much was reported except that Cambodia had rejected a Thai proposal to start planning for the joint management of the Preah Vihear tourist area – as required by the World Heritage Committee to be presented in early 2010 – where Thailand would receive 40% and Cambodia 60% of the revenue. The overdue border negotiations would start later. – After the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong and Tej Bunnag had met in Thailand on 19 August 2008, it was reported that the Cambodian side had suggested to have the negotiations not starting before October – after the formation of a new government. – But the Cambodian press continued to accuse the Thai side for not entering into negotiations more early. Now it is reported that some kind of meeting might happen at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later in September.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, recently stressed the need for investigative information as fundamental during a UNESCO workshop. This is a welcome encouragement for the press and other media, and for their role of helping to develop a healthy society, by investigative research and by publishing in depth what is going on in society. The regular notes in the press, that the officer in charge is too busy to talk to a reporter should be less and less acceptable – and this could happen, if the an earlier decision to appoint spokesperson in all ministries would be implemented.
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