The Difficult Peace

The Cambodia Daily published a horrific report of the massacre in the southern Philippines on 25 November 2009. Printed in colour and accompanied by large fonts, the headline photo showed bloated bodies and headless corpses scattered on the ground. Reports claimed that the perpetrators intended to intimidate their electoral rivals from the Mangudadtu clan. Around 100 gunmen then held up a convoy of Mangadadatus, lawyers and journalists and attacked them with M-16 rifles and machetes. 57 were killed; among them about 30 were journalists. These gruesome reports remind us that there are still fault-lines within and among Southeast Asian countries. Where simmering tensions are not identified and cooled down, conflicts may erupt violently.

A few days after reading this news article, on 27 November, a Filipino friend invited me to watch a Filipino staged play, the closing performance of the Mekong Arts Festival in Phnom Penh. Coincidently, the play’s plot depicts conflicts in southern Philippines.

In the story, Ismael and Isabel were childhood friends in a religiously diverse community. Ismael’s parents, Muslims, were killed by intolerant Christian radicals. Isabel, though a Christian, was also separated from her parents during the armed conflicts. The fighting destroyed their village and they made their way to Manila, the capital city. There, Ismael joined a Muslim gang and terrorized Christians through kidnapping and assassination. Isabel became a maid for a Christian British family.

The story then fast-forwarded to two years later. The two main characters crossed paths again as Ismael attempted to kidnap Isabel’s master. Reminiscent of their friendship prior to the conflicts, Ismael and Isabel reconciled. Hand in hand, they fled to a new world without any conflicts.

Amidst lively dances and upbeat music, the play advocated for peace. The playwright certainly conveyed the urgent need to mitigate hatred and create a harmonious society.

When I first arrived at Phnom Penh, I followed the United Nations protocol and reported to the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). The officer there assured us “newbies” that Cambodia is “very safe.” But as I stayed on longer, I learned that beneath this peaceful façade, there are actually hidden fissures:

• Territorial disputes between Cambodia and Thailand over the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern Cambodia. The Site now sits within the Cambodian border but the Thai authorities also claim sovereignty. In an attempt to uphold national pride, the Cambodian Prime Minister recently received Thaksin, the fugitive former Thai President, and appointed him an Economic Advisor. This action may heighten diplomatic tensions (ambassadors have already been recalled) and spark new fighting at the border.

• Sam Rainsy, Leader of the Cambodian opposition party, removed six markers along the Cambodian-Vietnamese border in Svay Rieng province in October 2009. Rainsy undertook this provocative action in reaction to complaints that Cambodian farmland was illegally occupied by the Vietnamese. Indeed, the two countries has 1,270km of contentious border. Some efforts have been started since 2006 to demarcate the border but disputes still arise occasionally.

• Entertaining private sector or individual interests, government officials from some provinces and districts have evicted many families and ignored the hardships experienced by the evictees. In addition, the recent relocation of some 40 HIV affected families to the outskirts of Phnom Penh have prompted international outcry. Rights groups especially cited the oppressive heat, lack of access to health care, poor supply of food and limited job opportunities at the relocation site. Some activists even called the area an “AIDS colony.” Prolonged dissatisfaction over these forced evictions may gradually fuel public action and unrest.

• Corruption within the government bureaucracy has potential to stir up public dissent. According to Transparency International, Cambodia ranks among the most corrupt nations in the world, just on par with such countries as Laos, Tajiskistan and the Central African Republic. Without strong political commitment and government institutions to formulate and implement anti-corruption laws, many Cambodians and foreign businesses have to pay bribes. Corruption may also limit the public funds available for concrete reforms and public welfare. If public discontent against corruption and ineffective public services reaches a critical mass, there may more and more protests against the government.

Following the Filipino staged play, a group of youth presented a short skit titled “Weaving Cultures, Weaving Vision.” The short demonstration illustrated region-wide issues, such as human trafficking, drug abuse and child labour. Transnational efforts will be required to combat these pressing issues – and perhaps these common problems will force countries to “weave” their visions, align their interests and cooperate closely for the greater good.

Further reading

Mekong Arts Festival 2009: Weaving Cultures, Weaving Vision

“Cambodia Tit-for-Tat over Thaksin,” BBC, 6 November 2009

“Sam Rainsy Uproots Vietnamese Border Markers,” Phnom Penh Post, 27 October 2009

“AIDS Day Event Sparks Debate,” Phnom Penh Post, 2 December 2009