COVID-19 brings out the best in Cambodia: Small Country, Big Heart

Opinion

February 14, 2020

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50691292/covid-19-brings-out-the-best-in-cambodia-small-country-big-heart

 

Amidst all the sad headlines on coronavirus or COVID-2019 outbreak, a Japanese song “Ue o Muite Arukou” by Kyu Sakamoto or known as “Sukiyaki” released in 1961 keeps ringing in my head.

“I look up when I walk, So that the tears won’t fall, Remembering those spring days,…..Happiness lies beyond the clouds, Happiness lies above the sky……Sadness lies in the shadow of the stars, Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon”.

 

How could we put our heads up amidst the sad and sudden circumstances?

 

When human lives are concerned, we cannot avoid being emotional. Worse still, the world is fighting a novel virus that has much to be known. The panic and fear, health and medical risks, economic risks, containment measures, confidence on authorities are complex issues to handle and how to handle them with maximum calmness and assurance require an extremely strong nerve.

 

Under the snow, Prime Minister Hun Sen and his entourage visited Beijing on 5 February, without masks. Cambodia is lending moral support with “foot on the ground”, being the first and by far the only foreign leader to visit China after the outbreak when many countries have been distancing themselves from China, issuing travel ban, etc.
 

His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni and Her Majesty Queen Mother even donated their personal wealth to the cause.
 

Another event has turned the world upside down. A small country that is often portrayed negatively in international media shocked the world with awe.

 

Cambodia dared to receive all passengers and crew aboard Holland America’s MS Westerdam cruise ship, which docked in Sihanoukville, after medical clearance that showed that none of them were infected with COVID-19. The MS Westerdam, owned by Holland America Line, was turned away by five countries before finally docking in Cambodia, with 1,455 guests and 802 crew members of 41 nationalities on board.

 

They were welcome with Khmer traditional scarves “Kroma”, and roses on Valentine’s day,“day of love.”

 

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, wrote on his Twitter, “Cambodia exemplifies the international solidarity we have consistently been calling for. I am deeply grateful to the government, particularly Prime Minister Hun Sen, for accepting the Westerdam and its passengers. It’s time for solidarity, not stigma.”

 

US Ambassador Patrick Murphy wrote various notes on his Twitter, “We greatly appreciate the support of the Cambodian authorities and people in assisting all passengers on the Westerdam”, and “Heartwarming sights in Sihanoukville as passengers begin disembarking from the Westerdam – with Cambodian hospitality on full display.”
 

The Delegation of the European Union to Cambodia wrote on their Facebook page, “The EU Delegation to Cambodia would like to thank the Cambodian authorities for authorising the docking of the Westerdam, and to express its sympathy to the passengers and crew members of the ship, hoping they will soon be safely repatriated.”

 

Human rights and human life actually has similar a rhyme.

 

Humanity and compassion is in full blown and it humbly shines from Cambodia, “a small country with a big heart.”

Sim Vireak
Strategic Advisor of Asian Vision Institute (AVI)

Cambodia faces questions of conscience, self-reliance

Asia Times, Opinion

https://asiatimes.com/2020/02/cambodia-faces-questions-of-conscience-self-reliance/

The European Commission's partial withdrawal of trade privileges under the EBA pact has combined with other factors affecting Cambodia

 

by Sim Vireak February 12, 2020

 

 

February 12, 2020, was reported widely as “EBA judgment day” when the European Commission announced its decision to withdraw temporarily some trade preferences Cambodia had enjoyed under the Everything But Arms deal between Phnom Penh and the European Union.

In effect, a supranational body of one region is imposing its judgment over a sovereign state in another region. How powerful does that sound, when an extraterritorial judgment can be executed thousands kilometers away?

Cambodia is being punished based on criticism of imperfections in its democratic progress and evolution as a nation. In fact many self-acclaimed midwives delivered a baby democracy in Cambodia that falls repetitively as it learns to walk.

The EC decision creates the temptation to recall the history of the “white man’s burden” and “mission civilisatrice” (civilizing mission). The dialogue that was undertaken leading up to the decision was a challenging discourse of empathy, a constant fight with mutually justified egos, and most of all questions of conscience. The desire for independence that may cause economic casualties, the ambition to be freed from conditions, the desire to move on toward the future, the righteousness and sense of self-appreciation for noble and altruistic deeds offer links with the causes of humanity.

There is a Khmer saying, “Klean cha-gnanh, srolanh la-or,” literally translated as “Food is good when you are hungry; seeing beauty when you are in love.” In this sense, looking at the European Union’s trade practices in the region, it is observed that the shady records of universal values can sometimes be overruled by the beauty and strengths of market capitalism. But imposing punishment under laws and values that are supposed to protect people seems to prove otherwise, as no one really knows the exact impacts of this punishment.

It is like in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice where Shylock demands “a pound of flesh” for a due debt and claims that he has that right under Venetian law:

“What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?….

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,

Is dearly bought; ’tis mine and I will have it.

If you deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.”

But Shylock cannot challenge the natural human law that “a pound of flesh” cannot be taken without shedding blood. The questions of universality of values and principles also lead to questions as to what those values and principles are for in terms of people’s livelihood.

How do we measure impact? Different state institutions provide different levels of impact analysis, from minimal and manageable impacts claimed by the government to the industrial fallout as claimed by some pessimistic critics and doomsday prophets.

Now, on the question of self-reliance. The interdependence that the world has benefited from can be both a strength for development and a disruptive power. On the positive side, interdependence magnifies mutual benefits; in negative terms, interdependence undermines self-reliance.

Cambodia relies on China for investment capital, production chains and material supplies. Cambodia relies on Europe for a market for the finished products made from those materials. A disruption of China’s supplies due to the recent coronavirus outbreak can cut short delivery to European markets. Likewise, restricted access to the European market due to the partial EBA withdrawal can also cut short factories’ purchase orders.

Thus the question of over-reliance here is not only about China. Cambodia, which is in the middle of this production and supply chain, can be said to be over-reliant both on China and the EU.

Apart from the issue of diversity, questions can be pondered about the lack of competitiveness and vulnerabilities of Cambodian economic structures, and probably matters of complacency and sluggish reforms to adjust economic structures and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the region.

Challenges for Cambodia’s economy will be multiple and global in nature. China’s economic slowdown, a global disruption of supply chains due to the coronavirus, impacts from the partial EBA withdrawal, trade wars, geopolitical rivalry between superpowers and regional powers, weak domestic competitiveness compared with other nations in the region, lack of diversity – these are among the compounding factors that may slow down Cambodia’s economy.

Come what may, adaptive solutions will be devised including market and supply-chain diversification, drastic internal reforms, economic stimulus packages, social safety nets, and human capital development. The recent chain of events could provide an exceptional opportunity and driving force for Cambodia to push for a gradual economic structural shift from a low-skilled, labor-intensive growth model toward a knowledge-based and skills-driven one.

Cambodia has braced itself for these challenges. Cambodia will move on. Cambodia will adapt and transform.