North Korean's current state of affair

Very interesting article about North Korea's current state of affair (refer to this article for a full story  http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/After-Kim-Jong-il-Who-is-really-in-charge-in-North-Korea-VIDEO).

I find Asian political analysts are much more calm and accurate with their reactions to the situation when it comes to regional political affair.

Interesting views about Kim Jung-Il

It's so interesting to see how people are genuinely (or blindly maybe) in love with "Kim Jung-Il". Nice to hear different views, but we can't deny the facts that one those who adore him have the same style-- dictatorship (except my King and Queen of course); his leadership has led North Korea to become one of the most impoverished countries and suppressed societies on the face of the planet.

Read more how some people regard Kim Jung-Il as a lovely man http://www.guardian.co.uk/

The Mekong Dam project in Laos got stalled

I'm so glad that the Mekong Dam project in Laos got stalled. I really hope that the project get cancelled completely. The Mekong is not only important for our livelihood but it has also played great role in the cultures of the countries in the region. We have so many folklores, arts, music, and mythical tells related to the Mekong. The Dam would have direct impact on those aspect of life. If we allow the project to continue, it would be really, really sad!!!

Refer to these articles about the impact of the Dam project on the countries in the lower Mekong Delta:

• http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/laos-dam-idUSL3E7N83VK20111208
• http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2101716,00.html
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/laos-ready-to-build-first-mainstream-mekong-river-dam-despite-intense-opposition/2011/12/06/gIQAzoKJbO_story.html

Cambodian should learn-- bad foreign policy, pull Cambodia back about 100 years

Phnom Penh was once known as Paris of the East. We were so advanced at many sectors compared to many countries in the region.

The Vietnam War started, the real test on Cambodia foreign policy began. It hit us really hard!!! Looking back, in my opinion, our leaders made a wrong choice. A really bad one! Directed us to the wrong direction. We self-proclaimed to be a neutral nation (somewhat similar to Switzerland) in the middle of the cold war, but we chose to support China by providing food to Vietcong. We betrayed our fundamental. We can't deny this part of the history.

I can understand why Prince Sihanouk did that. That was because of insecurity, in my opinion. How so??? Well, we were under French colonization for 90 years. We fought hard to gain back our independent. We were afraid to loose. It's scary to be next to Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Especially when you see all the number of American troops mobilized into the region of Indochina. It's intimidating. It's very uncertain!

Also, looking back, we have a lot to learn from Singapore when it comes to foreign policy (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1167154/1/.html); surely many more sectors. They played hard ball toward the communist. They also played hard ball toward the British. But they also knew how to dance around, by not giving up any party. We can see the result of their foreign policy by soon after 1979, the Chinese communist party invited Mr. Lee Kuan Yew for state visit to China. Mr. Lee was welcomed as an honorable guest by the party. That's big! In the mean times, Singapore's relations with the west has been maintained and prospered despite the criticism over oppression on opposition party and the press during the 80s.

When get reviewing the consequence of Cambodian bad move on foreign policy, it pulled us back about 100 years behind, in my opinion. We put ourselves through genocide, where most educated were killed. We went through over three decades of civil wars. It took us more than 10 years to stabilize our fragile peace. It will take us another 40 - 50 years to full develop our social economics. Our society is still on the crossroad. Our youngsters don't even care about what had happened in the past. Good and loving family is a very strong foundation for building good society which leads to social economic prosperity. We are really lacking of that. So to full transform Cambodia into the modern society, which we have no choice but to do so, in a stable and natural integration, we need quiet a bit of time. One of the main factor in doing so is to have a good foreign policy. I think the current government is doing a pretty good job on that. I just wish they are not too biased toward China and blasting the west and the UN.

My career path in Canada -- the begging of success

I am a native Cambodian who moved to Canada in 2006, at the age of 27. My career in Canada began at the InterNeg in March 2007. I decided to change my career from Law to Information Systems when I moved to live in Canada. In order to pursue my new career, I applied to the Computer Science program at Concordia University and was accepted to the program. A short while later, I was fortunate enough to hear of a part-time position as a Research Assistant at the centre for Internet Negotiation (InterNeg). That was my first job in Canada. I loved what I was doing. The people I worked with were very supportive; especially, my manager, Ms. Norma Paradis. While working at InterNeg, I made some good contacts with staff who work for the John Molson School of Business (JMSB). Through my work contacts I was recommended for a full-time position as Web Developer, at the Centre for Instructional Technology (CIT) of JMSB. Working at CIT provided me with the opportunity to work with other web teams across the university. I made tons of excellent contacts and by the end of my employment contract in July 2008, I was referred for a full-time position at the Department of Education (DoE) as a Webmaster. After five months there, I was again referred to a permanent position, Web Designer, at the University Communications Services (UCS). UCS is a central department responsible for Marketing Communications, Media Relations, Internal Relations, and Web Communications for the university. I worked there from January 2009 till September 2011. Once again, I have been referred for a position with a private company, Autodesk -- my dream company, by my former colleague who used to work with me at Concordia. I am very excited about this new opportunity as it falls in line with my career goals.


Looking back, the most valuable lesson that I have learned and that has led to my success is hard work. No matter how small or simple the task or how boring it may be, you must give it your all and complete each task to the best of your ability. I always take any tasks assigned to me by my manager seriously; and continue to build professional contacts at every level.

Cambodia enforces anti-corruption law: western companies complaint

It's been two decades in Cambodia, for private companies getting things done on time, they have to pay low-paid civil servants (small amount of money). It's what have been known as "facilitation fees". When it's time to talk as friend, western diplomats & government critics call the practice as "facilitation fees payment", when it comes to talk as opponent, they call the same practice as "corrupt fee payment". Funny eh!

It was announced last week, one of the measures to eradicate the wide spread of corruption in the impoverish nation is to bring to court people who pay the facilitation fees and people who receive the fees.

As this article "Cambodian Anti-Corruption Drive Creates Headache for Western Firms" stated, the fees go to civil servants' pocket. It's true. While similar fees are being paid in western countries are going directly to the government. So, it seems to me that it is the right approach to stop the practice. But western firms reacted really negatively to the new law. I don't get it!

You can't please westerners really. Many of them said they don't come to invest because Cambodia is corrupt or severely lacking "rule of law". They said Cambodia is a bad place to do business because we do too much business with China. On the contrary, they said the new chapter (ban facilitation fees payment) of the anti-corruption laws is a bad idea. I'm lost!

You gotta do things that are good for your nation, and I completely support the government new initiatives.

U.S. Diplomat doesn't seem to do the job properly

In my opinion, article "U.S. Anxiety Over Rising China Aired in Cambodia WikiLeaks" is proven to me that the US diplomat does not do their job right.

I've never been a diplomat. However I think as a diplomat, s/he should probably focuses on working hard to strengthen relationships between her/his nation and the nation of the assignment. Not to report badly about some other country (that you regards as a rival) and let everything else go to s*#t. Washington solely depends on the report back from their diplomats. What have they heard? Bad news. Living in North America for 5 years, make me understand the culture here quite a bit via regional news. It's all about bad and dramatic news. Otherwise, no audience. It's probably also applies in politics and foreign affairs.

So if you read the article carefully, and look at it in a more strategic way, you will understand that the US diplomat in Cambodia did not do the job that they suppose to do for the country-- both Cambodia (diplomat is also care about Human Rights) and the US.

Why do I make such claim?

Well, look. People need food. Economic need to grow. Government need to prioritize their moves. So, Cambodia desperately needs energy. The Wests don't want to invest because Cambodia is lacking Rule of Law, China does. Thanks to China. Energy will have us to boost many other developments-- tourism, garments, agriculture, industries (factory and so on). How can we ask investors to come to invest and we can provide them electricity.

Cambodia needs roads and bridges (were completely destroyed by war). The Wests say nah, too complicated to work with Cambodia. China says OK. Let's get to business. As a result, so many roads and bridges were built and being built. We roads and bridges, we can transport goods and travel easily. Things become more efficient.

Cambodia needs to strengthen its military-- training, weapon, and so on. The Wests says the market is too small. The price is high. So Cambodia turned to China for a cheaper cost. Strategic right?

One of the main thing is that Cambodia is Asian. Asian like saving face. The US does not. The US would go and blast on all kinds of issues about Cambodia to the press. That does not work so well. However, China does not do that.

Many other issues, you can just keep listing it if you know Cambodia enough.

When the strategic and prioritized policies are implemented successfully, all other issues such as education and health care will fall in place. When people have good education, they can make a better decision. So, democracy is more promising. To get to that point, living standard of each household needs to be improved. That's why the basic needs are necessary to get done first.

So, USA, think about it, would you.