Cambodia's election results

The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo

Cambodia continues to rebuild from the turmoil that ended over 10 years ago, with its third election in a decade. There were casualties from violent outburst that included a grenade explosion, but the most recent election was much more peaceful than the two before it.

The 1993 general election, under the auspices of a United Nations transitional authority, was relentlessly sabotaged by the Khmer Rouge. Many people were killed, including Japanese and other foreign election observers and police.

Blood was shed during the 1998 election too. A year earlier, opposing political parties used weapons to settle their feud.

In the peace established since, Cambodians are now using debate, not violence, to shape their future. This is standard in any democracy, and is a welcome development in Cambodia.

The final election results are not ready yet, but unofficial tallies show Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People Party is expanding its lead, and is expected to stay in power.

The FUNCINPEC Party, led by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, King Norodom Sihanouk's son, has shrunk. The opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), which has been fighting corruption in high places, has gained ground.

This should show that, while voters recognize the Hun Sen administration's reconstruction achievements, they strongly disapprove of the rampant corruption and nepotism that pervades the ruling party.

Khmer Rouge genocide of the late 1970s under Pol Pot killed off much of the population, but a baby boom followed the eventual peace. Of Cambodia's 13 million people now, 40 percent are under age 15. The government has concentrated in education, with elementary school enrollment doubling in that period. Efforts are also being made to expand higher education.

But Cambodia is still far short of being self-sufficient. The nation relies upon foreign aid, including aid from Japan, to finance 40 percent of its operations. There is no sign Cambodia's economy will outgrow its dependence upon foreign aid.

Cambodia tries mightily to lure foreign investors, but is hampered by its inadequate infrastructure. Agricultural produce is about its only competitive export.

The nation is blessed with the natural bounty of fertile soil and plenty of water. These natural blessings supported Cambodia's ancient culture, the glorious vestiges of which can still be clearly seen in the ruins at Angkor Wat. But Cambodia needs time to overcome its poverty, train and develop technologies to make use of these blessings.

In shaping their future, Cambodians must constantly strive for fairness. Sam Rainsy, head of the eponymous SRP, has said, "The corruption in our country is like a grave illness. Any symptomatic treatment is useless. We must get to the root of the illness and treat it accordingly."

Fraud and corruption involving foreign aid funds and logging are rampant. Aid donors themselves must be more vigilant in administering their programs.

When the final election results are in, the next big step is formation of a special court, which Cambodia has essentially told the United Nations it will do, to bring former Khmer Rouge leaders to trial.

Cambodia must then come to terms with its past.