Principles of Citizenship

Introductionrespect for and observance of human rights and
"Know your human right" (High profile campaign offundamental freedoms in Cambodia ;to support the
the fortieth anniversary of the adoption of theright of all Cambodian citizens to undertake activities
Universal Declaration of Human right).which would promote and protect human rights and
"Human rights and fundamental freedoms are thefundamental freedoms;to take effective measures to
birthright of all human beings; their protection andensure that the policies and practices of the past shall
promotion is the first responsibility of Governments"never be allowed to return;to adhere to relevant
(Vienna Declaration and Program of Action 1993).international human rights instruments;b) the other
"For our human livelihood, approach to citizenship isSignatories to this Agreement undertake to promote
the very first instigation" (Coined by Lay Vicheka,and encourage respect for and observance of human
2005).rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia as
"Live to the best of our dignity", I would say, is myembodied in the relevant international instruments and
very persuasion to such the essay titled; Principles ofthe relevant resolutions of the United Nations General
Citizenship. Until today, "the best way to leadAssembly, in order, in particular, to prevent the
humankind is through rationalism" is still valid.recurrence of human rights abuses .
Everything shall have its one or more purposes, butNot only the international instruments, Cambodian
prior to gaining such the purpose(s), we should initiateconstitution also guarantees the right to enjoy political
by knowing ourselves as much as possible. Everyday,participation as they are the steer of their country.
on daily national television, we have beenThough many criticisms have been drawn on Prime
brainwashed by human rights' issues from globalMinister Hun Sen's government, I still claim that his
perspectives, the rights of the citizens, thegovernment does have the mentality toward
relationship between the rulers and the ruled,free-market economy and for-the-people policy.
inter-state relations, and even human right. TheWhat I am trying to do here is just to show you the
purpose of this essay is to define the wordreaders that all of us already have power-in particular,
"citizenship" from my perspective. I will draw thethe political power. But our weakness is that we don't
ideas from the very general perspectives to the veryknow or may be scared to use such the innately
specific ( Cambodia ). How a person holds aimposed powers.
"citizenship" values.The right to political participation is already stated in
Recently, I have been accused of "proving to bemany Cambodian provisions and other legal acts, and
intelligent (from mostly the uneducated)", but nowhat we should do now is to make those abstract
matter what will happen, how hard it will be and howideas into realities; "the most valuable of an idea is
mistaken I am, I believe that I am positivelypractice, people can be well-respected when they
contribute to Cambodia's well-being, and this is one ofturn their ideas into practice."
other contributions for Cambodia' general good.Citizen's Rights Vs Human Rights:
Thanks for reading my article(s) and constructiveIt shows much difference between Human Rights
criticisms.and Citizen's Rights, especially for such the perplexed
Most of us holding National Identification Card,world. So how the two rights prove differences?
Passport and other administrative certificates; birth,As stated by ancient Greek and French philosophers,
marriage, and death, but we don't know for surehumankind is bounded by innate rights; physiological
what are the essences of those materials. Theneeds, unlimited use of natural resources, expression,
purpose of this paper is to endeavor to catch thedignity, movement, and indeed, these rights are
"already-there opportunities" of every people asguaranteed by the state, with legal act and other
much as possible.provisions as the testimonies. However, since we are
Its Definitionthe citizens of one state, we are bound by the
I am not trying to coin the new definition of thecontract with the state. This contract is the
term "citizenship", since it has been clearly defined byConstitution. Of course, my aforementioned rights
well-known professional experts. But I like to expressare guaranteed by the Cambodian government as
my own view on such the abstract tactic. Citizenship,well as other governments in the world, but one
in my perspective, is people's routine activities thatstatement has been added to those innate or natural
directly or indirectly affect the government's policy.rights: "as long as it does not impinge with other
For example, if a person decides to go to cast therights." Such the statement has turned, I thought, the
ballot, he or she is filling one of the principles ofinnate/natural rights into citizen's rights.
citizenship, which will affect the government. SuchReturning back to those ancient philosophers, human
the decision to cast the vote does affect therights are unlimited, genuinely equal, but such the
government's policy, because people's political rights istheory does not apply anymore to our modern
one of the most prominent policy of thecivilization. To restore the public order and other
government.public goods, we are divided between the rulers and
So what are the fundamental and central rights andthe ruled. The ruled vote for the rulers to hold the
obligation of citizen? It would be too much to list alloffices. Though we are the ones that select
the fundamental and central rights and obligation ofmembers of parliament, we are already expected to
the citizen, since I just want to show the path tocomply with the laws adopted by whom we have
"citizenship" and you, the readers, are obliged toselected, and of course, they must comply also with
steer your own boats.what we have expected before we vote for them.
The Right to Life:This stream, I call, is the mutual contract; we are
"Every Khmer citizen shall have the right to life,bounded by the laws adopted by those we vote for
personal freedom, and security. There shall be noand they must also comply with our opinions. By
capital punishment." Article 32 of the Cambodianraising such the concrete example, I believe, we can
constitution (1993, amended in 1999).clearly see that human rights have been turn to
Don't think this "right" is awfully simple, as I wascitizen's rights since we are the citizens of one state.
confused myself as well. The right to life has a veryThis means that our rights are limited and we are
broad meaning and as Smith stated in his Internationalobligated to pay remedies for our wrong-doings:
Human Right; "other rights just add qualities to thisaccountabilities.
right." So what are those rights to life? I think toConclusion
make the reader easy to understand, I takeIt is too brief to view the principles of citizenship
Maslow's theory on physiological needs; food, shelter,from just few pages of paper; I can assume that it
clothes, love, care, dignity...etc as the foundations ofis not in-depth and carry too little scopes. The rights
these "rights to life." Just think about theseto citizenship are too broad and I believe no one can
physiological needs and then you will understand thatcover them all, but somebody may carry it more
your right to life is arisen from these needs. The righteffectively than another. It would take long to cover
to life is the birthright of every humankind assuch the topic from philosophical, historical and social
indirectly stipulated in the universal declaration ofbackgrounds, and this is beyond my knowledge and
human right and the charter of the United Nationstarget. These few papers just seem to be the
Organization.initiative on "provoking Cambodian people's
We are lucky to be born human, but our humanalready-set rights."
quality or tenet will be withdrawn if our right to life isBut how can one have the citizenship? Education, I
inadequate or non-existent. For our essence ofbelieve, is the primary source to grant such the
humankind, the right to life is extremely importantaspiration. Educated people seem to be more on
and must be equal amongst all other human persons,tract with current state of affairs, so it is the
either in the Cambodian, regional or global context.educated ones who can see better light on
And as I quoted on the top; "the right to life thecitizenship.
foremost responsibility of the government." It is theWhat about the uneducated/low-educated one? Do
International Covenant on Economic, Social andtheir aspirations toward citizenship are dim? I truly
Cultural Rights for the second generation is - inbelieve so. I am not underestimating the uneducated
particular, concerned with the right to life: the right tolow-educated ones, but what I am saying is for the
education, the right to appropriate housing, the rightbetter tomorrow. For, the better light to citizenship,
to social security, and the right to a safe and healthyones must be educated to be on par with the
working environment and adequate leisure and restgovernment's and international affairs and other
time (Smith, 2005, p. 46).specific branches of knowledge and know-how. Let's
Cambodian constitution 1993 and amended in 1999 alljust take a very simple example: to have a chance to
clearly stipulated such the right to life: personalread this article, somebody needs to have some
freedom and security, the right to choosepractical knowledge of English and social issues.
employment, enjoy the protection of the State, etc.Moreover, we need knowledge and attitude to
And we even see that the right to life must beunderstand government's legal acts and international
meticulously equal amongst all the Cambodian peoplelegal instrument including: treaties, conventions,
and the rest of the world, as article 31 stipulatesprotocols, etc.
"The Kingdom of Cambodia shall recognize andThis little article strives to push the government to
respect human rights as stipulated in the Unitedput more attention to education; quality education. In
Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Humanthe event such the aspiration is achieved, the
Rights, the covenants and conventions related togovernment will have a lot of assistants and
human rights, women's and children's rights."volunteer advisors.
The Right to Political Participation:For the purpose for getting more knowledge on
Don't think this "right" is awfully not important for thecitizenship, you are humbly requested to view more
people in the twenties century. But why politicalinternational instruments, tabulated hereunder:
participation from the people of all walks of life is"Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, adopted
important?by the Constitutional Assembly in Phnom Penh on
Most people (wrongly) think that politics is just forSeptember 21, 1993 at its 2 nd Plenary Session.
only some kinds of people; lawyers, politicians,Amendments passed 4 th March 1999 ."
intellectuals and other interest groups. Moreover,Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement
politics are not important to them, since it does notof the Cambodia Conflict" (Paris, 23 October 1991).
positively or negatively impact their lives. Such the"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights"
ignorant mentality has, of course, extended until"Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
today. When just starting with political topic, most ofInhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,"
the elders would say "it is none of our business, whatAdopted by the General Assembly resolution 39/46
we should care is to make sure our stomachs are full,of December 10, 1984 ."
politics is nothing to us, it is just for the politicians and"Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of
their counterparts."Discrimination Against Women (1979)".
Yes, as I said above, the right to life is the most"Convention on the Rights of the Child, Adopted the
fundamental right, preceding all others, but it is hardGeneral Assembly resolution 44/25 of November 20,
to make most of Cambodian people be aware of1989 ".
their rights or even innate rights, since political"International Covenant on Economic, Social and
participation is largely abstained. As we can see,Cultural Rights, Adopted by General Assembly
Cambodian people's rights like other people aroundresolution 2200A (XXI) of December 16, 1966 ".
the world are guaranteed by the state and other"The Charter of the United Nations, Done at the city
legal instruments. For instance, Article 15 ofof San Francisco the twenty-sixth day of June, one
Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlementthousand nine hundred and forty-five".
on the Cambodia Conflict " states that:"The International Bill of Human Rights, adopted by
All persons in Cambodia and all Cambodian refugeesGeneral Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of December
and displaced persons shall enjoy the rights and10, 1948 ."
freedoms embodied in the Universal Declaration ofAnd for our aspirations for "citizenship", you are
Human Rights and other relevant international humanobliged to learn about your own powers.
rights instruments."Great power comes from great responsibility"
To this end,a) Cambodia undertakes:to ensure(extracted from a movie titled SPIDER MAN).