Sunday 12:00 noon in the nation's capital on election day in Cambodia. I'm enjoying the dregs of my americano and a pumpkin muffin at Brown cafe, whose motto should be our muffins are moist! The streets are much quieter than normal today and so is this cafe, which is usually teeming with people. I'm glad neither the streets nor this cafe are bustling. I like chill. I suppose the results will be known later this evening and it's doubtful the streets will be empty at that time. The CPP, the current ruling party, is expected to win, but the CNRP, the main opposition party, is expected to put up higher numbers than normal and perhaps force the CPP to adjust their policies. We shall see!
This is only the fifth national election since 1993 and the same guy has been in power since then. That seems unreal. Free and fair elections? If the CPP wins, it sounds like the CNRP will protest because of various methods of voter fraud. One CNRP member said "There are many irregularities. Opposition supporters have been deleted from the voters list, while at least a million names have been added. Extra ballots have been printed, vote buying is widespread, and people are facing intimidation and violence."
Another guy, an independent political analyst says that "If the CPP wins with a majority...there will be violence and there will be bloodshed."
On the other hand, if the CNRP pulls off a miraculous upset the same political analyst says that would be the "worse thing that could happen." Why?
"The CPP" he said, "would try to cling to power by using police and military" who are both loyal to the CPP and "there will be chaos, the government will hold on to their power and Cambodia will be in the same situation as Burma in 1990 when the [National League for Democracy] won and the military party arrested almost all politicians."
Gee, sounds like either way, Cambodia is screwed. That is, if you listen to these guys. Unless of course, the middle scenario is achieved, which is the CPP winning the election, losing some seats, but maintaining a majority to form a government. In other words, if the CNRP has a reasonable showing, but does not win. That's how I understand it. Even the prime minister, Hun Sen, leader of the CPP, has said that if his party loses it would provoke a civil war and a war with Vietnam. Talk about trying to strike fear into the hearts of the people. Nobody here wants another war. I'm sure a lot of people would like a new prime minister, but at what cost?
Anyway, nothing to do now, but wait and see. I may hit the grocery store after the coffee shop just in case I have to bunker down for a few days.
In other news, I just watched a video of a small lake at the North Pole. We're fucked! I bet Santa is pissed. Not drunk, well maybe, but angry.
And on the same note, climate change, I was reading about Kiribati, a country in the middle of the Pacific that is supposed to be the first country lost due to rising sea levels. Crazy to think this will likely become a reality in our lifetime. I once read a book called The Sex Lives of Cannibals that was written about the author's trip to this place. Further reading on this nation's eventual fate can be found here.
And finally, this week I learned that I should exercise with shoes on. A blood blister isn't the end of the world, but it is slightly uncomfortable. Anyway, if you ever find an exercise routine calling for mountain climbers, it is best to wear a pair of comfy shoes. You can thank me later. That's all I got for today. If you look closely at the picture, you can see a caterpillar crawling on my toe.
This is only the fifth national election since 1993 and the same guy has been in power since then. That seems unreal. Free and fair elections? If the CPP wins, it sounds like the CNRP will protest because of various methods of voter fraud. One CNRP member said "There are many irregularities. Opposition supporters have been deleted from the voters list, while at least a million names have been added. Extra ballots have been printed, vote buying is widespread, and people are facing intimidation and violence."
Another guy, an independent political analyst says that "If the CPP wins with a majority...there will be violence and there will be bloodshed."
On the other hand, if the CNRP pulls off a miraculous upset the same political analyst says that would be the "worse thing that could happen." Why?
"The CPP" he said, "would try to cling to power by using police and military" who are both loyal to the CPP and "there will be chaos, the government will hold on to their power and Cambodia will be in the same situation as Burma in 1990 when the [National League for Democracy] won and the military party arrested almost all politicians."
Gee, sounds like either way, Cambodia is screwed. That is, if you listen to these guys. Unless of course, the middle scenario is achieved, which is the CPP winning the election, losing some seats, but maintaining a majority to form a government. In other words, if the CNRP has a reasonable showing, but does not win. That's how I understand it. Even the prime minister, Hun Sen, leader of the CPP, has said that if his party loses it would provoke a civil war and a war with Vietnam. Talk about trying to strike fear into the hearts of the people. Nobody here wants another war. I'm sure a lot of people would like a new prime minister, but at what cost?
Anyway, nothing to do now, but wait and see. I may hit the grocery store after the coffee shop just in case I have to bunker down for a few days.
In other news, I just watched a video of a small lake at the North Pole. We're fucked! I bet Santa is pissed. Not drunk, well maybe, but angry.
And on the same note, climate change, I was reading about Kiribati, a country in the middle of the Pacific that is supposed to be the first country lost due to rising sea levels. Crazy to think this will likely become a reality in our lifetime. I once read a book called The Sex Lives of Cannibals that was written about the author's trip to this place. Further reading on this nation's eventual fate can be found here.
And then there is a lot of news about this guy Weiner who's involved in some sex scandal. Who cares! It's only newsworthy cause the guy has this unfortunate name. There is so much other crap in the news that is best ignored. I find the headlines catchy and the articles are usually quite disappointing. I don't know why I click on the Huffington Post sometimes. It's only a couple times a week anyway.
What's more interesting to me is the story of Detroit. Not that I've read about it, but I understand there has been an economic collapse and they are bankrupt. A city in ruins. Seems wild to think about. Much like the country above that will one day be under water. One haunting quote I read said "If you want to see the future of America just look at Detroit." If anything, you'd think people would be interested to see this city in despair. I've never been there and I'm intrigued. I'd go on a double decker bus tour. Then there's that guy who has an idea to create a Zombie theme park.
Ok, that's enough global news. It's almost time to do the online crossword. It's easier online because you can cheat. Doesn't make me feel like a winner, but there's something rewarding about it all the same. I know I'm wasting those fifteen minutes, but I have more than that to kill every day.
In other, more personal news, I had some moles removed this week. I found a new clinic that removed them by CO2 laser for about $5.75 per mole. In case you're wondering, that is really cheap. The doctor went quite deep and the pain was reduced by using a numbing cream, but it was definitely not eliminated. So now I have to try and keep them dry to make sure they heal quickly. In Cambodia, good luck with that! They are like my babies. I rub them with iodine and dab on some antibacterial cream once or twice a day. It looks like I've been afflicted by some kind of flesh eating bacteria. Below is a pic of a mole, I think it's the same one, at day 1 and day 5. Yum!
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