Cambodia finding a way

Also ongoing earlier this week in Phnom Penh was the 32nd General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), with a Philippine delegation of congressional representatives, led by Speaker Sonny Belmonte, in attendance.

Cambodia holds the presidency of the AIPA, and that is the reason it is hosting this year’s gathering. The secretary general of AIPA, by the way, is Rep. Antonio Cuenco of Cebu.

The current president of Cambodia’s National Assembly is Heng Samrin, a former head of state, and president of AIPA. Indeed, in attendance at the opening plenary was a virtual roll-call of Cambodia’s most important and historic figures of the past 30 years: Prime Minister Hun Sen, Vice Premier Sok An, Senate President Chea Sim, and King Norodom Sihamoni, son of “King Father” Norodom Sihanouk, who took over the throne upon his father’s abdication and the retirement from public life of his half-brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

In his remarks at the afternoon plenary, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, who was speaking in his capacity as a former president of AIPA and founding chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI), noted the distinct accomplishments of the event’s hosts. With the United Nations, he said, Cambodian leaders have sought “to bring to justice those responsible for the genocidal crimes perpetrated on the Cambodian people, for reconciliation cannot be achieved without truth and without justice.” These leaders, he added, “have restored Cambodia’s stability in a way no other conflict-state has been able to do. Under Premier Hun Sen’s leadership, they have done almost the impossible: they brought together Cambodia’s four warring armies and integrated them…in a united Cambodian government.”

* * *

Indeed, I thought to myself, if any country or people had reason to pursue with rancor and recrimination the criminals and human rights abusers of the past; that would be Cambodia and the Cambodians.

And indeed, the government has set up a tribunal, with the cooperation of civil society groups, to identify and try perpetrators of killings, massacres, torture and other human rights abuses in the troubled decades of Cambodia’s struggle for political stability.

But along with this pursuit of justice and reconciliation, has been a single-minded drive to pursue economic prosperity, as the many new buildings along Phnom Penh’s streets, and the numerous luxury SUVs one encounters on drives, prove.

So, too has Cambodia shown its capacity for hosting huge international gatherings with their handling of the AIPA. The opening ceremonies were held at the “Peace Palace,” a huge, gleaming building that is the presidential residence and office, quite a contrast to our own aging, dark and dim Malacañang, which cannot accommodate even a fourth of the AIPA crowd. Cambodian staff were quick on their feet, anticipating every need, and – I’m embarrassed to say – streets were blocked off to make way for official entourages.

* * *

A most welcome and memorable break from the official and protocol-laden events was a dinner held at the home of a member of the Cambodian royal family. He had served as an ambassador to the Philippines and had promised the De Venecias that when they came over for a visit, he would prepare dinner for them. This was apparently to reciprocate the former speaker who had cooked dinner personally for the former ambassador in Manila.

So there we were gathered at his classy home: the former Speaker De Venecia and his wife Gina, herself a congresswoman (and president of the lady legislators); former Pakistani senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and his wife and son; former Ilocos Norte congressman Roque Ablan and his wife Vicky; members of De Venecia’s staff, and me. Also gracing the occasion was Princess Marie, estranged wife of Prince Ranariddh, who served as her brother-in-law’s co-host that evening because her sister-in-law is Cambodia’s current ambassador to Malaysia.

The dinner started with a salad of pomelo flakes mixed with dried shrimp (hibe) and bits of chicken, and bathed in a dressing of fish sauce and sugar. This was followed by steamed fish mousse in banana leaf cups, then river lobster cooked two ways: in tasty tomato sauce and steamed plain, with a tangy fish sauce and chili dip. Dessert was familiar to the Filipino guests: ginataan but with sweet longan, and banana fritters.

* * *

Amid pleasantries and shared memories, most notably that of Princess Marie helping host dinner at her home on the banks of the Mekong River and a breakfast reception held on the grounds of Angkor Wat, just as the sun was rising, things turned personal and sentimental.

Apparently long a ritual, we guests then serenaded Princess Marie with that long-ago Doris Day hit tune: “Que Sera, Sera,” and as its refrain tells us: “What will be, will be.”

The ditty held touching messages not just for the princess or even for the De Venecia couple who lost their daughter KC some years back in a fire, but for everyone around the dinner table. It told us not to plan too much, and to accept with grace and dignity whatever outcomes fate has in store for us.

It seemed a fitting end to a very brief visit to Cambodia. Bringing a reminder that no matter what life throws at us – and for most Cambodians life has certainly thrown singular challenges their way – “what will be, will be.” And with resolve and grace, as long as one has the will to carry on, fate not only presents a way of coping, but of rising above even the most painful losses.