To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Cambodia’s independence from France on Saturday, delegations of foreign diplomats, military officials and groups of students turned out to the Independence Monument and Royal Palace to celebrate the end of colonial rule in 1953.
But noticeably missing from the proceedings were members of the general public, who said the current political deadlock since the contested national election results had done little to make them want to attend.
King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the ceremony, lighting the victory flame inside Independence Monument shortly before 7:30 a.m. before wrapping up the celebration at the Royal Palace at 9 a.m.
“There are fewer people who have come to join the ceremony because of the political deadlock and also business and transportation issues,” said Chea Hean, 22, a student who said he lives in a pagoda in Phnom Penh. “I really wanted to participate, but they did not allow me because I do not have a uniform.”
The ceremony was dominated by formations of soldiers dressed in uniform, as well as similarly well-ordered rows of public school students, Scouts and Red Cross Youth dressed in their own uniforms.
On Street 178, Ly Ni, a 25-year-old tuk-tuk driver from Svay Rieng province, said that he, like many others, had not participated because he did not see the point.
“There were fewer people coming out to see it because they do not trust the government,” he said. “I dare not say that another reason is because our country is still amid this chaos, the political deadlock.”
Mr. Ni added that he thought ceremonies under King Norodom Sihanouk had been better attended by the public.
“When I’ve watched documentaries, I’ve seen so many people coming to participate in the ceremony,” he said.
“When there was a ceremony, the ministries, institutions or school invited people, and then they came to participate-now the public do not have any more trust in the government because of all the corruption,” he added.
Nearby, 33-year-old Eun Chean was more blunt.
“Our country is still not independent since we have this political tension,” Mr. Chhean said. “There is no sense in participating in the ceremony. We should try to find a solution to the deadlock first.”
At O’Russei market, 70-year-old ice vendor Eing Hout said he thought the lack of prior advertising for the 60th anniversary of independence was strange.
He said things were different under King Norodom Sihanouk.
“When there was the anniversary, there were so many people coming to see the late King Father because they loved him very much and he was a national hero,” he said. “The late King Father was not afraid of the people coming to hurt him since everybody loved him.”
Phalla, 49, a vendor who said she has been selling drinks and cigarettes on Street 189 since she was 15, said she was not interested in ceremonies, as her family relied on her business to survive.
“I don’t know what that day means. I just saw children holding pictures of the King and of the Independence Monument. I don’t know why they did this and what for,” she said.
“I only know Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben.”
