Building Democracy with Courage

MP Mu Sochua listening to constituents

23 August 2011
By Mu Sochua

Courage

For those who do not walk the campaign trail and are not on the ground, let it be known that CPP gives us no chance, even if they have to blatantly violate the law. It is not an easy environment for SRP but have we ever given up even one inch?

In Sompeuv Loun, I just walked more than 2 hours- one way to reach the village of Tang Krasaing. Even the tractor could not get us there all the way. We got the CPP village chief to put up SRP sign. Our signs will be up in each and every village in Sampeuv Loun. Same commune, the following day, our commune councilor who is a woman was warned by 7 men to stop mobilizing people against the loss of land to a company or she will be killed. She lives in the middle of nowhere. Does she give up? I don’t think so.

SRP machinery is up and running always, in particular the next 45 days- the registration period. In provinces where we do not have seats, our machinery from the province to each village will be running full steam to ensure that voters will get their right to vote on election day. SRP will have its party agents at each of the 1,700 communes, and at each of the 13,000+ villages. Our youth and women’s movements will bring our message door-to-door. Our intervention teams will provide support to our party agents in each commune, district and province. Besides CPP, who has this kind of machinery and who even cares to fight this hard, with bare hands?

How does opposition win elections? Merger is one of the ways but not the only way.

It is too easy to give up. It is even more easy to tell people to give up, in particular if one does not live the real life of an activist.

Think how Beung Kak Lake people fight their fight for the past 5 years. Think how workers of June Textile stood each day in front of armed police for 3 months. In both instances, the women won their fight because they do not give up. Beer promoters are beginning to stand up and will not give up. I just met them last night to think with them how they can make the call louder to all beer promoters. We mobilize one group at a time.

To tell people to give up is the worst form of no self-confidence.

Have the courage to tell people to have courage. That is how democracy is built.

Mu Sochua, MP

“I do not fear death; I fear political silence against injustices”
-Malalai Joya, MP Afghanistan

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