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KOUL PANHA, ACTIVIST FOR FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN CAMBODIA, WINS THE 2011 RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD

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Written by Ana de Villa Singson

To win a Ramon Magsaysay award is no easy thing. It is the equivalent of Asia’s Nobel Peace Prize. And Koul Panha’s achievements in wartorn Cambodia, represent pro-activism for democracy in its truest form. The catalyst to his life in public service was a tragic event. At the tender age of 8 years old, right in front of his eyes, his father was murdered by the Khmer Rouge. He vowed then to embark on the road towards achieving democracy in Cambodia.  Its name conjures photos of mass genocide, ruthless executions, rivers of blood. Against this backdrop, Panha toiled to bring meaningful and free elections to the democracy that is so nascent to his country. Cambodia’s first elections started in 1983. They have had 5 elections since then and Panha, working tirelessly against reverting to military rule and as director of the Commission for Free and Fair Elections (COMFREL), mobilized fifty thousand volunteers who manned 60% of the precincts in Cambodia’s most recent election. Like PPCRV, their parallel goals are to achieve free elections, to have freedom from widespread violence and fraudulence during elections and to enlighten the citizenry for informed and meaningful polls. He bewails the state of media centralization, with media resources focused towards government allies. Lately, his human rights group has added good governance and performance monitoring of elected officers to their organization’s objectives. Mr. Panha is a soft spoken man. He has a gentleness that belies his violent past and turbulent, unpredictable milieu. He spoke of his dreams with a quiet passion, speaking of how essential it is to have citizens participate for only then is democracy truly formed. Free elections alone are not enough. What is necessary is an organized vigilant citizenry that is always monitoring its government and officials, never allowing them to slip back to the violence of Cambodia’s violent past. He should know. He was a personal witness and victim of it. He is not only an activist for democracy. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and is an esteemed authority who can lecture in both Cambodian and Russian languages. He has dreams not only for his country, but also for his family. When talking of his wife and daughters, he lights up with pride and joy. And sadly, he becomes anxious too. Because he had lost loved ones before, because his cause is not well viewed by the government which does not even allow state run media to broadcast that he is a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, because he is the target of several death threats; he fears for those he loves. But such is his heroism, that he remains undaunted and unbowed. He continues to dream and to hope and to work towards making his vision of a peaceful and democratic Cambodia come to fruition. Heroism has a humble and quiet voice in Koul Panha. But his resolve is firm and his mission concrete. Here is a man who has sacrificed much and who knows that more sacrifice is required. Here is a man who, though scarred by personal tragedy, remains steadfast in his mission. May he be the catalyst for change that Cambodia has long dreamed of. PHOTO CAPTION: Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal, Ana de Villa Singson, Koul Panha, Ambassador Henrietta de Villa and Raul Castillo exchanged parallel views on free and democratic elections. On the lighter side, Mr. Panha thoroughly approved of the bibingka souffle which he ordered for dessert and which he generously made me sample!!!! More power to you, Mr. Panha! PPCRV salutes you!