FREEDOM FROM FEAR

Theary C. Seng

July 1997

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It is not power that corrupts, writes Aung San Suu Kyi.  It is fear.  During one of my internships in Cambodia, I was acutely made aware of the truth of this statement to a new degree and personally.  In her must-read book of essays, Freedom From Fear, Burma’s democracy heroine eloquently beseeches her countrymen to stand firm against the tide of corruption, intimidation and falsehood and to do so with dignity and unflinching courage.

In the context of Cambodia, I am reminded of Sam Rainsy, Mu Sochua, Kem Sokha, Rong Chhun and other courageous souls.  What distinguishes these few individuals from many of us is that they “walk their talk”; they put into action what they implore us to be.  And this is no easy feat if we are to examine the nature of fear and the consequences of standing against it, especially as public figures.

The nature of fear is to inhibit.  To inhibit from speaking truth.  To inhibit from revealing seedy activities.  To inhibit from living a principled life.  The weapons of fear are many and unrestraint.  First, fear uses manipulations and lies to distort.  For example, it is not that propaganda contain all falsehood.  Rather, enough lies are cleverly sprinkled into what mostly is true to raise questions of the integrity of that truth.  (The subtlety depends on the craftiness of the manipulator.)  The White Paper, recently released by the pariah regime inside Cambodia, is a case in point.

Second, fear uses co-optation; it purchases loyalty.  “I did a favor for you; now you are indebted to me.” This is especially dangerous given the Cambodian mentality to please and to show gratitude, especially to foreigners.  If the goal is to silence or to buy off a person – be it the giving of money, promotion, or writing a letter of recommendation – and that person succumbed to silence against her principles, fear has a hold on her.

Third, fear uses cowardice.  It masks behind good; it hides in crowds; it cowers behind another name.  Anyone can throw grenades into a crowd and run away.  Anyone can write calumny.  For added potency, fear uses the public forum to further the damage because it knows no constraints.  Finding truth in a public square of sound bits is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.  I swell with admiration for Sam Rainsy, Aung San Suu Kyi and the like of them in keeping their dignity and composure amidst the lies.

Fourth, fear uses intimidation.  “My friend is the president of the board.” Wealth and status are used to subordinate us from a people of dignity and worth to lackeys.

The consequence of standing for truth and justice is the cost of reprisal.  Often, truth demands a high price.  One, the cost may come in physical harm, from solitary confinement to death.  Two, the cost may be a ruined reputation.  In this second case, I cannot think of a more humbling experience to have one’s character and integrity on the line for the sake of justice.  Three, reprisal may lead to the loss of one’s livelihood.  I am deeply moved by the fortitude of a Cambodian friend and former colleague, Ang Udom, who lost his job because he refused to deny Cambodians worth and dignity in the face of foreign intimidation.

Because Cambodians are susceptible to fear on many fronts, we are also susceptible to exploitation.  To safeguard against it, we must see fear for what it is: a lie.  A lie that inhibits us to be free.  Yes, it is not only power that corrupts.  It is also fear.