Dear Editor,

I am dismayed by the

government's rehearsal for the national independence celebration

(‘Bigger and better' Independence Day, October 23). Of course,

Cambodia's Independence Day on November 9 is important as Cambodia

gained full freedom from the French on that day, but I believe the

Paris Peace Agreement on October 23 is equally important.

October 23

is considered a renaissance for Cambodia in both economic and political

terms. Though Cambodia has encountered problems in terms of fully

implementing the chapters of the treaty, the path to democracy in

Cambodia lies in the treaty's stipulations.

While we already have

full independence, Cambodia's political upheavals will end and its

democracy will become genuine when it fully adheres to the October 23

Paris Peace Agreement. I would like to suggest that all Cambodian

people and political parties remember the significance of this very

important day. Political dogmas aside, October 23 should be celebrated

and commemorated equally to national Independence Day on November 9.

Sophan Seng

PhD student in political science

University of Hawaii at Manoa