At the risk of being accused of inciting a colour revolution, destroying Cambodia's democracy and being a supporter of CNRP, a Khmer Rouge like party according to the CPP leadership, I would like to share a summary of some advice from a famous civil rights leader (Martin Luther King) in dealing with oppression. One way people deal with oppression is acquiescence (resign themselves to their doom or tacitly adjust themselves to oppression). Some would rather bear those oppression rather than seek the unknown. However, Dr. King said that this is not the way out of oppression. To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system. The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber. To accept injustice passively is to say to the oppressor that his actions are morally right. So acquiescence — while often the easier way — is not the moral way. The oppressed cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor’s arrogance and contempt. Acquiescence is interpreted as proof of the oppressed inferiority. The oppressed cannot win respect if he is willing to sell the future of his children for his personal and immediate comfort and safety. He also said that a second way that oppressed people sometimes deal with oppression is to resort to physical violence and hatred, which is not the way either because violence never brings permanent peace. Violence as a way of achieving justice is impractical because it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert,and immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. Instead, he advocates for non-violent resistance as the best way out of oppression. With this method no group need to submit to any wrong nor resort to any violence to right a wrong. Unfortunately, this may not even be possible in Cambodia given recent threats. So, what recourse does the oppress have? One way is to request intervention from the international community (see petition entitled One Million Signature for the 26th Anniversary of the Paris Pease Agreementin Change.org). A possible second option is to stop buying products/services from business owned/operated by individuals responsible for the injustice. And, a third option is to encourage friends and neighbors to support political parties whose platform is based on moral values, honor and fairness. The key to Cambodia’s stability is not the use of “might”, but the use of “right” so that Khmers can move towards becoming one family once again. That is where true peace and stability begins. Best, Ratha