Friday, April 07, 2006

Kem Sokha involvement in politics: the rumors persist in spite of denial

07-08-09 April 2006

By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir

Translated from French by KI-Media

While Kem Sokha, the director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rigths (CCHR), is currently abroad on a tour, a mysterious message was posted on the internet yesterday claiming that Kem Sokha plans on launching soon his own party called the “People Power Party” (PPP). Simply signed Moneaksekar (the conscience) and without indication of origin, the message assures that the PPP “will be founded by former militants of the Son Sann Party, and CCHR members,” and that SRP, CPP, and Funcinpec militants have been approached by Kem Sokha.

The message comes at a time when the relationship between the SRP and CCHR is at its lowest point. Recently, the SRP leadership asked the party militants not to participate in the forums organized by Kem Sokha’s organization. The SRP is blaming the director of the center of accusing it of “selling itself to the CPP” during the forums, and to have “abandoned its democratic ideals.” The Sam Rainsy Party feels that these statements which are of political nature, should not be pronounced by a responsible of a NGO, and that this gives credence to the rumors circulating in which Kem Sokha would have the intention of forming his own party. Kem Sokha had denied having such an ambition, and he feels that the author(s) of the message obviously wish to circulate speculations. “Some want to cause us prejudice because they are jealous, worried and angry at us. They want to break the relationships of confidence which we maintain with our bankrollers,” claimed Ou Virak, CCHR spokesman. Who would be the originator of this message? “I don’t think it came from the SRP as a party, but [it came] from some of its members. However, we have no proof,” Ou Virak answered.

At the SRP, people denied being the originator of this message which will not miss annoying Kem Sokha. “Kem Sokha is not a true militant of human rights. He is only a demagogue who is doing this to set up his party,” it was claimed. The director of the CCHR is also accused of “playing the CPP game” and he is predicted to end up with the same fate as Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

“We have learned that this message came from France. We do not act in this manner because we are conducting politics in a transparent and responsible manner,” said Meng Rita, the interim secretary-general of the SRP. “We have the courage and we will not hide behind anonymity to carry on our struggle. Nevertheless the rumors circulating about Kem Sokha wanting to form his political party are not necessarily unfounded. Some of our militants in Kampot told us that they have been approached by the CCHR to join it to go into politics.” He added that he had received the order from Sam Rainsy who is currently in France, to play down the argument with the CCHR.

Kem Sokha, whose organization receives financial supports from the American organizations IRI and NDI, is currently conducting a long trip abroad. Some see in this tour abroad in several countries: Australia, Belgium, France and USA, as a campaign to gather political support. “Not at all,” Ou Virak replied. “It is a trip to collect support for our activities in the defense of human rights and democracy.”

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sokha needs to come out of the closet filled with skeletons. Multiple wives ? Key moral issue,if he lied to one woman too many of people.
Is his intestinal formation not straight like everyone else? WCCDP head,son of Khim Tith,secretly put a team together since early 2005.What Sokha did in United States ,people knew.So rumor is the beginning of legend.
Ou Virak needs to shut up and let Sokha speak on his own.

Anonymous said...

Kem Sokha is not as deep as SR. He won't be last... He will regret the fact the people around are opportunitists. He still can help people and his nation by being doing what he is doing now... Good Luck to the Kem's gange.

Anonymous said...

I see people make a lot of comments here about Mr. Sokha. Either good or bad it makes him famous........

I went to one of his meeting here in Minnesota because I wanted to see him for the first time. He did not say anything about forming a party. People asked him about that. He said no. I heard he talked about him in prison and his fight for human rights in Cambodia. But when I come here to read the news, it is different.

I don't know who to believe anymore......the news or what I hear.

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen now destroyed FUNCIPEC and staffs including provincial governors. Now democrat parties start to split by forming other party. Hun Sen has an upper hand again. What's going on with Cambodian people at home and abroad? They can't think straight. I'm not supporting a crook, but Can you support whoever can do the good job for the country like Mr. Sam Rainsy. If all of us support one person, it will be good for the future of Cambodia. Preserve our land and sea. Don't sell them to VN like CPP did. Abolish the monarch, they just waste Cambodia money. Why need to have monarchy?? What will CPP do next? you will see his next move to make sure he is in power and the rest of the gangs.

Anonymous said...

I heard Mr. Sokha said on the airs was different but when i read the news is different, but both news are good and make me smiling, because Cambodia really needs these both men, Mr. Sokha and Mr. Rainsy! They have good hearts, good-wills, good plan but not good perception, communication, understanding, interpretation and responses.....

I think my country does not need many democretic parties, needs only one but true, real! I do not want my people getting crazy because of all parties are democratic!

However, I am fully supportive of Mr. Sokha to working for independently CCHR and Mr. Rainsy is true democratic politician!! So, i would like appealing for Mr. Rainsy and Sokha, please have a sit and talk face to face, and making a clear good plan together, to bring win-win to our country! You are Khmers!!!!! You both have very good willing for Cambodias!

Thanks

Farmer
Siem Reap

Anonymous said...

Realistically in matter,how many parties each Rainsy and Sokha jumped since Yuon baptized Hun Sen.

Wasn't Sokha an element of PRK/CPP before Son Sann then FUNC and now US institutions sell out?

Wasn't Raingsy misleading Republicphile to exploit opportunistic FUNC until RRidh booted him and group out in 1995 then he sucked to pseudo Son Sann plus looser from CPP like Kong Krom?

Don't be naive Press was driven to make money by reporting whether true or not as long as it appears as news.

Importantly the two mentality is not much different except Raingsy fears his wife and Sokha's wives fear him.

Key issue here,if either guy can't be honorable in word to spouse what good of their word to people?
This is a historical proof and problems as many have opposed royalty hankypanky traditional lifestyle.

Also for those immoral individuals in title as royalty,must stop belittling politic as not good enough to make men out of them.It is otherway around for them, suckers.

Politic is nobility required noble morality with mind and heart.Politic is not for players like infidels or unfit characters.

Point is simple, if Sokha or Raingsy has lied already then they all are opportunists and immoral.

They are not any better than royalty dogs.

Anonymous said...

Rainsy + Sokha = the downfall of CPP(Yuon puppet), if and only if the two know how to unite..else they will all fall into the Yuon's trap. And Cambodia will be Kampuchea Krom No. 2!!!

FUNCIPEC is history...they are as corrupt as the CPP. The FUNCIPEC are a bunch of womanizers which can easily be lured into traps like a mouse by the Yuon's CPP. Rannaridhh and Nhek Bun Chay, all you do is give them some women and their brains will be numb and useless.