By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh has invited the Sam Rainsy Party to form an "Alliance of Nationalists" with his embattled party to compete together in the 2008 national elections, the prince's public affairs adviser Ok Socheat said Sunday.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said he welcomed the proposal, which according to Ok Socheat is also open to other political parties, including Funcinpec's current coalition partner—Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling CPP.
"It is Prince Norodom Ranariddh's initiative. He wants to have national reconciliation. It's in the nationalist spirit," Ok Socheat said. "It is an ultimate opportunity. If we don't unite there will be a disaster after the 2008 election," he said, without elaborating on what disaster might follow the poll
Prince Ranariddh, who has been overseas since March, announced his plan in Malaysia last week, Ok Socheat said.
He added that the alliance would not break the coalition agreement with the CPP, as that agreement only relates to the mandate following the 2003 election.
Sam Rainsy, who has previously enjoyed a rocky relationship with Prince Ranariddh and previously joined two short-lived election-time coalitions with Funcinpec in 1998 and 2003, said that provided rank-and-file SRP members support the proposal, the party would join again.
"We want to have national reconciliation regardless of previous mistakes," Sam Rainsy said.
But he added that he would adopt caution in dealing with Funcinpec, given the failure of the 2003 post-election "Alliance of Democrats" between the two parties.
That alliance was launched in August 2003 to jointly bargain with the CPP for a place in the coalition government. It crumbled acrimoniously nearly a year later, when Funcinpec made a surprise agreement to join the CPP as its sole coalition partner, leaving an embittered SRP out in the cold.
Sam Rainsy subsequently accused the prince of taking millions of dollars in bribes to form the government. The prince denied the allegation and filed a defamation lawsuit that in February 2005 helped prompt Sam Rainsy to flee Cambodia and remain outside the country for a year.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said that his party would distance itself from the royalists if they allied themselves with the SRP.
"The CPP is mature," he said. "The CPP will not join the alliance."
Cheam Yeap added that he was not surprised by Prince Ranariddh's proposal. But said the prince ought to remember the blistering criticism that Sam Rainsy has heaped on Funcinpec in the past.
Prince Sisowath Thomico—who on Friday formed his own alliance with four little-known political groups aimed at replacing the current government—said he the Alliance of Nationalists, would be happy to joinprovided Funcinpec breaks off its relationship with the CPP.
"Funcinpec has to divorce one wife. Funcinpec cannot have two wives at the same time," he said.
Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, said he was unaware of Prince Ranariddh's proposal.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the SRP and Funcinpec could potentially win more votes than the CPP if they combine forces.
Prior to the election, an alliance could serve as a check on the CPP’s power, and two parties are stronger when they stand together, he said.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said he welcomed the proposal, which according to Ok Socheat is also open to other political parties, including Funcinpec's current coalition partner—Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling CPP.
"It is Prince Norodom Ranariddh's initiative. He wants to have national reconciliation. It's in the nationalist spirit," Ok Socheat said. "It is an ultimate opportunity. If we don't unite there will be a disaster after the 2008 election," he said, without elaborating on what disaster might follow the poll
Prince Ranariddh, who has been overseas since March, announced his plan in Malaysia last week, Ok Socheat said.
He added that the alliance would not break the coalition agreement with the CPP, as that agreement only relates to the mandate following the 2003 election.
Sam Rainsy, who has previously enjoyed a rocky relationship with Prince Ranariddh and previously joined two short-lived election-time coalitions with Funcinpec in 1998 and 2003, said that provided rank-and-file SRP members support the proposal, the party would join again.
"We want to have national reconciliation regardless of previous mistakes," Sam Rainsy said.
But he added that he would adopt caution in dealing with Funcinpec, given the failure of the 2003 post-election "Alliance of Democrats" between the two parties.
That alliance was launched in August 2003 to jointly bargain with the CPP for a place in the coalition government. It crumbled acrimoniously nearly a year later, when Funcinpec made a surprise agreement to join the CPP as its sole coalition partner, leaving an embittered SRP out in the cold.
Sam Rainsy subsequently accused the prince of taking millions of dollars in bribes to form the government. The prince denied the allegation and filed a defamation lawsuit that in February 2005 helped prompt Sam Rainsy to flee Cambodia and remain outside the country for a year.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said that his party would distance itself from the royalists if they allied themselves with the SRP.
"The CPP is mature," he said. "The CPP will not join the alliance."
Cheam Yeap added that he was not surprised by Prince Ranariddh's proposal. But said the prince ought to remember the blistering criticism that Sam Rainsy has heaped on Funcinpec in the past.
Prince Sisowath Thomico—who on Friday formed his own alliance with four little-known political groups aimed at replacing the current government—said he the Alliance of Nationalists, would be happy to joinprovided Funcinpec breaks off its relationship with the CPP.
"Funcinpec has to divorce one wife. Funcinpec cannot have two wives at the same time," he said.
Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, said he was unaware of Prince Ranariddh's proposal.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the SRP and Funcinpec could potentially win more votes than the CPP if they combine forces.
Prior to the election, an alliance could serve as a check on the CPP’s power, and two parties are stronger when they stand together, he said.
10 comments:
One person can be cheeted for once and not twice. Sam Rainsy has been cheeted three times by the same animal( Rannarith). If Sam Rainsy dare to listen Rannarith again, Sam Rainsy will be gone for ever. This cheeter will be the same cheeter every time. He cheet in each election for power bargaining for sale. After he sold out all his positions he will be animal again and again.
Prince Ranaridh of Funcinpec should learn from his political mistakes.He made a thousand mistakes and should be out. One strike and youre out. Coalition would be good without Ranariddh leading Funcinpec. Clean your ass before you join a coalition.SRP and Funcinpec never trust each other. Cambodia needs to have a 3rd party of Kem Sokha to join forces and form together an Alliance of Democracy for the victory in 2008.Wait a minute Kem Sokha will join a bandwagon pretty soon.Cambodian people trust and need him very badly to form a party and join a coalition but not individual otherwide Sam Rainsy will eat him alive.You get to know who's Sam Rainsy.Bye
To 12:28PM
You are damn right! Who would believe a liar twice? Now it is time to let wolf eat him alive!
This ain't no national reconciliation! This is a looser who has no ground to walk on and now he want to make an offer away out! How about give this Prince a ground to walk on which lead straight to the coffin! It will be the biggest mistake in the history of SAM RAINSY PARTY to accept any concession from FUNSINPEC!
Tell me when is it a better time to kick a person when he is down? I think the time is now!
Bad food gives bad digestion.Bad digestion causes sleeplessness and nightmare.
FUNC +SRP=Alliance of Democrats who ended up fleeing Phnom Penh soon after that.
Raingsy fled first then Rannridh followed suit because of Hun Sen.
Soubert got to stop Sakun from fooling around with desparation in joining Thomi.
Best Rannridh becomes honorary horny President of FUNC and someone run the show.Man can't keep the house intact after it was already built.That's pure incompetence,let's call it quit to be with new suitor before someone snatch away again.
Once was thief will be thief for life and once was slut will be slut forever.
Niang rott rauk niak mee khart liak rott rauk ah kombak onnsaa
Let's call ALLIANCE OF NATIONLESS
What is Alliance of Democrats?
It's only the joke and decoy!
Before the election of 2003,
why were they not joining,
FUN and SRP, together? Why after?
Why FUN selfishly made a surprise move and agreement joining CPP,
leaving SRP chokingly cried as a baby! Tell me why? Why these cry babies want to walk side by side again? Who is going to trust?
yes seemed like Ranny is desperate again and wants a way to recover his ruined party.
talking about Ranny flip-flop and sold out for the best deal, what his funnypic members? hundreds of them running like hordes of cows to join the cpp, where the money is. after what happened in 97, where cpp killed so many high ranking funcinpec military officers, they never learn their lesson. cpp will dump them like trash when they are through with them. funcinpec is a very corrupt party with the most corrupt members.
Is it the same trick to ride on our poor stupid Cambodians' head again?
Some day death to you all!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Rainsy, please stay away from that stuppid prince; otherwise your party will come to the end like his.....
my words of advise. Just don't fucking do it...you gonna get your self into a round up shits with these lunatict looser funcinpic!!
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