Sam Rainsy, opposition leader (Photo: RFA)07 August 2006
By Poeuv Ponlok
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata (from Phnom Penh)
In an interview with RFA broadcasted on 06 August, Mr. Sam Rainsy discussed about the installation of border posts and the issue of the alliance with Funcinpec.
Poeuv Ponlok (RFA): The installation of border posts was announced by the government to start next month, at the same time, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that those who disagree can send their activists to observe [the installation]. Will you send SRP activists to observe the installation of border posts or not?
Sam Rainsy (SR): It the government allows and gives the mean to representatives of the people, representatives of various political parties, representatives of civil societies, to participate and follow up on the installation of border posts, we are very pleased. SRP will send our representatives who will be selected among ordinary people, in particular, people who live along the border because they have witnessed, in the past 10-20 years, how the borders have been moved [inside Cambodia]. These representatives will be witnesses and they will also be the victims, as well as being representatives of the nationalist [Khmer] people.
RFA: Recently, it was learnt that the Funcinpec party wants to form an Alliance of Nationalists with SRP, but recently again, Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh] issued a statement that Funcinpec has no intention in participating in the formation of the Alliance of Nationalists with SRP.
Right now, can Lok Prathean [Sam Rainsy] trust Samdech Krom Preah after he failed to abide by the agreements between Funcinpec and SRP in the past?
SR: What is important are not the claims, or the untrustworthy talks made by one or two leaders of the Funcinpec party. What is important right now are the former local supporters of the Funcinpec party who are ordinary citizens, they have joined forces with SRP already. They don’t wait for any declaration made from overseas by any individual. What is important is the strength of the local population who are uniting with SRP.
RFA: Will you spend time negotiating with Samdech Krom Preah if the latter wants to negotiate to form the Alliance of Nationalists with Lok Prathean?
SR: This is not crucial, a person who lost the confidence from the people, whom people clearly know his inner functioning already, can say whatever he wants. What is important is the fact that we are joining hands with the local grass-root which in the past, used to support Funcinpec, but has now decided to joint force with SRP at the village, commune, district levels.
RFA: Regarding the election – the communal election – which will take place in February 2007, what is SRP strategy to attract votes away from the CPP?
SR: The importance is the faithfulness to the nation, the faithfulness to the people. As long as we have a clear goal in the defense of the population’s interests, in particular in defending the victims of land [loss], this is very important. Right now, the population encounters hardships, difficulties from the injustice caused by the confiscation of their lands. SRP is determined to provide justice to the victims and is determined to return the land and homes to the people who lost their lands and homes due to corruption and injustice from the current people in power.
RFA: Right now, the CPP occupies 73 seats at the National Assembly, SRP has 24 seats only. According to you, will SRP attract enough votes during the 2008 election to gain control of the government?
SR: We are asking to amend the constitution to lower the number of MP’s votes required to form a government to be only 50%+1 because we believe that the party with a clear standing will receive 50% +1 votes for their MPs at the next [legislative] term. Why can I claim this? Because:
The 3 reasons above make me trust, and also make a very large number of Khmer people trust that SRP will be victorious in the next election.
Poeuv Ponlok (RFA): The installation of border posts was announced by the government to start next month, at the same time, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that those who disagree can send their activists to observe [the installation]. Will you send SRP activists to observe the installation of border posts or not?
Sam Rainsy (SR): It the government allows and gives the mean to representatives of the people, representatives of various political parties, representatives of civil societies, to participate and follow up on the installation of border posts, we are very pleased. SRP will send our representatives who will be selected among ordinary people, in particular, people who live along the border because they have witnessed, in the past 10-20 years, how the borders have been moved [inside Cambodia]. These representatives will be witnesses and they will also be the victims, as well as being representatives of the nationalist [Khmer] people.
RFA: Recently, it was learnt that the Funcinpec party wants to form an Alliance of Nationalists with SRP, but recently again, Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh] issued a statement that Funcinpec has no intention in participating in the formation of the Alliance of Nationalists with SRP.
Right now, can Lok Prathean [Sam Rainsy] trust Samdech Krom Preah after he failed to abide by the agreements between Funcinpec and SRP in the past?
SR: What is important are not the claims, or the untrustworthy talks made by one or two leaders of the Funcinpec party. What is important right now are the former local supporters of the Funcinpec party who are ordinary citizens, they have joined forces with SRP already. They don’t wait for any declaration made from overseas by any individual. What is important is the strength of the local population who are uniting with SRP.
RFA: Will you spend time negotiating with Samdech Krom Preah if the latter wants to negotiate to form the Alliance of Nationalists with Lok Prathean?
SR: This is not crucial, a person who lost the confidence from the people, whom people clearly know his inner functioning already, can say whatever he wants. What is important is the fact that we are joining hands with the local grass-root which in the past, used to support Funcinpec, but has now decided to joint force with SRP at the village, commune, district levels.
RFA: Regarding the election – the communal election – which will take place in February 2007, what is SRP strategy to attract votes away from the CPP?
SR: The importance is the faithfulness to the nation, the faithfulness to the people. As long as we have a clear goal in the defense of the population’s interests, in particular in defending the victims of land [loss], this is very important. Right now, the population encounters hardships, difficulties from the injustice caused by the confiscation of their lands. SRP is determined to provide justice to the victims and is determined to return the land and homes to the people who lost their lands and homes due to corruption and injustice from the current people in power.
RFA: Right now, the CPP occupies 73 seats at the National Assembly, SRP has 24 seats only. According to you, will SRP attract enough votes during the 2008 election to gain control of the government?
SR: We are asking to amend the constitution to lower the number of MP’s votes required to form a government to be only 50%+1 because we believe that the party with a clear standing will receive 50% +1 votes for their MPs at the next [legislative] term. Why can I claim this? Because:
- We see that there will be votes cast by the youth who just reach 18-year-old. All this youth, they love justice, they want a clean society, they want to have jobs, they want to have a decent living condition. These youth want a change, and they will vote for a party which will make the country better, unlike what it is right now.
- Land problems: in the past, our compatriots who in the past do not care about voting, or voted for other parties, now that they fell victims to confiscation of their lands and houses, these people can only rely on SRP to receive justice and get back their lands and homes.
- The disappearance of Funcinpec: in the past, democratic forces were split into two, but now because Funcinpec is disappearing, the democratic force is represented only by SRP.
The 3 reasons above make me trust, and also make a very large number of Khmer people trust that SRP will be victorious in the next election.
5 comments:
Mr. Sam Rainsy, RFA asked a direct questions and according to your responds, there are no direct answers; this could make a gray area to some of your supportes, but you did make it clear that the SRP will welcome the ordinary citizens to join forces with SRP, which I think is beneficial to the party as long as there are NO Alliance of two parties involved. But the BIG question is, if Samdech Krom Preah, as an individual is negotiating to join SRP, what is your answer?
LB
To 8:24AM
Man! You have such a bone head! Here is the damn answer! Can you fucken read! The first sentence start by saying: It is not crucial which mean it is not important!duh!
Now tell me what is so fucken gray about that!
-Samdech Krom Pratt is not crucial!
-Samdech Krom Pratt lost the confidence from the people
-Samdech Krom Pratt...
Sam Rainsy Party are joining hands with local grassroot not with Samdech Krom Preah!ahahahah
Man you analyse too much!
SR: This is not crucial, a person who lost the confidence from the
people, whom people clearly know his inner functioning already, can say whatever he wants. What is important is the fact that we are joining hands with the local grass-root which in the past, used to support Funcinpec, but has now decided to joint force with SRP at the village, commune, district levels.
Keep up with your excellence work LP Sam Rainsy. As long as you do not negotiate with this bloody idiot Rannariddh...we will support you and SRP to victory.
Rannariddh piss off from Khmer's vision....for God safe!
Good vision for SRP but work harder to rally all people from the top to the buttom, from the small parties to the big to unify a single political force to oust the current Evil Regime. Any future alliance must lead by SRP never ever let Ranarith again.
We have learned many bitter lessons with this person.
Mr Sam Rainsy,
Never compromise your party with Samdach Krom A Pret or HunSen anymore, otherwise you will loose your credibility.
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