Osman Hassan, Hun Sen's adviser and CPP lawmaker. (Photo: RFA)Thursday, August 10, 2006
By John Maloy and Lor Chandara
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
A Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker and respected Cham Muslim accused the CPP Wednesday of using aid from Islamic countries to strengthen the ruling party's influence over Cambodian Muslims.
Parliamentarian Ahmed Yahya said that Prime Minister Hun Sen's choice to be the conduit for all aid, Mufti Sos Kamry, is merely a CPP pawn.
"The CPP, they use the structure of the mufti as a supporter," Ahmed Yahya said. "The mufti works for their political party," he said. 'The mufti can use the money to get support for the CPP."
Hun Sen closed a Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation conference Monday evening with a speech welcoming aid from Middle Eastern countries, and naming the mufti as his choice.
Hun Sen said he had sent his adviser and CPP lawmaker Osman Hassan to Bangkok last month to coordinate future donations with Arab diplomats.
In answer to this request, the government recommended Sos Kamry, the spiritual leader of Cambodia's Muslim community.
Sos Kamry denied Wednesday that he was CPP-aligned.
"We are the leader, so we have our own management to keep the religions peaceful. So we follow the state law and the government law," he said. "We are neutral."
Osman Hassan also denied that mere was any ulterior motive for the government's recommendation. He said the government recommended Sos Kamry at the request of Persian Gulf states that were seeking a recognized channel for donations, and that the mufti was a logical choice.
"Sos Kamry has been appointed as the leader [of the Muslim community], the king has appointed him and the government recognizes him. So he deserves to be the only leader who can control the aid," he said.
Parliamentarian Ahmed Yahya said that Prime Minister Hun Sen's choice to be the conduit for all aid, Mufti Sos Kamry, is merely a CPP pawn.
"The CPP, they use the structure of the mufti as a supporter," Ahmed Yahya said. "The mufti works for their political party," he said. 'The mufti can use the money to get support for the CPP."
Hun Sen closed a Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation conference Monday evening with a speech welcoming aid from Middle Eastern countries, and naming the mufti as his choice.
Hun Sen said he had sent his adviser and CPP lawmaker Osman Hassan to Bangkok last month to coordinate future donations with Arab diplomats.
In answer to this request, the government recommended Sos Kamry, the spiritual leader of Cambodia's Muslim community.
Sos Kamry denied Wednesday that he was CPP-aligned.
"We are the leader, so we have our own management to keep the religions peaceful. So we follow the state law and the government law," he said. "We are neutral."
Osman Hassan also denied that mere was any ulterior motive for the government's recommendation. He said the government recommended Sos Kamry at the request of Persian Gulf states that were seeking a recognized channel for donations, and that the mufti was a logical choice.
"Sos Kamry has been appointed as the leader [of the Muslim community], the king has appointed him and the government recognizes him. So he deserves to be the only leader who can control the aid," he said.
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