CPP Heng Samrin (Photo: Chun Sakada, VOA)Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Heng Samrin Says 'Alliance of Nationalists' Is Likely To Melt
By Lor Chandara and Elizabeth Tomei
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The CPP is unfazed by Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh's proposal to merge with the Sam Rainsy Party in a so-called "Alliance of Nationalists" ahead of the 2008 national elections, CPP Honorary President Heng Samrin said Monday.
Speaking to reporters outside the National Assembly, Heng Samrin said any such alliance would be "icy," and therefore likely to melt.
"In the past the Sam Rainsy Party and Funcinpec were allied, but they finally broke away," he said, referring to the failed election-time alliances between the two parties in 1998 and 2003. "They formed an alliance over and over again."
Heng Samrin added that Funcinpec members in the coalition government with the CPP would be affected if the party allied with the SRP, though he declined to elaborate.
"They ally, so it means they walk away from the CPP," he said.
Prince Ranariddh's public affairs adviser Ok Socheat announced Sunday that the prince had invited the SRP to form the alliance.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said Monday that an alliance with Funcinpec was possible, though he said it would need to be conducted in a different manner from those of the past.
Chea Vannath, former president of the Center for Social Development called the proposed alliance political "deja vu."
"It was there once and once again. People appreciated it and then it collapsed," she said.
SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann said that if the party wins the next election, it will review land deals brokered by the government. Any deals deemed illegal or which have caused Cambodia to lose money would be scrapped, he said.
Asked whether tension created by the proposed alliance could affect the economy, Tim Smyth of Indochina Research said it was too early to say.
But he added that economies in any country typically stow during elections, reflecting a "wait-and-see" approach among foreign investors and local businesses.
"There's no question that the economy has developed between elections," he added.
Speaking to reporters outside the National Assembly, Heng Samrin said any such alliance would be "icy," and therefore likely to melt.
"In the past the Sam Rainsy Party and Funcinpec were allied, but they finally broke away," he said, referring to the failed election-time alliances between the two parties in 1998 and 2003. "They formed an alliance over and over again."
Heng Samrin added that Funcinpec members in the coalition government with the CPP would be affected if the party allied with the SRP, though he declined to elaborate.
"They ally, so it means they walk away from the CPP," he said.
Prince Ranariddh's public affairs adviser Ok Socheat announced Sunday that the prince had invited the SRP to form the alliance.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said Monday that an alliance with Funcinpec was possible, though he said it would need to be conducted in a different manner from those of the past.
Chea Vannath, former president of the Center for Social Development called the proposed alliance political "deja vu."
"It was there once and once again. People appreciated it and then it collapsed," she said.
SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann said that if the party wins the next election, it will review land deals brokered by the government. Any deals deemed illegal or which have caused Cambodia to lose money would be scrapped, he said.
Asked whether tension created by the proposed alliance could affect the economy, Tim Smyth of Indochina Research said it was too early to say.
But he added that economies in any country typically stow during elections, reflecting a "wait-and-see" approach among foreign investors and local businesses.
"There's no question that the economy has developed between elections," he added.
1 comment:
Do not make Us small Cambodians look more stupid than Hen Somrin.
No normal Cambodians would vote for any thing to do with Ran Narith, except to have hid .... chop off!
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