Election observers: Funcinpec falling behind the competition

The NRP organized a large procession on Friday in Phnom Penh (Photo: KS, Cambodge Soir)

Monday, March 26, 2007
By Leang Delux and Soren Seelow Cambodge Soir
Unofficial Translation from French by Tola Ek

Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French

According to election observation organizations currently in Cambodia, the Funcinpec would have had a hard time starting its campaign due to lack of financial means and a charismatic leader, when it separated itself from the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). The NRP held a procession in the capital on Friday.

One week from the election day, the Funcinpec would have encountered difficulties in truly launching its election campaign, this is due to its lack of financial means, as well as its lack of a party image to display to the voters, election observers noted. The competing NRP party which was borne out of Funcinpec’s own rank and file, would have had a better presence, as testified by the large procession on Friday by several thousands of NRP party supporters in Phnom Penh. This is the second largest procession following that of the SRP which took place at the kickoff of the election campaign.

Of the 12 parties represented at the election, only four parties have actual means to stay active during this campaign, Hang Puthea, Nicfec President, explained. These four parties are: the CPP, followed by the SRP, the NRP and the Funcinpec would be last. “Why is Funcinpec last? It seems that they have internal problems to be resolved related to the NRP. There are people who are involved in both parties. And, I am asking myself this question: why the Funcinpec does not make use of the monarchy by taking advantage of the symbol of King-Father, it leaves the NRP to do that instead?” Hang Puthea wondered.

Kul Panha, Comfrel director, also observes that the CPP and the SRP are far ahead of the other parties in terms of activities and available means. “They are both distributing color leaflets, whereas other parties only have black and white leaflets,” he noted. “There is a big gap in terms of finance which creates an imbalance in the campaign. In western countries, the State guaranties to the political parties a minimum budget, not here. By separating from one another, the Funcinpec and the NRP have divided everything: financial means, human resources, etc…”

Another last element which is not favorable to the Funcinpec: the image of its leaders. Even though this is only a commune election, and the competence of the candidates is very important, “but, people are also voting for a party, for the image it represents,” Kul Panha recalled. By ridding itself of Prince Ranariddh, its historical leader, during the October extraordinary congress, the Funcinpec deprived itself of a personality able to represent the image of the party. Keo Puth Rasmei, the new Funcinpec president, who was unknown until his nomination, is not able to attract the crowds, an anonymous observer explained. “During the campaign, the NRP does not hesitate to raise the portrait of Norodom Ranariddh, and to broadcast recorded message of his voice. Funcinpec is much more discreet,” he noted.

With its leadership – Prince Ranariddh – under attack with an 18-month jail sentence, the prince live in exile abroad, meanwhile its acting president, Prince Chakrapong, is disputing with the justice system. Nevertheless, the NRP continues on, it based its campaign on the personality of its leaders. Last Friday, the NRP distributed brochures recalling that Prince Ranariddh still leads the party, in spite of the fact that he is living abroad. When they passed in front of the municipal court which was holding a hearing for Prince Chakrapong’s case on that same day, the NRP activists shouted: “Long life the Norodom Ranariddh Party.”

Neou Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, is defending the party discreet strategy. “We organized large processions when we were all with the Funcinpec, but nothing happened. This time, we are proceeding in small groups of 100 at most, all wearing a yellow T-shirt, and a yellow hat – the color of royalty – and then we will visit the villages. This is more interesting than the large processions organized in the capital, these processions only serve as the image of the party. When we meet the villagers, we told them that Ranariddh is no longer with us, and that he was replaced by King-Father’s son-in-law (the husband of Arun Rasmey, Norodom Sihanouk’s youngest daughter).”