Cambodian Press ReviewKem Sokha, president of prominent NGO the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and former senator of co-ruling Funcinpec, has unveiled a plan to retire from the center and resume political life, newspapers reported yesterday and today.
“I submitted a resignation from the center to the CCHR’s Governance Council, but the Governance Council has yet to make a decision because it has not found someone to substitute me,” Kampuchea Thmey quoted him as saying Friday.
He said that he expects the council to officially accept his resignation in April, during which he will send the Ministry of Interior an application form requesting it sanction the establishment of a political party to join the 2008 national election as he has won over hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country, according the newspaper. However, The Cambodia Daily reports Kem Sokha will leave his CCHR office as of May 1.
“The idea [to form the political party] is from the people….The people want me, need me,” he said, writes The Cambodia Daily. “In Cambodia we have many political parties…(and) every party says they’re democratic. I want to establish the model of democratic political party,” where total control does not only go to its leader,” he added.
The party’s president will be allowed to remain in office for only two terms, he said, adding that his friends living overseas will back the party and that he has not received financial support from any countries for its creation, according to Kampuchea Thmey. Kem Sokha said that he and supporters have yet to name the planned party, noted Samleng Yuvechun Khmer.
According to an unnamed source, the party will be called “Khmer Freedom” with a logo bearing the picture of white dove in flight with a black background, reports Rasmey Angkor. The source added that those who will join the party are mostly former members of the defunct Khmer National Liberation Front Party (KNLFP) and others will come from officials from the Sam Rainsy Party.
Heng Samrin, chairman of the National Assembly and honorary president of the ruling CPP, told The Cambodia Daily that Kem Sokha’s announcement failed to surprise him. “If there are people that he can convince, let him convince them….There are only a few people who work with him,” said Heng Samrin.
“I submitted a resignation from the center to the CCHR’s Governance Council, but the Governance Council has yet to make a decision because it has not found someone to substitute me,” Kampuchea Thmey quoted him as saying Friday.
He said that he expects the council to officially accept his resignation in April, during which he will send the Ministry of Interior an application form requesting it sanction the establishment of a political party to join the 2008 national election as he has won over hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country, according the newspaper. However, The Cambodia Daily reports Kem Sokha will leave his CCHR office as of May 1.
“The idea [to form the political party] is from the people….The people want me, need me,” he said, writes The Cambodia Daily. “In Cambodia we have many political parties…(and) every party says they’re democratic. I want to establish the model of democratic political party,” where total control does not only go to its leader,” he added.
The party’s president will be allowed to remain in office for only two terms, he said, adding that his friends living overseas will back the party and that he has not received financial support from any countries for its creation, according to Kampuchea Thmey. Kem Sokha said that he and supporters have yet to name the planned party, noted Samleng Yuvechun Khmer.
According to an unnamed source, the party will be called “Khmer Freedom” with a logo bearing the picture of white dove in flight with a black background, reports Rasmey Angkor. The source added that those who will join the party are mostly former members of the defunct Khmer National Liberation Front Party (KNLFP) and others will come from officials from the Sam Rainsy Party.
Heng Samrin, chairman of the National Assembly and honorary president of the ruling CPP, told The Cambodia Daily that Kem Sokha’s announcement failed to surprise him. “If there are people that he can convince, let him convince them….There are only a few people who work with him,” said Heng Samrin.
17 comments:
Kem Sokha is now in a bad turn in his life.
However, it is good to do so if KS found himself important to unify with Democratic Political Party...
Outspoken is good for him to reveal all secrete thing of Hun Sen...
KS should not abuse Democratic Parties if his party wants to win and serve democracy...
You cannot win on popularity alone. You must educate the people about issues that effect their lives directly and you must show solutions to those issues.
Remember the story of David and Goliloth
Rainsy + Sokha = 50+1 (hopefully)
However, they can not be together. They both are a hard head person.
I pray to all gods for them to change their attitude, sit down and talk about the unity for the benefit of Cambodia.
Hey lop lop kem sokha ! DO you expect to win the election over the CPP by forming another brand new party ? YOU ARE SO FUCKING DUMB. The line should be drawn between CPP and the rest if you want to EVER win. CPP is laughing their ass off to see all of you idiot broken into pieces and act so stupidly like this. ALL of you should unite together and form a formidable front to compete with CPP,DO OTHERWISE is just a waste of time ,you'll never win over the CPP period , is it hard to understand LOSER?
SRP, NRP, THOMICO's, LON RITH and the rest should bind together if you want any chance.....
Well, they decided to be hung separately. Hun Se will have no qualm funding KS Party. It was him that urged KS to do it last time.
Questions:
- Why does he wait until this time to re-enter politics?
- Has he ever thought that this is the right time for him to leave the NGO career?
- Is he really in hot water with the court case sued by his own staffs?
- Is it his way to escape from the corruption alleged by his former staffs?
- Is it true that donors ceased to sponsor his programs?
If those questions cannot be answered, the expectation of KS becoming either a force or joing force with others against the ruler would turn out to be a frastration.
Here is some info for the above comments...Kem Sokha has been trying to find ways to work/join with hard headed Sam Rainsy..to win this coming election but there is no real answer from RSP...for this reason the new party needs to be formed to show RSP. KS has been informing/educating the public enough about democracy and human rights thru public forums and...anyway, one person always bring up Lon Rith...I just heard about him recently..if you ask one hundred people here in Cambodia or anywhere in the world..it's lucky if one out of this one hundred knows his name. Kem Sokha leaving CCHR is not escaping for the corruption allegation..it's just the right time for him to do so.
Q- What can KS contribute to SRP if he is allowed to join with SRP?
A- KS is just a member among other NGO's. He is not a politician. Allowing to join with SR would be a double standard in current political equation.
Q- Is it the right time for KS leaving CCHR?
A- It can be laugh out loud to say that it is the right time for him to re-enter Cambodia politics. What is on earth made a politician to have JUST AN IDEA forming a political party in about one year time until the national election? Further question to be raised is about HOW and WHAT he is going to do. It is not that easy as having thought. So far, he doesn't even have the official name of his own party. There is question again when he is going to release, NEXT YEAR? or AFTER 2008? After 2008 his potential would remain doubtful.
Q- Is KS a threat to CPP politics with regards to upcoming election?
A- From the sources with CPP saying KS is going nowhere. Thinking KS as imminent threat to CPP consolidated power is a kind of wasting time. So, they rather spare their times for pleasure instead.
Q- Can KS be integrated with SR, in terms of teamwork concept?
A- That might be a huge question for SR to be considered. If this question is doubtful, what on earth any leader would agree with KS. Of course, NO WAY JOSE!
...
Consequently, he is in real trouble, either in the issue of corruption or lack of sponsorship from donors. The best thing he can do: changing his old trick, and remaing his status quo. Doing so he would re-earn his reputation in years to come. Nothing to blame you KS, but wishing a good luck if only you do for the nation, not individual.
Khem Sokha was famous in prison because of Hun Sen. Now he is forming a political party. Come on dude, get lost. No wonder Ah Hun Sen win the election because these other khmer political parties keep creating all new parties. They must work for Ahr Hun Sen, not for Cambodia people. You idiots should join and endorse one party like SRP. SRP is recoginized by international communities and has a strong endorsers. So why you idiots keep creating your own parties. May be you don't have a real job in the state. That's why you go back home to make political party. I won't waste my money to donate to your idiot party.
Need to unit, assholes.
I call for Kem Sokha again to put down his sort but to unite or to work with by helping Rainsy against Yuan puppet Hun Sen. Kem Sokha must help Rainsy if he really loves his country and his people.
If they do, they will receive more support financially for Cambodia.
hard headed = stubborn
Next time you use that word.
I keep reading your comments.
Dear all
I can understand why Sokha forms a part. It is not because of the court case or no job for him with the NGO. It is his frustration with Rainsy. Here is the reason.
After the coup, all democratic leaders escaped to Thailand. The United States was unhappy with Hun Sen and asked Sokha to be the link between Son San, Ranaridh, and Rainsy to form the UCD (United Cambodian Democracy). Son San and Ranaridh agreed. But Rainsy did not agree because he was too proud of himself and thought that his party could win the election (Rainsy’s first election). This was the first time he refused to be united.
Later on, after joining Funcinpec for awhile, Sokha tried to talk to Rainsy again. He planned to bring more people from his old party (Son San Party) and some from Funcinpec to join Rainsy. But Rainsy refused for second time.
After that Sokha left Funcinpec and formed the CCHR. Rainsy knew that Sokha will gain more popularity by doing this. He knew that Sokha tried another way to get into the politics. Not just Rainsy, everyone knew that Sokha would use this project as a step stone to go higher in the politics. Then Rainsy asked to meet Sokha. He offered Sokha the position of Vice President in Sam Rainsy Party. Sokha wanted to join but 1) it was a little late for him because he just started the NGO and he wanted to see if his plan would work. 2) Rainsy wanted only him but not his group. Sokha had a feeling that something was not right. He knew Rainsy tried to stop him from gaining popularity. He then refused. Rainsy and his wife were every upset with Sokha.
In 2006 Sokha was in trouble with his former staff. Rainsy saw this opportunity; then he supported those staff from behind by helping them in the law suit again Sokha in order to put his name down. But it did not work. Here is how these 2 leaders play game with each other: whenever Sokha upset with Rainsy, he always attacks Rainsy straight forward. He has never thought twice of what he is going to say. Unlike Sokha, Rainsy is smart and calm. He blindly attacks Sokha from different directions.
Until 2006 the IRI learned that Sokha wanted to form a party. Then they had the U.S. embassy put these two leaders at a table and talked about working together (A different source from mine said that Sokha asked the embassy to help set it up for him. It could be right.) Then the follow up was set in a month or so after the talk. However, Rainsy did not show up. Sokha contacted Rainsy. Rainsy said that his party is OK and stable now and it doesn’t need any new group.
Now Sokha learns that the only way to get back into the politics is to form a party by himself. My point is: it is not the court case or his organization runs out off budget or anything but to show Rainsy what he can do.
Now everyone can sit down and wait to see what will happen to them; or you all from both sides can push them or force them to work together if you are lucky. However, I think they can not work together.
Have a nice day.
The message from 9:46am should be the respond to your comment, 2:10pm.
If you said US embassy tried to combine SR and KS to be against HS, then it must be the US conspiracy against Cambodia national sovereignty ... I don't think so.
Yes, of course they cannot work together, because KS is not the same level as SR. In the matter of recognition, KS keeps trying to be even with SR, whose reputation better recognized than KS. I agreed with 9:46am - NO WAY JOSE!
Kem Sokha is a PRIG. if He run for politic He cant have one seat for parliament, I beat,
But, if he joining with Son CHAYY + mUM So Nundo = O SEAT. meant ( HAVE NO THING) SO, i'm pretty SURE THEY WILL JOINNIG TOGETHER. the fACT, OF THE GAMES OF SON CHAYY PLAY IN SRP WILL SEE...
See, he has done nothing for SRP but that was BLOODY SPY fOR FUCKEN BLIND YOUN HUN SENNNNNNNNN
I'm telling yours, you never win anything if your bloody POLITIC strategy, fighting with SRP.
Remember SRP fighting YOUN HUN SEN for Khmer, for democracy. so what the hell you fight SRP for huh...?
Are you Spy of Youn HUN SENNNN, OF YOUN. OF JUST LITTLE PRIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Hi people
Give KS a chance. You never know...SK can be better than SR. If you talk about education, yes KS can not compare to RS. If you talk about people support, KS is much better than RS now. If you do not believe me go to Cambodia and ask people. I went there few months ago. I asked some of my relative in PP and BB. I asked some motor taxi and car taxi divers. They all said the same that they will vote for KS if he has a party. So give him a chance.
I hope I am the last comment on this issue.After listening to a long debate, I can see 2 groups: one belongs to the SRP core group and is emotional,hateful and hypocritical like his boss.It makes me remember a dictator Pol Pot, who used the same philosophy of "if you aren't on my side you are enemies and you will be killed." Second who have broad ideas and want to give Mr Kem Sokha a chance.
For my idea I agreed to allow him a chance.I don't believe SRP can win 50+1 in 2008.I respect his leadership but he is too proud of his Party.I agreed that Kem Sokha is not suppose to mention SRP during the RFA interviewe, but he can't control it because SRP have blindly attacked him so much on this corruption issue.SRP have lots of tricks to put down Kem Sokha.I pray these two Parties can work together or form a coalition in the near future for the best of Cambodia.KFP will help SRP work side by side to fight CCP.
It is going to be tough, so please save our energy and be ready to fight with our unique enemy, CPP, to save our mother land.Please wait and see.
I'm sorry to say that all the three groups which support SR, KS and SR+KS formula are all wrong for 3 reasons: (1) Both SR and KS are the most stubborn human beings in the face of this Planet Earth; they listen to no one but their extremely close associates; they want everybody to die for them but never prepare to risk anything for people who support them let alone for Cambodia; (2) they are neither compassionate, considerate nor caring; but both of them are world's renowned experts in playing demagogic games to get to the top; (3) And when they are on the top, they will rule over Cambodia pretty much the same way as Pol Pot did from 1975 to 1979. Cambodia and its people have gone through too much sufferings to have a second or third Pol Pot. You guys may dispute this assertion of mine. But please do not jump to any conclusion yet, because only time will tell. Cambodia will be one day saved from either partial or total annexations by our neighbourly enemies, but definitely not by King Sihanouk, Prince Ranariddh, Prince Thomico, Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, Lon Rith, etc... THE LAND OF ANGKOR WILL BE SAVED FROM FOREIGN DOMINATION ONLY BY PEOPLE'S POWER!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
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