Kem Sokha resigns [from CCHR] to enter politics10 March 2007
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to listen to RFA's report in Khmer
Kem Sokha, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) president, said that he will resign from his position at CCHR to enter politics in view of the 2008 legislative election.
Kem Sokha said that he will resign from CCHR at the end of April and that he plans on becoming the president of a yet to be formed political party which, he claims, has received support from Cambodian people both inside and outside the country.
Kem Sokha’s decision to resign from CCHR coincides with the accusations made against him of being involved with corruption in the spending of aid funds from the US, and the ending of funding from other countries to CCHR, a center for education of democracy and human rights.
Kem Sokha denied these accusations, and he said that his resignation was decided only to allow him to re-enter politics: “These problems (accusations) are total lies, and the aid provider, the IRI, has declared that it audited and reviewed all the problems already, and found nothing. Furthermore, my resignation issue is such that when I leave, the contract (with aid donors) stipulated in the yearly contract that they will review the budget (for their aid) again. Now I told them that I will be resigning on the last day of April. It’s because people from all over the place are asking me to join the political party they formed, and they ask me to help them, and I will. Now, they are sending a lot of thumbprints from different areas, they are sending their numerous requests to me, therefore, I decide to enter politics.”
Kem Sokha, is a former politician, he was linked to the Khmer National Liberation Front Party (KNLFP) belonging to Son San. He later joined the Funcinpec party, and then resigned from political life for work for the CCHR supported by the US.
The new party in which Kem Sokha plans to present his candidacy to become the party president, has not announced its name yet, however, source close to Kem Sokha indicates that the new party will be called the Sereypheap (Freedom) Party.
Kem Sokha said that the new political party will receive support from people both inside and outside the country: “…[from] people inside the country and outside the country, the majority of whom are from the US, Canada, France and Australia. Before I made the decision, I have everything I need already, unlike other parties which decided to form the party [first], and then go around asking for support. I am not like that, I am different from other parties in the sense that it was the people who asked me to enter politics and it was not me who asked people for support … Other parties, they decide to form a party on their own, just like the Sam Rainsy party, they removed him, so he decided to form a party…”
Kem Sokha said that he will resign from CCHR at the end of April and that he plans on becoming the president of a yet to be formed political party which, he claims, has received support from Cambodian people both inside and outside the country.
Kem Sokha’s decision to resign from CCHR coincides with the accusations made against him of being involved with corruption in the spending of aid funds from the US, and the ending of funding from other countries to CCHR, a center for education of democracy and human rights.
Kem Sokha denied these accusations, and he said that his resignation was decided only to allow him to re-enter politics: “These problems (accusations) are total lies, and the aid provider, the IRI, has declared that it audited and reviewed all the problems already, and found nothing. Furthermore, my resignation issue is such that when I leave, the contract (with aid donors) stipulated in the yearly contract that they will review the budget (for their aid) again. Now I told them that I will be resigning on the last day of April. It’s because people from all over the place are asking me to join the political party they formed, and they ask me to help them, and I will. Now, they are sending a lot of thumbprints from different areas, they are sending their numerous requests to me, therefore, I decide to enter politics.”
Kem Sokha, is a former politician, he was linked to the Khmer National Liberation Front Party (KNLFP) belonging to Son San. He later joined the Funcinpec party, and then resigned from political life for work for the CCHR supported by the US.
The new party in which Kem Sokha plans to present his candidacy to become the party president, has not announced its name yet, however, source close to Kem Sokha indicates that the new party will be called the Sereypheap (Freedom) Party.
Kem Sokha said that the new political party will receive support from people both inside and outside the country: “…[from] people inside the country and outside the country, the majority of whom are from the US, Canada, France and Australia. Before I made the decision, I have everything I need already, unlike other parties which decided to form the party [first], and then go around asking for support. I am not like that, I am different from other parties in the sense that it was the people who asked me to enter politics and it was not me who asked people for support … Other parties, they decide to form a party on their own, just like the Sam Rainsy party, they removed him, so he decided to form a party…”
27 comments:
SOKHA YOUR FORMER SUBORDINATES SUED YOU IN COURT AND SAID YOU ARE CORRUPTED BOSS.
VIETMINH-CPP-HUN SEN + THE ROYAL CROOKS ARE WORST THAN YOU BY SELLING CAMBODIA TO YUON AND CHINA.
IF YOU CHANGING FROM CORRUPTED MAN TO A CLEANER BOSS YOU MAY SUCCEED IN POLITIC.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR NEW SEREI PHEAP PARTY.
BY THE WAY WHY DON'T YOU HELP LON RITH TO WIN THE ELECTION AND SERVE OUR BELOVED CAMBODIA TOGETHER??? CAN NOT YOU???
Mr Kem Sokha,
How much Hun Sen has paid you to try to divide furthermore the opposition ?
You are still hungry despite all the money you steal from CCHR, aren't you ?
Dear Kem Sokha,
Please don't get us wrong. When you visited Australia, we organised party to welcome you because we want to show to Hun Sen that Khmer outside support each other (peace lovers)BUT it does not mean WE support to form a political party. Plus, during a dinner you assured that you will not form any political party.
Now you're planning to form; I can conclude that you must be paid by Hun Sen. Please remember, none Khmer in Australia will support you to form any political party.
Cheers,
Who can trust Kem Sokha, he said his party supported by people and named it "Liberty Party", but he starts his first word by abusing SRP?
Come on Kem Sokha? You might become Hun Sen's tool to break out democratic movement...
I know Hun Sen has huge money, if someone is well-known like you to play money game with Hun Sen, he can give all amount of money you require...
More SRP and Kem Sokha are abusing each other, more CPP get benefits...
Come on, do you have the same ideology or different?
Unite together to fight against corruption and Yuan's dominance of CPP would be the best path Kem Sokha..I don't see your words would be valuable when you are abusing SRP, but if you are targeting to abuse CPP, you might gain more credits...listen!
Cambodia does not need more parties. It should be only 2 parties Communist CPP and Opposition.
Creating more parties, it will only help the communist CPP more powerful; and moreover, it will create more corruption on the top that Cambbodia has.
Rainsy & Kem Sokha should meet and discuss what best for Cambodia.
Hey KEM SOKHA, what will your next project be after the MARCH TO DEATH FREEDOM. I hope it will not be HUNGER STRIKE ok, because khmers as usual thought HUNGER STRIKE is simply crazy .
Mr Kem Sokha,
Stay where you are because you are good at promoting human rights, but not politics. Your brand is human rights. Be real.
OOOO
Dear Poster 6.22am,
Thank you for your comment. I don't know who you are, claiming that you hosted a dinner reception for Mr. Kem Sokha. In this respect I'd like to strongly dicredit your comment "that none of Khmer living in Australia" does not support Mr. Kem Sokha. This is ABSOLUTELY FALSE, and ill-informed of you to make such a narrow claim, in fact a significant proportion of Khmer community living in Australia, including me, DO overwhelmingly support Mr. Kem Sokha.
All the very best and cheers
To 6:22am and 9:46am,
You both sound like trying to act on behalf of Khmers living in Australia. As far as I knew that not many who give a damn about Kem Sokha anyway.
What was so funny to me was that members of SRP branches, in Sydney and Victoria, who had organized dinners to host Kem Sokha. It seems to me that those who organised loose hope on their president, who at that time was living in exile overseas, attempted to catch up with Kem Sokha for just in case Sam Rainsy would never return to the opposition leader again.
But this didn't turn out to be as hoped, as soon as Sam Rainsy was back to the position, those opportunists bowed their heads to Mr. Sam and up their bumps to Mr. Kem. Without doubt and delay, they now accused Mr. Kem of a liar.
What was so embarrassed was members of Victoria's branch hosted Kem Sokha under the brand of SRP. I heard that they even overwhelmed when Kem Sokha accused their own President of being weaker than him. What ashame!
Liar and liar...
I just feel pitty for 9:46am, who strongly dedicates to Kem Sokha. I would never say Sam Rainsy is one of the best politicians and leaders in the world. And I would even never think of Kem Sokha (KS) is able to compare with Sam Rainsy (SR), not even a portion of all.
The way to build up to top made by KS has been so obvious as a dirty politic. One defected from two consecutive political parties clearly means tricky. Incapable to run a small size organisation is proven that incompetent. Failure to convince donors for their supports indicates that his management is in doubt or non-transperant. So, believing in this man to become a country leader or a leader within the government would be wasteful.
It was true while SR was in exile overseas. KS attempted all his ways to be replaced in the opposition position: slander, accusation, allegation and persuasion. But he just failed, because it was so obvious. In simple words, he was not smart enough to do politics. He failed to convince people, not only local, but also international community who lost interest and trust on him. He might have contemplated that there was opportunity to collect SRP members to be his own. He still failed because there were only a few dumb-and-idiot SRP members, such as in Victoria's branch, agreed with him.
Without doubt, KS is in real hot water. He is now in a kind of situation that keeps him wandering until he found something for replacement. Wishing you a good luck! but beware of following the old tricks.
11:14 AM,
You know people at the time had hoped that both men could unite the opposition force to Hun Sen. So in their view, welcoming KS was a bit like welcoming a junior partner of the SRP. Having said that doesn't what you said doesn't have a grain of truth either. Yes, other points you raised were quite true, too.
To 9:46am,
6:22am said 'none Khmer in Australia will support you...'. You said 'that none of Khmer living in Australia" does not support...'.
In the matter of wording, this means that some Khmers, including you, living in Australia now support Kem Sokha. However, in the future Khmers will not support Kem Sokha if he formed a political party. It is not too late to make up your mind.
4:34am,
You ask KS to join Lon Rith party ? Thanks for cracking me up so much. That'd be the express route to unemployment for KS.
I see some of you support Sam Rainsy, some support Kem Sokha, and some do not support either one (Hun Sen maybe?)
To those who support Sam Rainsy, please ask him how many times did Kem Sokha try to unit with him? He had tried at least 2 or 3 times since the coup. Sam Rainsy has never told any supporter about this. The recent one was 2006. Last year Sokha met with Rainsy with the U.S. Embassy as a middle person. But Rainsy refused to the idea.
To those who support Kem Sokha. Please tell him not to be proud too much and stop hurting other democracy like SR. It will not gain anything. Instead he will lose if he keeps doing that.
To those who did not support either one. You better wait and see.
Have a nice day.
Lets look at the fact.
RNP will never win because they lack a strong leader. Do you actually think the people will vote for a party with a tarnish reputation? For a leader who is out of the country more than a "drop call"?
SRP is loosing support from the grass root. Why? because what has SRP really done? but make speeches and collect money? Words must equal action.
CPP have been trained by the best. Vietnam and China. The tiger and Snake of SEA. Hun Sen is too scared to be a leader, they are too many spies in Cambodia.
KFP don't just say the people encourage you to run, you also have to want it. You have a lot f support inside and outside of cambodia. But can you do the job? Can you make Cambodia the first democracy in SEA? Can you beat the snake and tiger if you only have a stick? If you find the missing stick, you can win.
If you follow negative campaign you will loose. Focus only on the issues. but also be senstative to those issues. Changes will not come over night,because there are many "fat cat" in Cambodia who will not be happy.
A political party needs more than just heart and soul. it needs money.
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.
Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha have so much in common. Both of them are much more cunning than any other Cambodian personalities we've ever known. They are extremely narrow-minded because they listen only to a very tiny bunch of their close associates. They are not trustworthy because none of them is prepared to make their ultimate sacrifice for Cambodia and its people. Both of them have their own agenda and serve simply their own interests. In terms of looking for real and credible politicians capable of pushing back foreign domination, Cambodia has only itself to blame by having produced these two guys who allow themselves to be easily led by blind ambitions instead of by political ideals.
Folks someone said Kem Sokha tried to unite with Rainsy for the sake of Cambodia, but Rainsy refused.
Ask Kem Sokha to ask Rainsy again or send Rainsy an open letter or speak up through VOA or RFA or through foreign Journalists, so the whole world could see and witness that Khmers are finally wake up and they unite. If Rainsy refuses then he gets problems.
Let's do this once and for all.
I support Rainsy & Kem Sokha for the sake of Cambodia.
For the sake of Cambodia, I have a thick skin, and if I were Kem Sokha I will call or send an open letter to Rainsy again & again until he agrees to accept.
It is not the time to be an arrogant or a self importance person, but it is the time to fight to survive.
*It is unbelievable that I grow up to witness this great moment, the moment that all Khmers are about to walk toward a process of unifying.
I want to be part of this process in spite of the fact I cannot speak Khmer, but I am learning.
I just believe Cambodia will be free and that Khmer people deserve better, and I want to help.
Dear 2:07 AM
You sound like you are inside SRP. You know a lot about these two democracy people. I agree with you 90%. I too pray for them to work together in the near future.
My dear beloved Khmer,
Don't let SRP and Kim Sokha be broken like SRP and FUNCINPEC. If you truely love Cambodia, you need awared of tricks that CPP might use to break these two. Can you remember about the situation after 2003 election? When one of the two broke their trust, be cheated, fallen into trick of CPP, now FUNCINPEC plung into a deep well of embarassment, and CPP is still strong and powerful.
So,if you are real Khmer, please respect our country's interest and save our country through unity and hand in hand to work. No matter how many parties you form, as long as you share hands together to serve Cambodian's interest for a betteness of Cambodia, for our people, you or your party is already do a good job for Khmer. Don't make argument or quarel, otherwise the same situation like 2003 would happen again. Please learn to trust and give trust, and avoid blaming one another.
A real leader is the one who know what is right and what is wrong, of good personal characteristic and can serve country for people's intrest rather than just for his own's group's interest.
From a Khmer Student.
Before I jump onto my cozzy bed, I like to toss a few words to "Khmer Student".
Khmer Student, you said:
"[N]o matter how many parties you form, as long as you share hands together to serve Cambodian's interest for a betteness of Cambodia, for our people, you or your party is already do a good job for Khmer.."
I ToTALLY DISAGREE WITH YOU 100%.
No & NO. Do you UNDERSTAND? NO. NO MORE DIVIDING.
I called for Kem Sokha and Rainsy to UNITE not to be splitted. If they split they also split the Votes. No NEED MORE PARTY. Cambodia is crying for her children Khmers to free her so DO NOT SPLIT.
It is the BATTLE between KHMERS & Yuan/CPP. DO NOT DIVIDE, NO MORE.
A Khmer Wanna Be (moi28)
In any circus, animal trainers never fail to unite tigers, elephants, monkeys, etc... from different forests. But thus far, no political strategist, no philosopher and no psychologist can successfully unite two men with the same degree of ambition. "There cannot be two lions in one forest". Sam Rainsy + Kem Sokha in one party is a recipe for disaster. Do you want to bet?
Don't judge me as a SRP's!
1:57pm sounded better when it is said that SR and KS can be never united. For me, I don't even believe the unification of both men can overtake CPP. If there is a question of selection between these two. Of course, I would go for SR. The reasons are:
1. In terms of education, SR is better;
2. In terms of nationalism, SR has been fighting along with FUNCIPEC against Viet until election 1993 and continued until he was sacked from Finace Minister in 1995;
3. Maintains his own party existed up to date, even improved in consecutive years of national election; For KS cannot even manage his below-100 staff organisation;
4. SR's popularity is better thanks to the number of his party membership; For KS's party, it cannot be even imagined what it will look like while the date for the next national election left about a year time. The big question remains to be seen is about how he is going to operate it;
5. While KS claimed that his oversea supports are from USA, Canada, France, and Australia, where in contrary people believe that the majority there support either SRP, or FUNCINPEC or NRP.
6. The actual numbers of his members and supporters are still in the air.
...
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?
Should those questions could not be answered, the unification between KS and SR to win over the ruler, Hun Sen in particular, is beyond the imagination. Leave a single tiger to rule the kingdom is also another alternative, temporary or permanently.
Forget about KS. He has a long way to go. He should go back to Krom Preah Party. Some chance awaiting him there.
aNY WAY, KS GOING TO SHOW YOU SOON, WHAT HE IS MAKE OFF!
GO JOINT SRP, NRP YOURSELF.
I agree with you 1:57 PM. SR and KS can not be in one party. Each of them is too proud of himself. They both want to be the boss.
You guys are so gullible in believing the corruption accusation against KS. So naïve in listening to the CPP/Youn nonsense. Those people that accuse KS of corruption are on CPP/Youn payroll. You guys should know better…….each time they see a khmer nationalist shines they try to do anything to stop/eliminate the shinny one……if you guys buy into this corruption accusation thing you are so dumb that's all I can say.
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