Commune election: a new political landscape?

Tuesday, April 3, 2007
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek

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

Sam Rainsy, by taking the second position in the commune election, announces that in the kingdom of Cambodia, there are only two political parties left: the CPP and his. In the enthusiasm of the “victory,” he alludes to a collaboration with the ruling party to work on the development of communes and sangkats in the country. “The CPP cannot ignore the SRP and vice-versa!” he announced at the party headquarters. Without trying to establish the bases for a partnership, the opposition leader assessed that the two parties “will first need to talk to each other.” “We are not enemies, we are all Khmer and we share the same goal: to serve the development. And the partners in this field should meet each other one day by summoning both of us,” he suggested.

On the CPP side, the party is savoring the victory and the maintenance of its uncontested supremacy with slightly less than 98% communes in which it is leading, Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information, underscored. He said that he is delighted that the CPP gained in Phnom Penh by taking away three sangkats from the SRP. “As you know, the capital is full with intellectuals, this means that the latter appreciate well the CPP political policy.” Khieu Kanharith went on to describe the CPP as the “guarantor of the political and economic stability in the country, and of the harmonious development of the society.” He too wants to put behind him the game of critics played by the political parties. “What is important, is what the political leaders move forward to defend the interests of the communes. Then, they can work together.”

Khieu Kanharith was satisfied with the maturity of the media in their coverage of the election, a coverage which becomes less and less inclined to political party affiliation, and more towards the voters. This allowed the casting of the ballots without major incidents. “This shows that the Khmer people can live together, even if they are divided by political tendencies.”

Ok Soheat, a close advisor to Prince Ranariddh, affirmed yesterday that the Norodom Ranariddh Party earned representative seats in 365 out of the 1,400 communes it presented its candidates. The pride of the new party was to place itself ahead of the Funcinpec which only last year, pushed away Prince Ranariddh from its leadership. Ok Socheta concluded that “the justice was wrong in agreeing with Nhiek Bun Chhay [Funcinpec secretary-general], whereas the citizens prefer supporting Samdech Krom Preah.”

Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, is quick to blame the bad showing of the party on the recent party reform which led to the eviction of Prince Ranariddh and the formation of the NRP. “All this creates confusion in people’s mind,” Nhiek Bun Chhay assured. He stressed that, nevertheless, his party took the lead in one commune in Oddar Meanchey and another one in Stung Treng. The Funcinpec needs to rise up before the general election and prove that it is not already on the path to its demise.