Friday, April 06, 2007

Sam Rainsy plans to unite other parties to form a Democratic Movement

05 April 2007
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Cambodia’s opposition leader plans to form a large democratic movement by uniting all democratic parties into a single party in order to compete and win in the 2008 general election.

Sam Rainsy, President of the SRP, told RFA on Thursday afternoon that he wants all the democrats to unite into a single party. He asked the SRP Secretary-General to contact with other parties and other party officials to start the foundation for this democratic group.

Sam Rainsy said: “In the name of the Sam Rainsy party, I am openly calling to all political parties, to all patriots, to all democrats, to all officials, to unite and form a large single democratic movement to compete in the upcoming 2008 election. It’s only when all the democrats are united for all of us to win over the current ruling party. I asked Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP Secretary-General, to contact other party leaders, organizations, and officials to come up with a foundation to start a large single democratic movement in Cambodia.”

Prince Sisowath Thomico, President of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJFP), also has the same idea, even though at first, the prince only wanted to unite all the royalist parties who are fighting each other to get along again. Prince Sisowath Thomico wanted for the NRP the SJFP to unite themselves in a first step before merging with others.

Prince Thomico said: “The earlier, the better, the three royalist parties must merge in a first step. In the second step, following the merger of the royalist parties, then we will negotiate with the SRP to look for a merger into a large party to compete on a one-to-one basis, this is my opinion. Nevertheless, the goals must be pursued one step at a time, but overstepping some step is fine also.”

Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, said that Funcinpec never think about merging with others into a single party, but that it places its priority on the local issues.

Nouv Sovathero said: “Funcinpec does not think about anything else except about the strengthening of the local bases after this election. Up to now, the party leaders did not show any inclination to meet with any other party. Funcinpec current standing is to travel to the local bases and encourage the local levels.”

Prince Sisowath Sirirat told RFA this morning that he never discuss anything with any other royalist party, and neither with the party of his younger cousin, Prince Thomico of the SJFP.

Prince Sirirat said: “I never met my younger [cousin] since he started being involved in politics, he never talked [to me] about the royal family members, nor about royalist political parties, nor about uniting parties at all.”

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

The issue is would those royals like to be deputies to a commoner rainsy ? If yes, the frist hurdle would be overcome. Especially Krom Pret.

Anonymous said...

I support completely Samrainsy 500% for his call.

Anonymous said...

Do you think the Royalist is in
the position to pick and choose
what they want?

Anyway, you are on the right track.
They may join each other for a
while, only to be at each other
throat later, hehehe. It is
hopeless. "Unity" is not in their
dictionary, don't you know?

Anonymous said...

Unity is Important- But "Unity" seems to be far away for all those who considered themselves as nationalists or Democrats(SRP/FUN/NRP/THOMICO etc..), because some leaders of those are not mentally/spiritually strong enough which can be easily to be divided by someone[Diviser pour gouverner..)as we had a lot of experiences since 1990s...
Type of guy such as Ranaridth will find in advance his own interests after nation's (Dollars/some Temporary partial power/Srey, Sra.. } they are so easy to be spoiled with those things...Good tactics of their competitors(CPP) to defeat them.. it is dificult to say that their competitor use evil means, normally this tactics/strategy are to be applied worldwide especially in developing countries.....
If those so-called Democrat Unity wants to win they shall pay more attention to this matter, CLEAN THEIR-OWN FACES/OR ASSES PRIOR TO CLEAN SOME OTHER'S ASS...

Look at Simple example, Prior to that Ranarith was in Full Power as Co-PM in early 1990s he committed diferently, while being in Power he & his high Ranking Officials were spoiled by Dollars Srey Sra etc,,,led to his collapse later on in early 2000s the same thing repeatedly happened....
Once again, remember that I do not hope that Ranarith/of little mind can stand with any hard situation while in Unity... later and sooner he will quit Unity for his own personal Interest and his nature is too soft and always say like this and does an other..........
More over wthin NRP there is also one more dangerous player , Chakrapong, the most flip-flop guy with whom should not be kept in touch .........
it is very hard or can not Correct anyone's Nature or Habit.."Habitut ne peut pas corriser.."

Therefore, UNITY between them is seemed to be unexpected.........and is to be dangerous for those who will be United partners with Ranarith

Kampot

Anonymous said...

Dear Sam Rainsy Party,

I am strongly support to what Exellecy sam rainsy has appealed. But just to remind and be careful with Norodom Rannariddh will break this unity eventually. He had always made all khmer disappointed. Actually he's not strong, but very smart when seeing advantage come near. We are very happy to see all democrats to unite together. This is the last chance for all democrats to get win the communist party ,CPP.

So, be careful with prince Rannariddh.
Dear Prince Rannariddh, please don't do the wrong way again and again.
The CPP will not stand still to see this new movement. So, please all the democrats be careful and work very hard for our successfulness in the 2008 election.

Long live democracy!
Khmer Cheat Niyum,

Anonymous said...

SRP has learned many bitter experiences with Ranarith. It must not include this dangerous man in any coalition.

Anonymous said...

khmersoul,
i agree 100% with the idea of "UNITY" it's only hope to have khmer people going forward to a real democracy.Khmer needs a change,khmer needs a new leader as soon as possible,time is running out to save cambodia from being 2nd khmer kampuchea krom.Whoever the future of khmer leader is still better than current one,
thx.

Anonymous said...

I support SRP's call for unity of democrats,but I have some reservations about it.

1. Rannaridhh cannot be trusted. Rannaridhh is in politics for women and money.
2. Nhek Bun Chay and FUNCINPEC are no difference from their former's boss's Rannaridhh.

I only trust Prince Thomico.

Here is my suggested unity formula:

SRP + Khem Sokha + Thomico

NRP and FUNCINPEC can only be allowed to join if they clean up their self-interests over the national interests.

SRP + Khem Sokha + Thomico have showned true national interests, except with differences in approach to problems.

PLEASE UNITE BY COMMON GROUNDS ON NATION'S INTERESTS.

We are all different, and it is democratically acceptable to have different viewpoints, but the goals are same: save Khmer race, protect Khmer's national interests, restore trust in Khmer politics, save Khmer's lands, create jobs for all, save Khmer's forests and natural resources,etc.

If a leader can do all the above, and when a leader see nation's interests above one's ego's and glamour, then we can start to hope for Khmer' survival cause.

For as long as CPP in power, Khmer's Cambodia will be dominated by the foreigns: Viets, Thais, Chinese, etc. I am not lying...who is actually owning the industries and companies in Cambodia right now. E.g. Sokimex is running the Angkor's site. And Sokimex is Viet-owned in Cambodia. How about telephone and petroleum companies???Look around who actually owning these companies in Cambodia today???We need a leader who enforce foreign-ownership limit of Khmer's national interests and key industries....

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen is smart...he already has a plan to unite with FUNCINPEC during the General Elections. If SRP wants a good battle that is democratic, they should try to unite with FUCINPEC, NRP, and all the democratic and royalist parties. Let it be all the small parties come into one to unite and FIGHT CPP!!

Anonymous said...

Unity of Cambodian Democrats is ineffective.

All Hun Sen need to do is fund and create a new small party which can be lead by Bunchay or anyone.

With 50+1 formular, Hun Sen will win absolute power to rule. Than, Hun Sen will ask the created small party to joint his government just to make himself look good.

Anonymous said...

Unite and conquer that's fine, but if you are all unite and still defeat, please don't whine and complain anymore.
There is nothing wrong with foreigh investors. They can create jobs for the poors,moreover revenue can flow into national treasury assuming there is no corruption....
There is nothing wrong to invite FUNCINPEC and NRP to join, the goal is to get all THEIR SUPPORTERs lining up behind one single party but EXCLUDING their LEADERS like RANARITH,BUNCHHAY ,these two are worthless,untrustworthy,and super flip flop ,unreliable etc you name it,they are a piece of shit.....

Anonymous said...

Business first, this is a most sound bite I ever heard so far.Great intent but still a bad plan.

It can work only if all lead included all corruptible personalities must first step aside to serve in advisory capacity only.

Set up a coalition leadership with 2 year term rotation by vote from bicameral Advisory and Standing committee.

Ranisy,RRidh,Thomico, Keo Putt,You cry, Siek leng, Sokha, Soubert, BunChhai and other reasonable characters but stay out of micromanagement

Younger and transparent candidates are propped up to take new attitude and challenges.

This way may be there will be a motivation for mass votes.

Anonymous said...

I don`t think having these parties united would be a good idea. Following history of Cambodia, each individual want to be in power for themself, only themself. If they wanted to better Cambodia they would have united a long time ago. To have them united and beat the CPP, then fall apart when they are in control is even worst than the CPP. Like I said, If each party had Cambodia`s interest at heart they would have united. Look at Kem Sokha he is forming his own party. Do we need another one?

Anonymous said...

if those smaller parties united wity srp, more violence from cpp would surely be inflicted on them as the cpp would feel the heat. you know what cpp, hun shit is like , do you ? khmer have only one way out - buillet in hun shit 's head.

Anonymous said...

Plus Khmer Srorlanh Khmer and Khmer Mchass Srok that will make 55 parties for now.

Anonymous said...

Well sais 7:17, you took most of
the words out of my mouth. I what
just going to say "Unity" has not
been khmer. Why do you think
Cambodia is the smallest country
in the region?

ideally, I like to see the whole
nation united, but it looks like
I am asking too much from Khmer.
Therefore, I don't mind see half
of khmer United as a start. I doubt
that it will ever happened, but
they do have the right to keep on
trying, no matter how long it will take, hehehe. At least they are on
the right direction. Next is
for them to learn to trade their
accomplisments for Khmers votes,
not lip service; that will never
work. I am 100% sure on that.