09 May 2007By Mao Sotheany
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
The following is Part 2 of the interview between RFA’s Mao Sotheany and Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP Secretary-General.
Mao Sotheany (RFA): Right now, you are affiliated with the SRP which is a democratic party. Do you see any difference from what you used to see at Funcinpec, now that you are with the SRP?
Mu Sochua (MS): There are a lot of differences. (Party) President Sam Rainsy cannot take unilateral decision by himself, the steering committee is making the decision. Now I am part of the party steering committee, but when I first joined the SRP, I was not immediately handed a position at the steering committee by Mr. Sam Rainsy. It was the steering committee which elected me to become one of its members, and my position as SRP secretary-general was decided again by the steering committee through a vote, Mr. Sam Rainsy only suggested my name.
This type of leadership is required for a truly democratic party, and the SRP had already brought in internal reforms for the past one year, our party members are voting their own representatives within the party, from the village level and all the way to the party president. At the party congress, Mr. Sam Rainsy or whoever else must receive the votes from SRP members in order to be the party president.
Therefore, we call this a leadership based on confidence votes placed by party members, it does not come from a decision made by the party president or from any committee.
RFA: On this issue, if for example, in the future, prior to the 2008 general election, there will be a current to unite pro-democracy parties, will the SRP participate in such unity? If it does, what kind of reform does the SRP want (to see)?
MS: The SRP places the highest value on its steering committee, and on its national congress. Even if there will be unity, SRP and Mr. Sam Rainsy must consult and receive the support from the steering committee and its national congress. If Mr. Sam Rainsy takes a unilateral decision, SRP members who dare protest (this decision), they will protest, and they will oppose their president if the latter makes unilateral decision without consulting with the steering committee.
I am confident that when we gather to decide how we are going to unite with all democrats, Mr. Sam Rainsy will have to listen to his party constituents. I believe that for a leadership of a party to be truly democratic, the power of the party president must be set and a term limit should be properly defined, the steering committee will be in charge of leading to the goals of the party, this is not the party president’s role. This should be stated in the regulations of a democratic party.
To resolve the issue of national reconciliation, we must resolve by starting with a democratic leadership in the party first. I am confident that SRP and SRP members are upholding this policy still.
RFA: I did not hear from you about SRP’s position, what I want to hear from you is whether, in the future, in particular during the upcoming 2008 general election, will there be a current for a unification [of political parties]? Will SRP participate [in such unification] or not?
MS: SRP and Mr. Sam Rainsy were the ones who initiated the call for a unification of democrats. The unification of the royalist is greatly welcomed by SRP, and I am confident that going forward, we will reach a point where the party of H.E. Kem Sokha, SRP, and other parties which believe in [fulfilling] the interest of the country through the 2008 general election victory, we must speak the same language in order to fulfill the interest of the nation, this is what our people want. As I repeat again and again, our people do not want to live in poverty, with lack of land, have a miserable living condition like now.
Therefore, moving forward, I am confident that we will have to unite all of us who believe in a union. In the 01 April commune election, we can see that SRP almost doubled the votes it received, SRP received 1.3 million votes, these are voters who want to see a change in the country, these are votes that are not for sale, and even with the violations, the threats they receive, these 1.3 million people still vote for SRP.
These are the true voices of those who want to see changes in our country, these are democratic voices, the SRP received 1.3 million of such votes, this is a step toward the 2008 election victory.
Mao Sotheany (RFA): Right now, you are affiliated with the SRP which is a democratic party. Do you see any difference from what you used to see at Funcinpec, now that you are with the SRP?
Mu Sochua (MS): There are a lot of differences. (Party) President Sam Rainsy cannot take unilateral decision by himself, the steering committee is making the decision. Now I am part of the party steering committee, but when I first joined the SRP, I was not immediately handed a position at the steering committee by Mr. Sam Rainsy. It was the steering committee which elected me to become one of its members, and my position as SRP secretary-general was decided again by the steering committee through a vote, Mr. Sam Rainsy only suggested my name.
This type of leadership is required for a truly democratic party, and the SRP had already brought in internal reforms for the past one year, our party members are voting their own representatives within the party, from the village level and all the way to the party president. At the party congress, Mr. Sam Rainsy or whoever else must receive the votes from SRP members in order to be the party president.
Therefore, we call this a leadership based on confidence votes placed by party members, it does not come from a decision made by the party president or from any committee.
RFA: On this issue, if for example, in the future, prior to the 2008 general election, there will be a current to unite pro-democracy parties, will the SRP participate in such unity? If it does, what kind of reform does the SRP want (to see)?
MS: The SRP places the highest value on its steering committee, and on its national congress. Even if there will be unity, SRP and Mr. Sam Rainsy must consult and receive the support from the steering committee and its national congress. If Mr. Sam Rainsy takes a unilateral decision, SRP members who dare protest (this decision), they will protest, and they will oppose their president if the latter makes unilateral decision without consulting with the steering committee.
I am confident that when we gather to decide how we are going to unite with all democrats, Mr. Sam Rainsy will have to listen to his party constituents. I believe that for a leadership of a party to be truly democratic, the power of the party president must be set and a term limit should be properly defined, the steering committee will be in charge of leading to the goals of the party, this is not the party president’s role. This should be stated in the regulations of a democratic party.
To resolve the issue of national reconciliation, we must resolve by starting with a democratic leadership in the party first. I am confident that SRP and SRP members are upholding this policy still.
RFA: I did not hear from you about SRP’s position, what I want to hear from you is whether, in the future, in particular during the upcoming 2008 general election, will there be a current for a unification [of political parties]? Will SRP participate [in such unification] or not?
MS: SRP and Mr. Sam Rainsy were the ones who initiated the call for a unification of democrats. The unification of the royalist is greatly welcomed by SRP, and I am confident that going forward, we will reach a point where the party of H.E. Kem Sokha, SRP, and other parties which believe in [fulfilling] the interest of the country through the 2008 general election victory, we must speak the same language in order to fulfill the interest of the nation, this is what our people want. As I repeat again and again, our people do not want to live in poverty, with lack of land, have a miserable living condition like now.
Therefore, moving forward, I am confident that we will have to unite all of us who believe in a union. In the 01 April commune election, we can see that SRP almost doubled the votes it received, SRP received 1.3 million votes, these are voters who want to see a change in the country, these are votes that are not for sale, and even with the violations, the threats they receive, these 1.3 million people still vote for SRP.
These are the true voices of those who want to see changes in our country, these are democratic voices, the SRP received 1.3 million of such votes, this is a step toward the 2008 election victory.
15 comments:
What is a bunch of mumbo jumbo?
I don't see anything that allowed
other parties a voice in the SRP.
She must makes it clear to all
parties who joins that they will
have equal voice as the SRP for
the unity to work. Time is running
short to the 2008's election. There
are lot of works that needed to be
done, no time for hocus pocus here.
Dear 1:11PM. Yu must be very ignorance about running a political party. each party has their own policies. There are two options of unification.
1-Unification all the parties as a grand alliance of Democrate before 2008 election. This option is not good. If all parties opt to unite before 2008, then the election 2008 will be stupid one. CPP will win without any doubt.
2-Unification after election day of 2008. This option is the most important to drive CPP out from politic in Cambodia.
All parties must have their own strategy to win a few of seats instead spending a lot of monies and trying to put candiidates all over the country. As from now on, SRP is the most experience party. All of those other parties who are willing to share coalition with SRP shouldn't put any candiadte where SRP Party candidates have more chance to win. This strategy is very important to make sure that the big coalition will make up more than 50%+1. THe coalition will agreement need to be drafted after election day to make sure that each party has their voice in the government.
Exemple.
-Some party may against illegal immigrants.
-Some party may have focussed on education, healthcare etc..
-Some party may have interest in land reform etc..
To win CPP, all other parties must have to be realistic for themself. They must allow SRP to lead them. THe government will be called " Grand Coalition government led by SRP Party " . It is true. If we unite we will all survive. If we disunite, we will all die. Areak Prey
WTF, you mean you are not going
to Unify to try to defeat the CPP?
You had ran independent already and
lost big time every time. So why
repeat the same action? That is
insane, according to Einstein.
Soc Hua,
As an educated woman from California,she still suffers myopia of autocratic politic.
Right,like we don't know,Raingsy suggested and the Steered Committee symbolically elected her.
Again,Raingsy is different from Ran -ridh,right.Ran-ridh is imbecile who used to be boss of Raing-sy.Is Raingsy a fraud and self perpetuated personality too?
Now,tell us the real thing that we don't know.
It is all bullshit, there is no
evidence of what they are doing
will help Cambodia a bit. I mean
there is no country as poor as
cambodia that is revived to health
like singapore with their plan.
I know Sam Rainsy is the Tax Man,
and Tax will cause many to suffer
at this stage. Fighting corruption
is always easier said than done
in a poor country. The US poor
State of Louisianna had always
been known to be the most corrupted
State in the US and no one seem
to be able to hack it for the last
200 or so ... What more can one
say? It is clear that all they
care about is power, not the poor.
Otherwise, they would not have lied
and blown every little thing out
of proportion and causing so much
damage to our image before the
world. I never see anyone so
desperate as the SRP.
SRP Board of Direstors (or SRP Steering Committee), Sam Rainsy, Tioulong Saumura, Son Chhay, Mu Sochua, Eng Chhay Eang, Meng Rita, Keo Remy, etc..., are all liars. The reality within this party is totally different from what Mu Sochua has said to RFA and its audience.
THERE IS NO FAINTEST NOTION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE SRP. NO, NO AND A BIG FAT NO!
Ms. Mu Sochua, please stop lying. After decades of suffering, Khmer people do not deserve that at all.
PLEASE HAVE SOME RESPECT AND DO NOT INSULT THEIR INTELLIGENCE ANY MORE, PLEASE!
There is no democracy as long as you can't flood the SRP with the CPP agents. There is no democracy as long as you can't get your way. There is no democracy until you become a general-secretary yourself.
Hey Guys, Khmer people don't need
no democracy. Majority of them
don't know what the fuck it is.
What they need is jobs, jobs, and
jobs. Are we here to serve the
people or the fucking corrupted
UN?
hey, does anybody still remember about KHEM VEASNA (SRP'S MP) who speak his mind about SDACH. Boy! that man got can right away from SRP.It make me wonder how much freedom and how democratic under SRP'S control.....
To 6:56AM,
There is no democracy as long as you don't wash Tioulong Saumura's underwear. There is no democracy as long as you don't empty your wallet for the SRP. There is no democracy as long as you don't stand up as human shield to protect Lauk Prathean in front of the CPP's assassination squad.
6:56AM, you are such a narrow-minded person. Do you seriously think that people who join the SRP simply want something back from this party? NO. If so, they should join the CPP instead. Are they completely and totally indifferent in front of systematic corruption, grand scale plundering of State assets, anarchic land grabbing, organized crimes such as drug and/or human trafficking, all sort of human rights abuses and arbitrary killings? No they are not. They, too, are victims of such a ruthless dictatorship as the current regime. They join you because they have no other choice!!!
Yep, I know exactly what you mean
10:39. Here's a profile of what
happened to Khem Veasna:
http://www.voanews.com/Khmer/archive/2005-07/2005-07-08-voa1.cfm
Note that the SRP will not tolerate
criticism from their members.
12:18P,,
Can I ask you? Did you every empty your own wallet for the SRP ? Did you ever wash Saumara's underwears ? You are such a narrow-minded old man who are still hurt because you couldn't get people to follow your way. Was that your democracy ? Where is Khem Veasna now ?
Listen to these stupidest people talking. No UNIFICATION for the sake of their own country. But if some of them are Viet spies who are in to divide Cambodians, power to China.
9:03, there is no need for anyone
to divide Cambodian. They never
have Unity to begin with, I mean
at least one solid year in a row
or so. So stop blaming it on
foreigners for that. Will ya?
Any praise or comment concerning Khem Veasnaa should be tempered with the knowledge that he is quite frankly a crackpot and is probably mentally deranged.
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