Monday, July 23, 2007

New party launched in Cambodia possibly to weaken opposition force

July 23, 2007

The Human Rights Party (HRP) of some 10,000 supporters was launched here on Sunday, possibly with an eye to weaken the kingdom's opposition force, local media said on Monday.

Kem Sokha, 54, who was unanimously appointed the president of the party, said that HRP was formed in response to the needs of both local and overseas nationalists and democrats who want a political party which prioritizes the interests of the nation, not individuals, reported major Cambodian-language daily newspaper the Koh Santepheap.

"It is time for Cambodia to have a real fully democratic political party which has emerged from the people," Sokha said, adding that HRP's door is still open for those who have real willingness to improve the nation under the umbrella of true democracy.

Sokha told the crowd that the HRP has also been established to upgrade the living standards of the people and turn Cambodia into a society which offers equal choices and opportunities for every citizen in seeking their future.

The party elected former Prime Minister Pen Sovann, who in 1980 headed the People's Republic of Kampuchea, as one of its deputy presidents, along with Keo Remy, a former Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker and Keat Sokun, former financial officer of the now defunct Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party.

English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily on Monday quoted National Assembly First Vice President Nguon Nhel as saying that HRP can benefit the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) by weakening the opposition vote.

After the latest local election held on April 1, the opposition SRP surpassed the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and became the second largest party of the kingdom. The augmentation of SRP is widely thought to constitute a kind of menace to CPP, although it is now dominant in the government and the legislative bodies.

Source: Xinhua

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ong Nguon Ngel seems so sure without looking in the mirror that CPP is in turmoil too.
Hun Sen is second guessed in every move while Heng Samrin or Chea Sim are having a second thought on Hun Sen integrity after his fake fluenza recently.

CPP poor members will be alienated by the most corrupted Hoc lon di rises to eminence with the help from Heng Pov followers.

Anonymous said...

I am absolutely sure that, the Kem Sokha's party will not get any seat in the 2008 election.

Every body said, this new party is the puppet of CPP. The real boss of this new party is AH HUN SEN.

The aim of Kem Sokha is to destroy Sam Rinsy Party, but it impossible.

Khmer people please open eyes and think carefully, before you vote to any party in the upcoming election.

Anonymous said...

SRP should niche itself to be a mature political party that will take everything to critical thinking before it reacts. It must distiguish itself to be a trust worthy, constructive, positive and of course smart away from other political parties. Instead of calling judgements on the new emerged HRP, it should congradulate them but keep on eye on their long term intention. Afterall they are political party.

Anonymous said...

I am absolutely believe that HRP will get at least 1/4 of the vote.I also absolutely that SRP can't win 50+1 on the next election but may be can get 1/4 below or little above.If you combine HRP + SRP= 2/4,it is good game to play .Do not frustrated,keep concentrate on your campaign chicken soup.

Anonymous said...

CPP Party is so happy.

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering if Hun Sen is paying Sokha to form the party, to weaken SRP.

Anonymous said...

"As we enter this critical era of political game, yet another power-hungry ‘bastard’loser forays into politics. Why bother, because the only winning move is not to play.

Well, Mr. Kem, since you don't know what the fuck you're doing, I guess it is alright, although you're a new player (perhaps will be the biggest loser in the Khmer history) in the game. However, if you still insist in foraying into political arena, first and foremost, I'd like to take your daughter to the Spark (or Rock) Club, or perhaps somewhere along the Mekong River, preferably.

Welcome to the XO-and-Blue club!
Certainly, the French and Scotch made us work even harder for our country (Cambodia).

Further, since your daughter completed her education in San Jose, California – now she can utilize her education to assist your political campaign.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Kem Sokha, Penn Sovann and the rest of his supporters:

Why Khmer are still stupid until today? If each of you keep create a political party like he did, you won't break the bone of Hun Sen. Why don't you join SRP instead. These people just want to be the top not bottom. That's why they create their own party. Whoever support this stupid people must be a nut too. Who dare to challenge Hun Sen every day and every where around the country? Only SRP.

Some people told me that Sam Rainsy is hard, stubborn person who doesn't listen to anybody. How do they know he is like that?. They just imitate other people to weakening him as a rumor. But I don't buy those comments.

Get Lost HRP.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT HIM ALL THE WAY TO DEFEAT CPP, RANARITH, HRP, AND THE REST OF THE PARTIES IN 2008.

Anonymous said...

I would disagree with some observers that the HRP is a puppet of CPP. By not joining the SRP, it does not mean that the HRP is created to weaken the SRP. On the other hand, I believe this new party is the long term strategy for weakening the CPP. For the 2008 election, regardless the SRP and the HRP merge together or not, there is still no chance to defeat the CPP. If one has a longer term vision, one would not consider the HRP as an obstacle for the SRP. At the present time, I think it is better of that the SRP and HRP are working separately. The HRP should be considered as a sub set that will recruit some people who are not belong to any political party. There has been long enough, but those people still not join the SRP. I can see the two party (SRP and HRP) eventually be merged, but at least after the 2008. There is still not too late to defeat the CPP in 2012. One the SRP and HRP merge, there will be a very strong force against the CPP. For example in Canada, the Liberal party is very strong. Before the election last year, there were two similar nature of political parties (Tories and PC). At the right time as the Liberal had some issue with financial scandal, when the Tories and PC merged, they defeat the Liberal easily.

Anonymous said...

Just don't vote for him. That is all, we have to do.

Mr. Sokha's popularity arises only from getting arrested about the band, he put up around the stadium crap.

Mr. Sam Rainsey may have somehow given the opportunity to this new party to be born by :

1. Got away with his prison term by agreeing to return to the country.

2. Gave way to Mr. Hun Sen by droping The Murderer's Lawsuit, he filed against Mr. Hun sen and won in New York.

Mr. Hun Sen had already lost the case when he did not show up at the court room the day he supposed to show up and defense himself and Mr. Rainsey could have nailed that criminal man down or exposed his murder cases world wide, but he did not.

That was his best chance to get the current government out of the picture one and for all.

So think carefully and why didn't Mr. Sam Rainsey stand his ground?

By all mean, Mr. Sam Rainsey is still the best man for the country.

( and to conving himself, the best man is his very own job. By the way, just so Mr. Sam Rainsey know that there are some people which knew his father's story still did not conving themself well, between him and the royal family) or how should a country come to a peaceful term and be properous when both sides seem to be under each other treat?

In my opion, Gave Mr. Sam Rainsey a chance. This is 2007 and will see after 4 or 5 years of his term. We can always vote him out.

Mr. Sokha is too green and good for nothing at this time.

Khmer Young said...

Hi Everybody,

I don't want to criticize Khmers and Khmers politicians because when I am doing so, it benefits only Yeaknam.

However, I cannot tolerate to clarify some changes in contemporary Cambodia politics. Especially, the bloc of democracy which is critically weakened by the rival of top positions to form political party.

It is only giving power and opportunity to Hun Sen when HRP is created.

HRP is implicitly serving the benefit of CPP. No body denies this. Ngoun Nhel, a prominent CPP's member also agreed with this thought.

HRP created and led by Khem Sokha has many untrue things that they have been lying the people:
1. The name of the party, Human Rights Party, appeared to confuse and weaken human rights NGOs in Cambodia.
2. In this world, no country has named political party as HRP. Doing so is illegal and plagiarism to UN's commission to proclaim human rights as non-political affiliated.
3. Khem Sokha lied that if we search internet, we can see many parties named HRP..but when I search I have seen non.
4. Khem Sokha lied that he is not president of HRP, people are the president...how can he do that? when democracy value the people but must have someone to represent them. What he said is just a propaganda, because no body can practise like he said...he tells us a lie.
5. It is undeniable that CPP is a big coffer to offer financial support to HRP. Doing so CPP can employ their members and create an alternative party for the need of change for young generation.
6. CPP supports HRP as much as possible in order to marginalize SRP from joining coalition when CPP cannot afford 50+1. This coming election 2008, CPP is surely hard to gain 50+1. Calculation from previous commune election shows that CPP will have hard time to find 50+1 to form its lonely government; and through present anti-attitude to SRP of Khem Sokha, we cannot assume that Sokha has true intention to join democratic party.
7. Only the boasting policy and propaganda of its leaders and defectors, we can see how good HRP can cheat and deceive Cambodian innocent people.

Now, only hope for democratic party is to join, rally and support SRP to overcome CPP and lead our coutry to the new age of change of globalitzation and information technology.

Whoever that are supporting HRP just in hope to have top positions because they have no hope to win and lead the country in next coming election. They are only supporting anti-democractic party.

I admire Rainsy for his stable attitude to this new fledgling party and has never said bad or ill talk to HRP....the maturity and intellect of Rainsy offers him an opportunity to become next Cambodian prime minister.

KY

Anonymous said...

No Way jose.Kem Sokha will help Sam Rainsy to win in 2008.Lots people don't like SRP they can vote for a new Party HRP.If they don't have 3rd Party(HRP),people will vote for CPP or Funcunpec.So what do you think that HRP will steal the votes from Sam Rainsy.Come on relaxed and concentrated on your Campaign.When SR lunch a Cheat Khmer Party,he steal all votes from funcunpec any way.Don't blame some once steal vote from you ,you should blame yourseft.That is a democratic way.SR should work twice harder to control his people.

Anonymous said...

2:03 AM,

I agree with you 120%.

Wild Tiger

Anonymous said...

HRP is not the independant party
because we know very well two new
members of HRP is that :

- Mr Chan Ven (he is CPP member and
was Minister of Education during
Youn domination in Cambodia 1979-1989).

-Mr Pen Sovann is always Youn spy
(he is released by Youn Hanoi in
1992 after 10years in jail at his
house in Hanoi)

Chan Ven and Pen Sovann (has youn wife) are Youn
servant and Youn spy. They also
belong to CPP (Communist Pro youn Party).

Mr Kem Sokha had tendance to
CPP(Communist Pro youn Party) too

So HRP is not really an independant
party or really brings Democracy to
Cambodia people

Yeah, IRI brings democracy to Cambodia
People. But not Kem Sokha.

Anonymous said...

how is Kong Korm of SRP? He held a few ministries post from 1979 - 90. He is very closed camarad of Hun Sen. Even Hun Sen admitted that a while ago.

Keo Ramy, the most well respected outspoken MP of SRP left SRP to joint HRP. What does it tell you about the leadership of SR?

Khem Sokha is educated mostly in Srok khmer, he knows what khmer need to move forward. So be quite! HRP is not a threat to SRP. CPP is.

Anonymous said...

All the supporters of CPP will not vote for HRP. But Somer supporters of SRP will vote for HRP. For, the Kem Sokha's party is to help the CPP to win the election easily in 2008.

To sumup, HRP is the puppet od CPP, and the real boss is AH HUN SEN.

Anonymous said...

Kem Sokha is a good speaker on Human Right bu he is not a competent and and a charismatic politician. He will lose the next Eection.

Anonymous said...

Kem Sokha is just another retarded loser! he's not going to get/steal any significant votes from anybody (either SRP or CPP).. Rest your mind folds and accept the fact, CPP will still rule Cambodia at least for the next decade..