Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Sam Rainsy: the request for a constitutional amendment and the call were made by a cornered Ranariddh

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On 23 October, opposition leader Sam Rainsy considered the new request from Prince Ranariddh regarding the amendment to the Constitution and the prince’s call for a union, as a cornered policy of the prince.

On 23 October, the NRP issued a press communiqué in which it stated that, in the goal and the desire to strengthen democracy in Cambodia, and to avoid political deadlock after future elections, Prince Ranariddh, NRP president, is pleased to send a letter dated 23 October 2007 to H.E. Sam Rainsy to request his support for a proposal to an amendment to Article 119 of the Constitution, by removing the limitation of the right to form a government only to the party which won the (majority in the) election. The prince’s proposed amendment would open the right to all parties which received seats the National Assembly to have the right to form a coalition in order to form a government.

Prince Ranariddh raised the fact that the amendment which led to the new Article 90 of the Constitution from the 2/3 majority of the National Assembly required to form the government is not sufficient and not correct to the democratic goal. Furthermore, the 50+1 formula is not sufficient to prevent any political deadlock which could occur in the upcoming election, because, in the event if there is not a single political party which obtained 50% of the National Assembly seats plus 1, this party needs to obtain the support from another political party to form a coalition government. Therefore, such scenario could lead to the same political deadlock.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who just arrived from abroad on Tuesday morning, said that he has not seen the prince’s letter yet. But, if the content of the letter is indeed as what was described to him, the prince’s call is not different from what the SRP and other democrats want, i.e. a large unity. He added that there is no need for the prince to undertake this action as the SRP is thinking about this issue for a long time already.

At the same time, Sam Rainsy called the request made by Prince Ranariddh as “a cornered situation (for the prince)”. He said that, in his name as the President of the National Assembly, when the prince was wielding a lot power in the legislation, if the prince had good ideas since the beginning, he should have introduced all these amendments at that time, and he wouldn’t have to wait to ask someone else to undertake this.

Sam Rainsy also took the opportunity to criticize the prince’s past when he pulled himself out of the Alliance of Democrats which included the SRP, and the prince went on to join the CPP to form the government instead. Sam Rainsy said that the prince’s past action removes the trust placed in him by others.

Sam Rainsy who just returned back home on 23 October, spent 2 weeks abroad, in European countries, such as France, Sweden, Norway, Germany, etc… in order to seek for financial and material support from local SRP chapters.
------
Article 90- New (As amended March 1999):
The National Assembly is the only an organ which has legislative power, and performs its duties as provided for in the constitution and laws.

This power shall not be transferable to any other organ or individual.

The National Assembly shall approve the national budget, State planning, loans, financial contracts, and the creation, modification and annulment of tax.

The National Assembly shall approve administration accounts.

The National Assembly shall adopt the law on the general amnesty.

The National Assembly shall adopt or repeal treaties and International Convention.

The National Assembly shall adopt the law on proclamation of war.

The adoption of the above clauses shall be done by the absolute majority of all members of the entire National Assembly membership.

The National Assembly shall pass a vote of confidence in the Royal Government by a two-third majority of all members of the entire National Assembly membership.

Article 119- New (Previously Article 100):
At the recommendation of the Chairman and with the agreement of both the Vice-Chairmen of the National Assembly, the King shall designate a dignitary from among the representatives of the winning party to form the Royal Government. This designated representative along with other members chosen from the political parties or represented in the National Assembly, then present themselves to the National Assembly to ask for a vote of confidence.

After the National Assembly has given its vote of confidence, the King shall issue a Royal Decree (Kret) appointing the entire Council of Ministers.

Before taking office, the Council of Ministers shall take an oath as stipulated in Annex 6.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ranarith is so so laughable, Ranarith is Muk Krass, Muk Krass
Muk Krass Doch Sbek Ko, Mukrass Doch Sbek Krabey !!!!
This imlies the so-called real Royalists!!!!!

Excellency General Bandit Achar Knoy- Phd. from Chea Chamroeurn Unversity PP, Specialised in Banditism

Anonymous said...

Bravo the formula 50+1 is Rainsy genius idea.Now what's the matter with it?

All know,if real good citizen proposes somehting to the Parliament for action for example the removal of Sihanouk protection from prosecution for life,Mr.Rainsy was numbed about it.Why would he listens to a criminal to start with?

Chomness wia chiss kor aeng,your Excellency.

Anonymous said...

Okay, 4:00, since we are playing the Sam Rainsy's (50%+1) game, I hope you don't cry too much when you still lost. FYI, We are just so gifted that we can beat anyone on their own game, comprendre?

Anonymous said...

Where is the suffering and the Vietnamization in this equation?

Anonymous said...

Vietnamization = zero suffering = many jobs = happy khmers = ... = full freedom.