November 07, 2007Following the publication of the article titled "SRP To Submit Draft Law Limiting PM to 1 Term" (The Cambodia Daily, Monday, page 23), I would like to make the following comments:
1. The limit of two terms for Prime Minister was approved by the 3rd Ordinary Congress of the Sam Rainsy Party on 28-29 March 2003 as part of our political platform entitled “100 Measures to be Implemented by a Sam Rainsy Party Government” (Measure 12: Limiting a mandate for file Office of Prime Minister to a maximum of two terms, or 10 years under any circumstances).
So the decision to discuss in the next days, a possible furthering of this measure has nothing to do with "months of criticism" by whomever as the article says. On the contrary, it is consistent with debates that my colleagues have been having for many years, and as early as the Party inception in November 1995. I was among the ones who advocated one-term limit, some were against any limit at all, others were in favor of three terms. In March 2003, the majority decided for a two-term limit. In November 2007, we may decide for a one-term limit.
2. The Party internal reform was debated from August to December 2004 and the final decision announced to the Party network at a meeting held at World Vision on 10 December 2004. We started the internal reform process years ago.
3. There is a huge difference between the mandates of the head of the executive branch and the head of a political party. The former very legitimately exerts State power, whether financial, economic, administrative, military, police, with the danger that he cannot resist the temptation to either abuse his power or stay forever in power.
We need to limit this danger, by institutionalizing checks and balances such as separation of powers, independent judiciary, parliamentary oversight, role of the opposition, etc—and limit terms.
The head of a political party has none of the powers of a government head. He does not spend tax payers' money, has no armed forces, no right to dispose of national riches, no possibility to make decisions with long-term consequences. He does not receive any salary paid out of public funds nor can he use State means to reach his goals.
On the contrary, he uses his and other volunteers' own funds, time and means to voluntarily engage in an activity aimed at changing the way his society is ruled: by virtue of which principle should he be limited to pursue such an activity?
All of us in the Sam Rainsy Party are volunteers who share the same vision of a new society founded on social justice, rule of law and good governance. If they are not satisfied with their leaders, nobody can force them to remain under these leaders and continue to donate their time, money, efforts. Whereas a Cambodian who is not happy with his prime minister must remain under his rule, at least up until the end of his term, hence the need for term limit.
4. Amalgamating the organizational principles of a State with those of a grouping formed by the free and voluntary acceptance of private rules shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental rudiments of democracy.
Tioulong Saumura
SRP Leader of Banteay Meanchey Province
1. The limit of two terms for Prime Minister was approved by the 3rd Ordinary Congress of the Sam Rainsy Party on 28-29 March 2003 as part of our political platform entitled “100 Measures to be Implemented by a Sam Rainsy Party Government” (Measure 12: Limiting a mandate for file Office of Prime Minister to a maximum of two terms, or 10 years under any circumstances).
So the decision to discuss in the next days, a possible furthering of this measure has nothing to do with "months of criticism" by whomever as the article says. On the contrary, it is consistent with debates that my colleagues have been having for many years, and as early as the Party inception in November 1995. I was among the ones who advocated one-term limit, some were against any limit at all, others were in favor of three terms. In March 2003, the majority decided for a two-term limit. In November 2007, we may decide for a one-term limit.
2. The Party internal reform was debated from August to December 2004 and the final decision announced to the Party network at a meeting held at World Vision on 10 December 2004. We started the internal reform process years ago.
3. There is a huge difference between the mandates of the head of the executive branch and the head of a political party. The former very legitimately exerts State power, whether financial, economic, administrative, military, police, with the danger that he cannot resist the temptation to either abuse his power or stay forever in power.
We need to limit this danger, by institutionalizing checks and balances such as separation of powers, independent judiciary, parliamentary oversight, role of the opposition, etc—and limit terms.
The head of a political party has none of the powers of a government head. He does not spend tax payers' money, has no armed forces, no right to dispose of national riches, no possibility to make decisions with long-term consequences. He does not receive any salary paid out of public funds nor can he use State means to reach his goals.
On the contrary, he uses his and other volunteers' own funds, time and means to voluntarily engage in an activity aimed at changing the way his society is ruled: by virtue of which principle should he be limited to pursue such an activity?
All of us in the Sam Rainsy Party are volunteers who share the same vision of a new society founded on social justice, rule of law and good governance. If they are not satisfied with their leaders, nobody can force them to remain under these leaders and continue to donate their time, money, efforts. Whereas a Cambodian who is not happy with his prime minister must remain under his rule, at least up until the end of his term, hence the need for term limit.
4. Amalgamating the organizational principles of a State with those of a grouping formed by the free and voluntary acceptance of private rules shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental rudiments of democracy.
Tioulong Saumura
SRP Leader of Banteay Meanchey Province
30 comments:
Great job Saumura. I am appreciate with your brilliant intellectual to rationalize the vision behind one term PM limited.
One essential thing for current Cambodia is the crucial solution by limiting PM mandate. One or two terms, must be an open debate in the parliament as well as in the public. PM without term limiting is a stupid political system. And furthermore, it brings only worse and worse to the nation.
CPP has to pay attention in an fundamental consensus to have limited PM. Doing so, CPP is regarded as the good model for younger generation of Cambodia.
KY
I vote for two terms.
Moiselle Saumura,
For some reasons you look much taller and more handsome than your father and husband in person.
I don't know if you had any memory of the old party leaders included your father's and father in law's internal rules.
From seeing and living through the 50 and up in Cambodia that's how party started first as a volunteered entity and paid own money to keep it alive and well for example Pact Communist Kampuchea founded in 1960 in Nom Penh. Saloth Sar was nowhere to be its President but you can see how it evolved to point that three million dead under the auspice of his Highness the Communist Prince Sihanouk,the Head of Sangkoum Reastra Youm.He has been Head all the times until he left FUNCINPEC right before your husband started a new venture of SRP. Your argument is still needing cosmetics and liposuction.
I like the idea that you are defending your loved one,the SRP only President.Regretfully you haven't had no idea of the real sense of political party from the past.I guessed you were not in Cambodge much during the tough time to understand all.
One term or three term makes no progress in Cambodia since Sihanouk started the culture of Moi c'est l'etat back in 1955.
One thing may help you to redeem your volunteered entreprise SRP Limited Co,if you would stand in for its Presidency then Prime Ministership in 2008 election.Sam Raingsy lucky charm is runnig out with Eng Chhay Eang since,if you would see ahead.
Honestly you may be the redeemer for SRP or preferrably a new name. Try it to see what I said here. Noenetheless good luck to you and I share your mental pains.
Chhim from Khbaal khmoch in old Battambang
Hi ! 3:20AM
First it's not Nom Penh like your fellow viets pronounce, it is Phnom which means mountain.
You know you are a very dirty and coward person.
Any human don't attack political opponant by talking dirty about their loved one such as husband, children or parent. Do you have parent, husband or children yourself? what would you answer if someone says your grandfather makes love to your mother ?
I guess you do not have Hitler's blood so you do not have to try to have animal brain like this. You could try to be normal.
Thanks
I think one term or two terms are the same as long as it's not three terms or more. U.S. has 2 terms which make 8 years max. Philippine has one term of 5 years.
I agree with the fact that party leader could stay as long as he or she could; with condition of party's election of confidence every X years. I mean the guy did not start the job of head of state yet and you tell him no you are not good enough. Let the person show what he could first.
To Ms. Tioulong Saumura,
From your photo, I can see that you defy your age. You are still pretty. This is the reason why your Secretary-General has a crush on you. It's good, huh!
Referring to premiership term limit, I vote for two terms. Definitely not one. If you sticked to ONE term limit, it would be good for the SRP only to hypocritically target Hun Sen. This lackey of Hanoi has thus far a real intention not only to harm your husband and the SRP. He has actually sold Cambodia and her people to Vietnam. In one word, Hun Sen is a traitor. Nevertheless, to draft a bill to avenge Hun Sen soon after you realize that your husband, your party and yourself cannot make the slightest dent to this tyrant and his power base the CPP is definitely unacceptable.
Your husband, your party and yourself may say back to KI-Media visitors or me that you guys couldn't care less. This one term limit is carved in your so-called '100 measures', so be it. That's fine with me. By the same token, you should not be offended when I say that the SRP is getting nowhere because its president, Mr. Sam Rainsy, has voluntarily made himself Hun Sen's political hostage since he retracted his words from steadfastly accusing Hun Sen of being the mastermind of the infamous March 30, 1997, grenade attacks before he eventually begged the tyrant for forgiveness, hence for re-entering Cambodia in early February 2006. For your information, Mr. Kem Sokha, too, is Hun Sen's political hostage because of the infamous corruption lawsuit.
Ms. Tioulong Saumura,
Please be reminded of one more thing. Your husband and you used to place yourselves on the top of the world. You look down on everybody else. You are such arrogant animals. You are the most stubborn politicians the world has ever known. You don't give a damn about Cambodia and her people. You only care about your own interest and image. Yet, both of you dare compare yourselves to either Nelson Mandela or the Nobel laureate Ms. Uang San Suu Kyi, the Burmese Opposition leader. Do you know what? You guys can't even be conpared to ONE SINGLE STRAND OF Ms. AUNG SAN SUU KYI's pubic hair. Comprende!
Calm down 413am,
Please read it slowly,so your blood veins won't burst. I saw a man made dirt hill but no Phnom in Nom Penh.
So you speak Viet and like Hitler too,huh?
Saumura is a lovely person why would you say that to effend her?
You, bad boy.
Hey, srok khmer is for real Khmer wills and vision only, and virtually all real Khmer want our country to be as strong as it possibly can, and you can't do this by mandating our best leader to step down and fagot to step up, no can do. We (Khmer) want no term limit. If someone wants to lead, they must truly be better than our incumbent leader without cheating or deceiving the people; that is the only way to reach the brightest future.
what ever it is. i support you.
651am,
When were you born?After January 7,possibly may be that's why you have singular vision like Hun Sen.
You don't know what strong mean,do you?
Hun Sen is not strong he's fearful of his own shadow every day.
2000 bogy guards armed to the teeth,that you called real Khmer and strong?
Dare him to go to barber shop alone?
7:57, there are no democracy country that I know off have term limit for PM. Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore for over 30 years, and Singapore did not crumble, although they never was as poor as us. The UK has no term limit. French might not have term limit (but I am not certain). All the countries that used term limit are weak and divided, and why would anyone wants that crap? What we need right now is unity and strength, and you know it.
correction: ... Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore was PM for over 30 years, ...
French educated does worth more than the Vietnamese educated. This is clearly an intelligent move to introduce to the NEC. He is being scared of being ousted from his current seat!
How can that be? the French got their asses kicked out of Vietnam by Vietnamese. Don't go by toilet paper, dude. Stick to fact, will ya?
838am<=>840am,
Lee Kuan Yew was Mao lackey and dictator.Singapore is Hong Kong number 2 perpetuated by England Crown in 1965 with a single party ruling.
Since 1840,Cambodia has been held hostage by Siam puppet Ang Daung.He was no better than PRK 3 Samdach stooges. Then France ruled and made Norodom its a Napoleonic puppet king for Cambodia.Chess King Sihanouk oppressed Cambodia with singular handed party since 55.This is where Hun Sen gets Sihanouk by the balls in every single time when the Chess king tried to make a move.
All Cambodia puppet rulers never accept any limit until blood spilled and orphans ruled nation.
In this does anyone knows for whatever reasons,SRP is Chess king Sihanouk's left rogue and FUNCINPEC is the right rogue.
Term limit argument here is a false pretent to get to the driver seat for Sihanouk final game.But you see Hun Sen is gungle smart and ruthless survivor who puts fear in Sihanouk heart daily.
Term limit should be done since 1993, but we missed that chance and allow one man to rule the country for his life time. We support the one or two ideas, but the CPP which holds most of the seats in the parliament will not want to make any change when it see arsion of its power.
Honestly! I don't give a fuck about one term or two terms and if the mother fucker can't do the fucken job and he should be out right away! There is no time to learn on the fucken job! The fucken decisions are made which can cost Cambodian people in million and million of dollars and signing of any treaties which can cost Cambodian sovereignty!
I still like the opposition!
To Mr. Hean Kong,
Your comment is not a constructive criticism, but it is full of malice, hatred, and revenge. Ms. Samura and her husband deserve better treatment than what you had said. Based on our close observation, this couple is honest and hard working for our nation and people. So we should continue to support their struggle to find justice and national independence for our country. We regret to see many comments on the KI,that lack of fair judgement and wisdom.
"Singapore is Hong Kong number 2 perpetuated by England Crown in 1965 with a single party ruling." -- 4:28
True, but Cambodia was also perpetuated by the French Crown in 1954. However, they failed big time.
Don't be stupid, 1:52. We don't go by how hard people work, bu how smart they work and accomplished things from Cambodia. And Ms. Samura and her husband accomplished shits for Cambodia. They are only working hard to make Cambodia suffered more and more.
719am,
You are almost there.
Do you know who is the cause of the failures?Who punished Cambodia since?
Isn't it obvious, 8:21, that Ah Sam Rainsy have tried to make people suffer from day1? Remember the boycott for a year in the last election? He wanted the economy to collapse and people to drop dead left and right. He even called for the international community to put economic sanction against Cambodia so that people will up rise against their government. Thus, the answer to your question is the people who have been punished and abused by the westerner trained idiot (Sam Rainsy) for his political gain. Am I wrong?
To 1:52AM from me KONG Hean,
My comment may not be so constructive as you want it to be because I have to admit that I don't know what constructive means according to your dictionary. But to say that my comment is full of malice, hatred and revenge is ludicrous. As I have not joined any party in the past and at present time, I am not a politician and I will never be. I am such a poor family man struggling every single day to make ends meet.
Frankly speaking, I can't see any reason whereby I should cause harm to either Mr. & Mrs. Sam Rainsy or the SRP let alone hate them or take revenge on them. For what? And what did they do to me?
If you cared to launch an opinion poll among knowledgeable people as old as Mr. Sam Rainsy or older, you would gather very similar comments to mine. I hate to point out the obvious. But can you tell me why the seven SRP MPS deserted the SRP and joined the Funcinpec party only one month before the 2003 election campaign was due to start. And then the case of Mr. Phy Thach? The case of Dr. Kim Vien? The case of Senator Ou Bun Long? And now the case of Mr. Keo Remy? Just to name a few, my friend. There must be something wrong either within the SRP or from the very top whether you want to admit it or not. There would be no smoke if there was no fire.
Having said that, it doesn't really mean that I don't know how to make myself constructive for Mr. & Mrs. Sam Rainsy and the SRP. I know, I really do. I just empty my wallet for them without saying a word and without taking even care of the welfare of my own family and myself. That's constrctive!!!
1050am,
Thus, the answer to your question is the people who have been punished and abused by the westerner trained idiot (Sam Rainsy) for his political gain. Am I wrong?
So what is your right answer?
Thank Mr. Kong for your detail explanation. Honestly I'm not neither a SRP member nor a its spokeman; I am only a compatriot like you. But I care and consern about our motherland which is under the rule of a dictator and foreign interference. And it is hard to find any good leadership and best organized forces to save our nation from the danger of extinction. Prince Ranaridh, Prince Tomaco, Mr. Kem Sokha, Keo Ramey ... none of them has a good leadership and ability to fight the corrupt regime. Mr. Sam Rainsey is not the best candidate to save our nation either but better than those people in term of leadership skills, education, vision for the future,and on his past and current experiences. I usually see Mr. Sam Ransey with our people whenever they have problems and suffer from an unjusted actions of the corrupt regime-- land grabbing, forcible evictions, labor conflicts, border inchroachemnt, voting registration deforestration, and so forth. So I appreciate his tirelessly hardworks, courageousness, and skillful leadership in dealing with all of these constand problems. I agree with you that many SRP members who had defected to other parties had strongly criticized Rainsey's leadership for unfairness and undemocratic principle. But most of them put their personal interest above party and country's interests. When they did not see their name on the top list on the ballots, they felt that their chance to be elected was slim, so they turned against their leadership for unfair selection or favor one over others. But the party has the policy to put candidates on the top list based on their merit and job performent. So to earn the top list, every candidate has to work hard for the party and their constituents. Other reason for defecting is caused by outside party interference. the Ruling Party has used all its means and tricks in order to destroy the opposition party which poses a great thread to its power. To achieve this goal, they used money, materialism, and promised job title in the government to lure selfish-minded party members to defect or to create other party in order to cofuse the voters such as Kong Money, Gnourn Soeur, and so on. Other simple reason is because SRP is a democratic and transparent party; any body can come in or go out based on their own judgement without fear of reprisal. So based on his backgrounds and my own judgement, Mr.Sam Rainsey deserves to get credit and apprciation rather than rebuke or criticism. However, Mr. Sam Ransey is not the only chosen candidate; we are looking for the best to save our nation. Any administration that could replace the current regime would be more acceptable. But it is a long and dificult struggle to wind and require more and more sacrified lives. And the only path to victory for our nation if all Khmers can unify in a single force or alliance.
To 1:52AM or 12:08AM from me KONG Hean,
Thank you for your prompt reply. You are such a gentleman, responsible for what you've said and would be responsible for what you'd do, I guess. Nowadays, gentleness, kindness and the sense of responsibility are in a very short supply.
Let me go straight to the biggest problem Cambodia is facing right now. In fact, Cambodia has been already conquered, dominated, engulfed and annexed by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, his son King Norodom Sihamoni and his adopted son Prime Minister Hun Sen conspired to tearing to shreds the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements by adopting and officially endorsing on 30 November 2005 the infamous and illegal supplemental treaty to the 4 treacherous treaties Heng Samrin and Hun Sen signed in 1979, 1982, 1983 and 1985 to cede a lot of Khmer lands to Vietnam. If Cambodia can be compared to a human body, this so unfortunate historical reality can be compared to a terminal cancer. Would you prescribe or use paracetamol like the HRP of Mr. Kem Sokha or antibiotics like the SRP of Mr. Sam Rainsy to treat terminal cancer? No way, my friend. This fatal health condition needs either risky operations or the strongest chimotherapy available, period.
Therefore, the only solution left for our fellow countrymen to salvage our sinking ship Cambodia is PEOPLE POWER. In the last 3 national elections, we've had around 40 political parties competing each other for votes. Let's assume against the reality on the grounds that, except the CPP, all the other 39 parties firmly unite to beat Hun Sen. We still will not win taking account of all the tricks and traps set up by the CPP and its masters in Hanoi. So why would you bother supporting Funcinpec, NRP, SRP, HRP or whatever-P? For what? For delaying the opportunity of salvaging our poor motherland Cambodia from the brink of being wiped out of the World's map? And by the process for being dubbed as traitors to our own blood and race like Hun Sen and his CPP? No!
Right now, I am challenging Norodom Ranariddh, Norodom Chakrapong, Sisowath Thomico, Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, Keo Puth Rasmey, Nhiek Bun Chhay and all the leaders of other 39 parties to call in unison for PEOPLE POWER, THE ONLY SOLUTION AND HOPE LEFT FOR THE ENTIRE KHMER RACE TO REDEEM ITS DIGNITY AND HONOUR. FAILING TO DO SO IS TANTAMOUNT TO COLLUDING WITH THE TRAITOR HUN SEN FOR A SHARE OF POWER AND WEALTH IN THE OCEAN OF SUFFERING AND TEARS OF KHMER POPLE!!!
Sincerely yours,
KONG Hean
BLog URL:
www.save-cambodia.blogspot.com
12:08, no one is tampering with the SRP. The bottom line is they have accomplished nothing for Cambodia but to cause it suffering by effecting the Khmer economy. Their terrorist method of getting power by making people suffering will never work. It is 100% evil.
Furthermore, the CPP is not unbreakable because they are not the most experience politician in the region. The fact that the SRP can't hacked the CPP simply shows that they are not good enough, and we don't want loser to run Cambodia. Get it?
We can beat Hun Sen and CPP still. The only way to do is to come together by placing our nation's interests above our petty politics. We should employ the same strategy as the resistant movements did back in the 80s and 90s. I am not talking militarily here, but rather looking and challenging our adversary the same way we did back then. Come together democrats and let make some deals to get back our country before it is too late. Forget the Funcinpec because they already in CPP. It won't do us any good. There are plenty of posts, does it have to be a prime minister?
10:55AM
You must know the winning one. Who would it be? You or anyone else?
Please do not tell me that Kem Sokha is going to do better than Sam Rainsy. It is a big shoe to fill to get all those seats in the National Assembly. Hopefully, he will gather enough supports to win a seat for himself. Either way, Hun Sen has probably promised him a post already for trying to take away votes from Sam Rainsy. He plays the Viet's game. Not too admirable from my point of view.
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