F’pec raises its white flag before the 2008 election even starts

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Doeum Ampil (Tamarind tree) newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A high-ranking Funcinpec official indicated that this party, which used to sweep the election in 1993, may not have the opportunity to participate in the 4th mandate government anymore, following the upcoming 2008 election.

This issue was raised by Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, on 22 January 2008, at the party headquarters during a training about internal rules and regulations for the election of parliamentarians for the 4th mandate.

Addressing 146 Funcinpec party members who participated in the training session, Nhiek Bun Chhay said that: “It seems that we will not be able to participate in the 4th mandate government, unlike what Funcinpec used to be in the coalition government during the past 3 mandates.”

Nhiek Bun Chhay added: “Because of the amendment to the constitution, Funcinpec’s opportunity keeps on shrinking.” Nhiek Bun Chhay explained to his party members that, even though Funcinpec win some seats at the National Assembly, this party seems to have only a slim opportunity because the CPP can form the government by itself, without the participation of Funcinpec, unlike what had happened in the past.

Furthermore, Nhiek Bun Chhay reminded one more time to Funcinpec party members, in particular the party high-ranking officials, to visit often the grass root, in order to understand the difficulties faced by party members, and to resolve these difficulties. He also criticized high-ranking party officials who remained cooped up in their air-conditioned office, looking only after their own wellbeing, and not being concerned with the wellbeing of party members at the grass root levels.

Nhiek Bun Chhay recognized the lacking and the shortcoming of the party women and youth movements, saying that these two movements have no activity whatsoever. He pointed out the party women and youth movements only have heads, and there are only a few people in the party leading these movements, but that these movements don’t have a body, in summary, there is no real force at the local levels at all.

Prime minister Hun Sen told reporters, last week, in front of the National Assembly, that he is reminding Funcinpec to work to their utmost during the upcoming 2008 election, in order to maintain their partnership in the coalition government with the CPP in the future.

Hun Sen also warned Funcinpec – which belongs to Keo Puth Rasmei, Lu Laysreng and Nhiek Bun Chhay – that it must do its utmost, otherwise, Funcinpec will not be able to participate in the government led by the CPP, if Funcinpec cannot obtain at least one seat at the National Assembly.

Nhiek Bun Chhay’s points raised, during the 2-day seminar to train Funcinpec trainers, show the party’s ability to compete with other political parties during the upcoming 4th legislative mandate.