On the air wave: Sam Rainsy (L) and Kem Sokha (R) (Photo: VOA)Click here to listen to SRP Daily Program
Click here to listen to Sambok Khmum (Beehive) Daily Program
Click here to listen to FM93.5 Daily Program
Click here to listen to Sambok Khmum (Beehive) Daily Program
Click here to listen to FM93.5 Daily Program
By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 March 2008
To listen regularly to local radio is to hear at least five potential political parties broadcasting their aims and platforms, in a bid to gain the confidence of voters ahead of July's general elections.
These broadcasts have been even more robust than in previous elections, and, political observers note, show that Cambodia's parties are trying to win voters over in a pre-campaign campaign.
In the airshows of rented space of Beehive Radio and FM93.5, the Human Rights Party, led by former activist Kem Sokha, presents to listeners key platforms: the party's aim to build a true democracy, eradicate totalitarianism, establish a society of justice, and fight corruption and injustice.
Also over the airwaves comes the Voice of Royalism, a special program by the Norodom Ranariddh Party, which splintered from the traditional royalists, Funcinpec, in 2006, and is led by the son of former king Norodom Sihanouk.
The Voice of Royalism attacks the ruling party and raises sensitive issues such as inflation. The program accuses the ruling Cambodian People's Party of instigating inflation and purposely provoking problems for the country, such as border issues and illegal immigration.
As the program calls attention to royalist leanings, Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is the vice president of the CPP, has said his party remains a supporter and protector of Cambodia's royal tradition.
"We make an effort to protect royalism, and the CPP supports totally the royal institutions and the king," Hun Sen said in a radio address earlier this month.
Funcinpec, meanwhile, promotes itself for helping the reconstruction of the country, as a coalition party to CPP.
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party, broadcasting on FM105 and FM93.5, allows listeners to call in and discuss their woes.
Such broadcasting activity is not banned by election law, said Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee.
"There are no laws to prevent this liberty, except during the campaign period, when the election law limits some political activity," he said.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, agreed.
However, he said, the broadcast space rented by competing parties is little when compared with the media supporting the ruling party.
These broadcasts have been even more robust than in previous elections, and, political observers note, show that Cambodia's parties are trying to win voters over in a pre-campaign campaign.
In the airshows of rented space of Beehive Radio and FM93.5, the Human Rights Party, led by former activist Kem Sokha, presents to listeners key platforms: the party's aim to build a true democracy, eradicate totalitarianism, establish a society of justice, and fight corruption and injustice.
Also over the airwaves comes the Voice of Royalism, a special program by the Norodom Ranariddh Party, which splintered from the traditional royalists, Funcinpec, in 2006, and is led by the son of former king Norodom Sihanouk.
The Voice of Royalism attacks the ruling party and raises sensitive issues such as inflation. The program accuses the ruling Cambodian People's Party of instigating inflation and purposely provoking problems for the country, such as border issues and illegal immigration.
As the program calls attention to royalist leanings, Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is the vice president of the CPP, has said his party remains a supporter and protector of Cambodia's royal tradition.
"We make an effort to protect royalism, and the CPP supports totally the royal institutions and the king," Hun Sen said in a radio address earlier this month.
Funcinpec, meanwhile, promotes itself for helping the reconstruction of the country, as a coalition party to CPP.
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party, broadcasting on FM105 and FM93.5, allows listeners to call in and discuss their woes.
Such broadcasting activity is not banned by election law, said Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee.
"There are no laws to prevent this liberty, except during the campaign period, when the election law limits some political activity," he said.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, agreed.
However, he said, the broadcast space rented by competing parties is little when compared with the media supporting the ruling party.
5 comments:
The CPP's confidence has grown to the extent that it has no problem in allowing radio broadcast by oppositions.
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These broadcasts have been even more robust than in previous elections.
Thought people complained about frededom of expression.
the party's [HRP] aim to build a true democracy, eradicate totalitarianism, establish a society of justice, and fight corruption and injustice.
Good platform and policies but wondering what Mr. Kem would do when there is a need for martial law which can be trnaslated as Totalitarianism.
The Voice of Royalism attacks the ruling party and raises sensitive issues such as inflation.
Out of touch as people around the world are currently sufferings and trying hard to stretch their hard earn cash to meet day end - issue where is existing long long ago and not just currently. Wondering, how Norodom Ranariddh Party will tackle the issue of inflation despites the fact that Cambodia is still accepting financial supports from donor countries to top up its annual budget. Will it be increment of taxes and levies for everything or will it be through any reserve funds should Cambodia have it?
US reserve bank has injected more funds than ever in order to avoid the country from going into recession and the stock market crash.
Australia reserve has hiked up the interest rates 7 times for the last 2 years in order to keep lid on inflation [mind you that inflation here is to do with over spending by people which main cause, high fuel price and foods].
thank you mr sam rainsy and others for your love and services for cambodia and her good people. may god bless you and you family.
Mr. Kem Sokha can fool a lot of people, including some bright individuals in the West, but he is not fooling this one.
He is himself under a pending corruption law-suit. If he is responsible and visionary, care about the danger his country if facing when it comes to territorial integrity, fighting corruption, human rights so on and so forth, he would not create a political party to split votes from Sam Rainsy. You can talk and dream as much as you want, but as long as, the CPP is in control of the government, your so-called "TRUE DEMOCRACY" is a big joke from the eyes of those who understand the country's priority. If you want change, and truly want change, then you would have swallow your personal ambition and work together with Sam Rainsy to corner Hun Sen to a point where you and the country can benefit. That would be something for a guy like me to look up too. You are not making sense, Mr. Kem Sokha. You are indirectly, like or not, working to benefit your old boss, Mr. Hun Sen.
If I were you, I would do the honourable thing. Here what you should do. Come out and declare to the public that you care enough about your country, and you are placing your own personal interest for the interests of the people and the nation by working together with Sam Rainsy to win this election. Then, you have a much better chance of advancing your idealistic view. Democracy in Cambodia is young, and it needs times and patiences to perfect it. Be real and be credible for the potential you have in yourself as a future leader of this country.
Until I see such thing, you are not fooling me.
Pete
Where does "True Democracy" exist, on Planet of the Ape?
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