10th March 2008By Mao Sotheany
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer to English by Khmerization
Prime ministerial candidate of the Human Right Party said that the immediate rejection from Prime Minister Hun Sen toward his proposal to the National Election Committee (NEC) for it to organise a face to face televised debate is an insult to the efforts of a national electoral institution to promote democracy.
Mr. Kem Sokha, who is also the president of the Human Right Party said that Mr. Hun Sen’s declaration of rejection on Saturday to his proposal to the NEC is a threat and an interference to NEC.
Mr Kem Sokha said: “First I would like him to support that debate because it is important for the promotion of democracy, promotion of the value of the electoral process and to provide a better opportunity for the people. But whether he will participate or not is up to him. But I would like to stress that, in his capacity as the prime minister who used to say that he wants to promote democracy, I want to see him support that idea first. Secondly, then we can discuss in details about the formula for the debate. If he has hindered even before the NEC, which many people think is under the rein of the ruling party, gave its answer to the proposal, it will scare the NEC not to give the permission for the debate to take place. I did not ask the permission from anybody, I didn’t ask the prime minister, I only ask the NEC to organise the debate. When he is making a pre-emptive speech it is like he is trying to stop and to intimidate the NEC not to hold the debate.”
In relation to the proposal for the debate Prime Minister Hun Sen said that there is no need for the debate because he is not a good public speaker like Mr. Kem Sokha. But Mr. Hun Sen sarcastically responded by referring to the internal problems that have plagued the parties of other prime ministerial candidates like this: “I don’t need to participate in such a debate. Talking about the national reconciliation I have united everyone since the country was still divided. Now I have united everybody. Please just talk about yourselves, like: how can you achieve a national reconciliation because you can’t even govern your own little party and allow all your members to defect to other party? You can’t even govern a non-governmental organisation, the members are suing the chairman for corruption which caused the break up of that organisation. Someone can’t even govern his own family, one child go west, the other go east. It is like putting the crabs in a winnowing basket (the crabs will run everywhere). How can he govern a country with a multi-party system? Only me can do it. So I wish to send a message to His Excellency Kem Sokha to please spare me. You can say that I am scared of you. I am scared of you because you know how to speak better than me.”
Mr Kem Sokha said that such a reaction from Mr Hun Sen shows that he is not listening to other people’s ideas and only wants to rule the country by himself.
Mr Kem Sokha said: “He is a prime minister. It shows that he wants to rule the country by himself forever. He said he wanted to open to suggestions but there is no sign that he wants to further promote democracy. He doesn’t want to listen to anyone’s ideas. He just takes his own ideas only. Even those ideas, which did not compromise our national interests and the interests of the people, but are promoting democracy, he didn’t dare to accept them. In a democratic society, sometimes the ideas from the opposition parties are taken into accounts. This means that he (Hun Sen) is not open to receiving suggestions and ideas from other people.”
Mr. Kem Sokha, who is also the president of the Human Right Party said that Mr. Hun Sen’s declaration of rejection on Saturday to his proposal to the NEC is a threat and an interference to NEC.
Mr Kem Sokha said: “First I would like him to support that debate because it is important for the promotion of democracy, promotion of the value of the electoral process and to provide a better opportunity for the people. But whether he will participate or not is up to him. But I would like to stress that, in his capacity as the prime minister who used to say that he wants to promote democracy, I want to see him support that idea first. Secondly, then we can discuss in details about the formula for the debate. If he has hindered even before the NEC, which many people think is under the rein of the ruling party, gave its answer to the proposal, it will scare the NEC not to give the permission for the debate to take place. I did not ask the permission from anybody, I didn’t ask the prime minister, I only ask the NEC to organise the debate. When he is making a pre-emptive speech it is like he is trying to stop and to intimidate the NEC not to hold the debate.”
In relation to the proposal for the debate Prime Minister Hun Sen said that there is no need for the debate because he is not a good public speaker like Mr. Kem Sokha. But Mr. Hun Sen sarcastically responded by referring to the internal problems that have plagued the parties of other prime ministerial candidates like this: “I don’t need to participate in such a debate. Talking about the national reconciliation I have united everyone since the country was still divided. Now I have united everybody. Please just talk about yourselves, like: how can you achieve a national reconciliation because you can’t even govern your own little party and allow all your members to defect to other party? You can’t even govern a non-governmental organisation, the members are suing the chairman for corruption which caused the break up of that organisation. Someone can’t even govern his own family, one child go west, the other go east. It is like putting the crabs in a winnowing basket (the crabs will run everywhere). How can he govern a country with a multi-party system? Only me can do it. So I wish to send a message to His Excellency Kem Sokha to please spare me. You can say that I am scared of you. I am scared of you because you know how to speak better than me.”
Mr Kem Sokha said that such a reaction from Mr Hun Sen shows that he is not listening to other people’s ideas and only wants to rule the country by himself.
Mr Kem Sokha said: “He is a prime minister. It shows that he wants to rule the country by himself forever. He said he wanted to open to suggestions but there is no sign that he wants to further promote democracy. He doesn’t want to listen to anyone’s ideas. He just takes his own ideas only. Even those ideas, which did not compromise our national interests and the interests of the people, but are promoting democracy, he didn’t dare to accept them. In a democratic society, sometimes the ideas from the opposition parties are taken into accounts. This means that he (Hun Sen) is not open to receiving suggestions and ideas from other people.”
14 comments:
Hun Sen doesn't want to debate because he is scared that Rainsy or Kem Sokha might embarrass him by raising all of Hun Sen's failures like corruption, illegal logging, illegal immigration, land grabbing, border issues and maybe the murder of Pisith Pilika as well.
Does Kem Sokha take itself for that?
He is not happy for no political debate with him and accuses the Prime Minister of done obstacle to the Democracy? Does he pleased this clown?
The Khmer Democracy, this is what, Mr. Kem Sokha?
As the political former system corrupt archi and servant of the USA and handled by the CIA and that opened the way to the genocide of PoL Pot?
Lon Nol and his supporters that hunt to the others opposing political in 1970 to his khmer republic are said themselve also Democrats, recall you Mr Kem Sokha and be modest as new democrat to the balance of the USA.
Everyone knows that The CIA to Cambodia to day is recruiting new candidates for a new blow of State to the Cambodia in the name of the democracy and encourages the Cambodian ones such as you, sam rainsy, and other Ngo to practice Democracy of subversion.
Mr Kem Sokha, stop take Cambodian for stupid people!
Hey, people don't give a damn about democracy and shit. They just want jobs, jobs, jobs.
The debate should go on anyways without Hun Sen present.
Norodom Sihanouk said that the special penal court to judge the khmer red former leaders is useless and that it is more better to keep all this money to distribute to the poor ones of our country.
I am not agreed with his opinion.
For the debate and the court judgements can help the young khmer current generation to understand what had passed in our country 35 years ago when Pol Pot was in power.
But the public political debate with the Prime Minister Hun Sen for the legislative elections 2008 has no interest for the country. It is more better to keep all this spent money to prepare this debate to give to the poor ones of our country. is a lot better, isn't it Mr. Kem Sokha, you that know although the people does not always eat to his hunger?
Debate doesn't cost much money but will produce answers to the many unanswered questions. It is a form of sharing ideas as well. It will help in the deomocratization process in Cambodia- talking to each other rather than talking about each other.
Prime ministerial candidate of the Human Right Party said that the immediate rejection from Prime Minister Hun Sen toward his proposal to the National Election Committee (NEC) for it to organise a face to face televised debate is an insult to the efforts of a national electoral institution to promote democracy.
Don't think that the current debate between US Presidential candidates is organized by the politicians but the Media magnet that support each individual political party.
Even if last debate in Australia prior to the November 2007 election between the then PM John Howard and current PM Kevin Rudd was organized by the press not the rival political parties [also present at the debate the Treasure from both side were involving in debate re their policy on national economy].
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Mr Kem Sokha said: “First I would like him to support that debate because it is important for the promotion of democracy, promotion of the value of the electoral process and to provide a better opportunity for the people.
Quote: Debate is not about promote of democracy but about the policy of each individual party policy on many fronts in the best interest of the country and its people. It is not about the electoral process either, however would agree that it will serve as an eye opener for voters to decide who is the best candidate and PM to lead the country.
Point of view: This is the best possible way Mr. Kem had in his mind for this moment "Kill to 2 birds with one stone" - Using the debating platform to start his campaign without having to spend any funds toward the campaign itself. To re-introduce himself in political arena..
In any democratic country, debate is between the top 2 rival political parties "the Ruler party and Opposition Party" NOT all political parties are inviting to debate.
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But whether he will participate or not is up to him
Why bother to suggest in the 1st place.
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Secondly, then we can discuss in details about the formula for the debate
Most debate in democratic world, the political parties did not formulate the debate but the media, the people who attending the debate, the political editor are the people who ask question to the candidates about theirs party policy.
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Don't think Mr. Kem knew about the debate and the reason for the debate
Excellent analysis, mate (5:07); however, I like to add a couple things to that: that is this is not the west and we don't debate. Many of our leader are honest people. They don't know how to put down people (oppositions) with rhetorics, spin, and Euphemism like westerner do. Plus, many of them tend to get pissed at people who blown thing out of proportion -- also many debates in Asian's parliament had end up with fist fight because of accusation, LOL, and we don't want to see that on TV.
In any case, we are not westerner and we don't want to learn that type of conduct from westerner.
Furthermore, that is also the reason why westerner trained opposition have a hard time working with PM because of difference in moral value and format. They tend to offense us at almost everything they do as seen in various place here on KI media.
Debates in Autralia are not organised by the media, it was facilitated by the media. The debate was usually proposed by any candidate, not by the media, the media only transmit/televise the debate. The formula must be discussed and agreed by the debaters, though the analysts, journalsits are the ones who ask the question, can happen in Cambodia too. Mr Kem has the right to propose, it is up to Hun Sen to participate or not, if not debate can go on with other candidates, 2,,3 or 4 candidates can be done like in US Bush, Perot or Dukakis in 1988.
No way, candidates will never agree on anything. They are oppositions to each other with different view an all, remembers? you must have mediator, judge, referee, or third party involvement.
But HUN SEN owns the media in Cambodia. What is the point? HUN SEN owns almost everything. Why did he predict or guessing FUNCINPEC only have one seat because he can tell the NEC not to eliminate the voting names. But soon or later HUN SEN will walk away 1-He is old now. 2-He is full of $$ now. 3-He doesn't have time to have quality time with his family. 4-He got sick of same old crap.
Nope, the government only have a few media. The oppositions got the rest, which included hundreds newspapers and internet and KI media.
Where? Who? What? When? You kidding me? Oppositon got the rest? LOL!
Are you blind? right now you are on one of the opposition's media, dude.
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