Tuesday, April 22, 2008By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
The Human Rights Party (HRP) declared on Tuesday 22 April, during a press conference, that it is still open to a unification of democrats.
In front of reporters and party members, Kem Sokha seemed to be saying that the HRP is the only party wishing for a union of the parties. “Prince Norodom Ranariddh from the party bearing his name, cannot return to the country yet, and the Sam Rainsy Party still closes its door to others,” he argued.
If the HRP repeats it willingness to unite the democratic forces for an election strategy, it still imposes some conditions. “The HRP leaders are ready to negotiate face to face with Prince Ranariddh at his return. And, even if Sam Rainsy brushed off on many occasions, the possibility of a union between our two parties, the HRP is still ready to welcome it,” Kem Sokha declared.
Some are puzzled about this announcement made five days from the registration of political parties for the upcoming election. Kem Sokha replied: “We have no more time. We are taking the lead by announcing our position. And we are engaging other democrat parties to hurry up. After the registration, we will no longer be able to talk about the fusion.”
During the press conference, HRP leaders launched several appeals to Sam Rainsy and Prince Ranariddh to unite.
Reacting to this announcement, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, indicated that it was the Prince who was the first to call for an election unity, and that Kem Sokha was not in favor of such union in the beginning. “If Kem Sokha wants to talk to the prince, we will pay his travel expenses to Malaysia,” Muth Chantha added.
The SRP wants to emphasize on the union of party members at the base, before considering an alliance between party leaders. Furthermore, the SRP explained that it is only about 10 years old, and that it does not need an alliance with other parties yet. Finally, the SRP estimated that the latest election results “proved that there are currently two major parties in Cambodia: the SRP and the CPP.”
In front of reporters and party members, Kem Sokha seemed to be saying that the HRP is the only party wishing for a union of the parties. “Prince Norodom Ranariddh from the party bearing his name, cannot return to the country yet, and the Sam Rainsy Party still closes its door to others,” he argued.
If the HRP repeats it willingness to unite the democratic forces for an election strategy, it still imposes some conditions. “The HRP leaders are ready to negotiate face to face with Prince Ranariddh at his return. And, even if Sam Rainsy brushed off on many occasions, the possibility of a union between our two parties, the HRP is still ready to welcome it,” Kem Sokha declared.
Some are puzzled about this announcement made five days from the registration of political parties for the upcoming election. Kem Sokha replied: “We have no more time. We are taking the lead by announcing our position. And we are engaging other democrat parties to hurry up. After the registration, we will no longer be able to talk about the fusion.”
During the press conference, HRP leaders launched several appeals to Sam Rainsy and Prince Ranariddh to unite.
Reacting to this announcement, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, indicated that it was the Prince who was the first to call for an election unity, and that Kem Sokha was not in favor of such union in the beginning. “If Kem Sokha wants to talk to the prince, we will pay his travel expenses to Malaysia,” Muth Chantha added.
The SRP wants to emphasize on the union of party members at the base, before considering an alliance between party leaders. Furthermore, the SRP explained that it is only about 10 years old, and that it does not need an alliance with other parties yet. Finally, the SRP estimated that the latest election results “proved that there are currently two major parties in Cambodia: the SRP and the CPP.”
12 comments:
Where there are democratic common grounds,please get them drafted for mutual respect and the benefit to poor cambodians.
There are always differences in strategy, ideas, implementations however it is best to unite.Cambodians are behind that I believe and also the international communities.
But at the same time the selection process is very critical that where the infiltration always occurs.
hope for the best.
It is the SRP who called for the "United Democratic Movement" after the commune election or some shit like that, and now they say they don't need it. How can anyone trust a flipflop party to run Cambodia? For instant, they constantly bragging about fighting corruption, inflation, and land grabbing, or what have we, but how do we know they are not going to flipflop on Khmer people again?
Folks, don't destroy the country with such an unreliable, greedy and desperate people.
Rokah korng tov + Lovea té mork.
Now, I see that Kim Sokha has been taking so many initiatives to build a strong force, current, engine, and motivation to seek unity as one.
However, we all should think about Sam Rainsy also. He has backed down so many times about what he has said.
First of all, he accused of Hun Sen for being the mastermind of the 1997 grenade attacks on his demonstration in front of the former Assembly. Then after, living in exile for almost a year, he then sent out apologies to Hun Sen for his sake of returing back home and carrying his twin demogogue like Hun Sen.
Last year, after the Commune elections, he wished to unify the so-called democrats from royal, nationalist, and others to one spinning wool (spinning thread wool) to be as strong as ever. Then he changed his mind for some idiotic reasons such as those other parties are non-reliable like that of Rannaridh, and Kem Sokha. He also bragged his opposition was the supreme party curbing the ruling CPP.
Now, he lashed out on Hor Nam Hong and Keat Chunne. What were you thinking? Didn't you know that the elections were to begin in like two months? What was the point of pinpointing or labelling people? Was he just letting out all emotions at once without thinking about any severe consequences that his party members would have to deal and solve. If you make a mess, clean it yourself without letting others bear negative consequences.
Look at Rannaridh, he would rather live in exile without apologising to his bullies Niek Bunchay, and others, or absolving his political endeavours, which are all he knows but nothing else. He is not backind down. I still give him a lot of credits back in the era leading up to the 1993 elections along with other compatriots.
What has Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha done so far for milestones? Holdning mass protests, ineffective screaming and crying, helping random landless poor, defaming politicians without evidence and strong stance, garnering support from rural, uneducated peasants and farmers, gloryfying their parties' constitutions about this and that? None of that have not combined into one major stream to conterbalance negative, unwanted policies from the ruling CPP.
When efforts and intentions do no portray and bear the wanted outcome, none of them have had no great cause. For example, when a ship is sinking, everyone tries to rescue it but none can't do it due to random and uncordinated strength and agenda. So in then, the ship sinks, everyone dies, and the outside world doesn't even know that the ship existed nor that the everyone tried to rescue it.
So after all, who is to blame for your losses after the elections of 2008? Is it going to some finger-pointing, etc?
It's despicable how nobody has any clue of how to win, and when i say win, it is to win big!
So make up for mind, and stop spinning everyone's head here and ther, left to right, east to west, or north to south!
The suffering will be those who lets it happen and is not able to prevent, enforce, and contermeasure. Buddha only helps those who help themselves. No matter how much fertilizers you put for your crops, in the end the crops will yield much produce or results, if fertilizers are not applied correctly, appropriately according the weather, insects, or care.
Bottom line, think about yourselves furthermore before rambling on and on with no end in sight except the pain you will inflict on yourself, and most importantly those surrounding you!
Be the man, and get the job done! Don't do it with a half-done attitude. If you're in a cave, go all the way in and see what it has to offer. Don't just go in half way, back out, and change your mind.
Until next time,
Khmer Thinker
Thanks on behalf of Khmer people, 11:42. I think your composition will help many Khmer voters to make proper assessment as to who they want to lead Cambodia for the next 5 years. They can't do it without someone to help clear up some of the smoke that blocked their view.
Thanks for your support 12:17 PM
This is not my full-time job, so it is only some of my comments for now.
Khmer Thinker
Dear Khmer Thinker,
You gave credits for Rannaridh prior to 1993? There is no credits there to be given. But, let's talk about after 1993? What has Rannaridh done beside destroying his own party and looting the country the moment he has his hands on, not to mention womenizing aspect of his character? He deserved to be where he is today for his own ignorance and stupidity. As for Kem Sokha and other 50 political parties out there, they do not even have a single seat in the NA. Kem Sokha was blackmailed by the CPP into forming a political party because he didn't want to go to jail. He plays a Viet's game, Divide and Conquor. The only votes he intends to steal is from Sam Rainsy supporters. He knows that and the CPP knows that. Kem Sokha knows at this moment that his party has no chance of getting any seat in this election, and he is desperate to use Sam Rainsy to save his political ass. I bet that he would then bail out to join the CPP in exchange for a ministerial post after the election just like others crooked politicians did in the past. Is it possible? You bet it is, unless you are one of his day-dream supporters.
To Our Dearest Compatriots:
In the name of Unity...strength is the end result. Cambodia will be a lost cause if we as Khmer do not alert ourself to understand the indept of the situations in Cambodia. This promeditate endeavor of the Ho Chi Minh dream is and about to conquored and swallowing Cambodia as a whole. However, this dream of Ho Chi Minh has been known by the Chinese and because of this reason and this reason alone, Sihanouk decided to unite and collaborate with China.
According to Dr. Pao Min, China do not want Vietnam to swallow Cambodia because it would place China at risk. In addition, should China collaborate with Cambodia, China would have greater influence of Cambodia as we are seeing it everyday how Chinese tradition has continually in flux into Cambodia as we have experienced the Chinese New Year Celebration.
That is why a blank check has issued to Cambodia without recourse. And we have heard that expression many times by Samdech Hun Sen publically claimed about Cambodia relations with China.
On the other hand, in the name of Unity Cambodian must work together to find that common ground in order to achieve the pinnacle prsoperity for all.
I thank you.
ST
Khmer democratic parties will not have a unity. It should happen long time ago. And it cannot happen now.
A few days after the coup the western gave a big support and idea for the 3 main democratic parties to form a UCD (United Cambodian Democracies). They asked Kem Sokha to be a middle person. Son San accepted it. Ranaridh was OK with it. But Rainsy refused. He said the same thing as now "His party will win. His party does not need anyone else". If they united, they would already win the CPP at that time.
After seeing Rainsy's attitute, Son San's team later joined FUNCINPEC.
After staying with FUNCINPEC for awhile Kem Sohka saw no hope that FUNCINPEC would go up but to come down. He then secretly talked to Rainsy to bring about half of FUNCINPEC's team to join Rainsy. But Rainsy refused again.
Later on Kem Sokha throw a Human Rights group organization to gain his own popularity. Seeing and fearing of popularity of Kem Sokha, Rainsy and his wife then secretly met Kem Sokha and offerred him a Vice President at Sam Rainsy Party. But it was Kem Sokha's turn to refuse.
Later in 2006 one of the western country tried to put these two men at a round table in Phnom Penh and asked them to work together. But Rainsy refused again. He said "His tree has grown strong roots. His ship is going toward the goal. His party is OK. He doesnot need anyone."
Again in 2007 after Kem Sokha launched the Human Rights Party, a group of western countries tried to put them together. They arranged for both of them to meet in Switzeland. Kem Sokha showed up, but Rainsy did not. Rainsy and his wife went to Paris instead.
I think it was the final attemp of the western to help these two groups to unite. And I think they will never be together. In their heart they become the enemy now.
They both are now trying so hard to gain votes and seats in order to be a partner with CPP to run the government. But they are wrong again. FUNCINPEC will win a few seats (2 or 3 at least) that will add up to 50+1 with CPP. Then they are still a strong partner for government.
It is too late for Kem Sokha or anyone to call for the unity.
It certainly look that way.
The reality is that Sam Rainsy has 24 seats and Kem Sokha has none? Zero. It takes Sam Rainsy 12 years to get where he is. He build his party from scratch to become an official opposition. If he is not being careful, Hun Sen would do away his party the same manner he did to other parties, i.e. Son Sann, Funcinpec, and Rannaridh. The only formidable force left for Hun Sen is Sam Rainsy. If we really want to save the country, then we need to get real, wake up and smell the coffee. Everything else is purely academic. Our democratic values if not perfectly the same, are relatively minor in its deviation. So when you compare to what you have gotten from Hun Sen, we still way way ahead. The country will be better with Sam Rainsy and us, democrats, than the CPP. We and the country as a whole will benefit. There is no one out there that can stand up to Hun Sen. Most if not all, don't even have the gut to go out to face Hun Sen and his gangs. Sam Rainsy has proven time and time to stand up for what he believes in. He put his life at risk. What about us? We are sitting comfortably in own living room, drinking beer or tasty wine and be critical of anything the guy is trying to do. Talk is cheap, so I suggest that we look at ourself and ask what have we done - anything closer to what this man, Sam Rainsy, has achieved for the last 15 years of his life since returning to serve Cambodia? I am sure if you were Sam Rainsy in 1993-1994 then, you would be filling up your house with cash, and not even dare speak a word. Common guys, give the man credits where credits dues.
My two cents for the night.
What credit? Sam Rainsy had cause more death in Cambodia in the last 20 years than anyone had caused in the last 200 years, except for Pol Pot of course, not to mention nearly wipe out all khmer culture from this planet already.
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