Original report from Phnom Penh
12 May 2008
As party registration for July’s elections approaches, political observers say the likelihood of the competing parties to join in an opposition is unlikely.
The failure of unity has caused much finger-pointing among the parties, who will now have to run separately against the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and its coalition partner, Funcinpec.
“We are too late to accept a coalition,” said Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Muth Chantha. Those who said it was not too late were going to confuse the public, he said.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha expressed “sadness” over the failure, but said he would welcome a coalition. He blamed a failure of unity on the absence of Prince Ranariddh, who is running his party from exile in Malaysia and faces an 18-month prison sentence for embezzling if he returns.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, fresh back from a trip to the US in search of support, said he was ready to unite with the NRP or HRP, but he would not spend time discussing coalitions with newer parties or those with no political base.
Cambodia’s competing parties have in the past sought unity through coalitions, especially after general elections, but they have always failed.
Independent social analyst Chea Vannath said the recent failure was another good experience for the three parties to consider how they might work together in the next elections.
The failure of unity has caused much finger-pointing among the parties, who will now have to run separately against the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and its coalition partner, Funcinpec.
“We are too late to accept a coalition,” said Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Muth Chantha. Those who said it was not too late were going to confuse the public, he said.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha expressed “sadness” over the failure, but said he would welcome a coalition. He blamed a failure of unity on the absence of Prince Ranariddh, who is running his party from exile in Malaysia and faces an 18-month prison sentence for embezzling if he returns.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, fresh back from a trip to the US in search of support, said he was ready to unite with the NRP or HRP, but he would not spend time discussing coalitions with newer parties or those with no political base.
Cambodia’s competing parties have in the past sought unity through coalitions, especially after general elections, but they have always failed.
Independent social analyst Chea Vannath said the recent failure was another good experience for the three parties to consider how they might work together in the next elections.
6 comments:
Did anyone surprise?
not to mention that before forming the Human Rights Party, Kem Sokha met with San Rainsy in Son Soubert's house. Kem Sokha at that time requested the meeting as the last hope for forming an alliance. At that meeting Kem Sokha's conditions was that Sam Rainsy restructure the ever more autocratic internal party structure and addressing the internal fracture within the SRP. Close observers knew all along of the disgruntle steering committee members--about half of the SRP's steering committee members have never made a single decision. and about half was not happy. Lots left the party without speaking out to avoid further fracture. At some points, the steering committee made decisions to only be overturned by the socall "permanent committee" which according to the internal rule of the SRP has the power to make or overturn any decision; and it is the president who have all the final say. *Please check the members of this "permanent committee"--it consists of the Eng's clan and the Sam's clan--husbands and wives and in laws(one example of this is the nomination of Mr. Ket Key to the deputy president position in the National Authority on Land Conflicts which was overturned by Sam Rainsy and his wife within the "Permanent Committee" to hand the position to Eng Chhay Eang instead. The position is lucrative and Eng Chhay Eang was silence within this position for more than 2 years until recently. Other examples include the nomination of two people to the National Election committee, etc.
Had Sam Rainsy made effort to unite, it would have been a lot easier than. He only need to reform the steering committee and make the steering committee a true assembly with certain ability for overview. One of the other main ideas was to limited the maximum number of the steering committee to avoid power struggle and dilution. Unfortunately Sam Rainsy did not accepted. Worst, there was a promise to not speak to anyone outside of the few people who attended the meeting--less than one month after the meeting, Mr. Sam Rainsy himself gave interview to Rasmey Kampuchea, a CPP's paper, all the detail. So doing prevent future meeting as no one trust Sam Rainsy anymore. Sam Rainsy wanted to destroyed other people involved so they lose the funding and showed that he made efforts to unite but in reality all he did was criticising Kem Sokha in the whole meeting. Unfortunate!!!
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 at that time, they would already win the CPP.
After seeing Rainsy's attitude, 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 offered him a Vice President at Sam Rainsy Party. But it was Kem Sokha's turn to refuse.
Later in 2006 one of the western countries 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 does not 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 and Son Sobert showed up, but Rainsy did not. Rainsy and his wife went to Paris instead.
I think it was the final attempt 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, Rainsy or anyone to call for the unification.
Kem Sokha will be the next biggest opposition party, and both the SRP and NRP will be finished after this election.
12:47AM you think too much about winning and share the power! You forget all about principal and right!
For other country that is OK because they are on the firm ground! For us Cambodia if we forget a bout principle, justice and right we will end up destroy our belive as a race!
See what Ranarith did to Royalist?
Better to lost thand joint the evile!!! Only the fucking stupid parasite think the tief,liar, traitor, religion and nation sele out as the honored rich! Mother fucker so low than animal!
All Cambodia's friends must stop Ah Evil Sam Rainsy from torturing Khmer People and destroying their country.
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