Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times
The order political parties will be listed on the July national election ballot papers was released by the National Election Committee (NEC) Friday, sparking a flurry of interpretations of the order’s significance.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) was designated fourth, a digit some construed as auguring waves of Vietnamese immigration. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday scotched the rumors, offering his own humorous interpretations of the ballot order by way of a reply.
“Funcinpec’s position of No. 8 represents a bad-luck number as it is a symbol of handcuffs,” he said in a veiled reference to Prince Ranariddh’s conviction for breach of trust.
He also cast aspersions on Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang’s alleged gambling habit. “As for the SRP’s position of No. 9, this is a curved figure which denotes a rude gambler.”
The Human Rights Party (HRP)’s position of No. 11 represents “the teeth of a rat,” said the premier, noting that the rat “is a harmful animal good at destroying crops,” apparently quoting a local radio broadcast. HRP President Kem Sokha has previously been sued by former colleagues at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) for corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust.
Muth Chantha, Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) spokesman, was widely suspected of making the anti-CPP interpretation; something he denied.
“No comparison was made,” he said. “Hun Sen based his reaction on the words of his spy with poor-eye-sight.”
Eng Chhay Eang, SRP secretary-general, said the premier was allowed to interpret the ballot order as he wished. “If such remarks are not allowed, it is a restriction of human freedom. We are not worried or afraid of such commentary,” he said. “The order is not important. The important point is the relations with voters. When voters are confident in any political party, they will vote for the party no matter what number on the ballot the party is.”
For once Hun Sen seemed to agree with the opposition, saying ballot order “is just for identifying the order of each party. It does not determine the destiny of each party [which] depends on voters and it will be clearly known after the election outcomes are revealed.”
Despite his own outburst, Hun Sen appealed to all supporters of political parties, including his own CPP, to avoid comment on any ballot listing except that of their own party to “avoid violence or verbal war.” He stressed that the order had been chosen at random.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said a party’s ballot order may be used in election campaigning. However, he asked that if such a discussion causes problems, “all political parties should stop using it.”
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) was designated fourth, a digit some construed as auguring waves of Vietnamese immigration. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday scotched the rumors, offering his own humorous interpretations of the ballot order by way of a reply.
“Funcinpec’s position of No. 8 represents a bad-luck number as it is a symbol of handcuffs,” he said in a veiled reference to Prince Ranariddh’s conviction for breach of trust.
He also cast aspersions on Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang’s alleged gambling habit. “As for the SRP’s position of No. 9, this is a curved figure which denotes a rude gambler.”
The Human Rights Party (HRP)’s position of No. 11 represents “the teeth of a rat,” said the premier, noting that the rat “is a harmful animal good at destroying crops,” apparently quoting a local radio broadcast. HRP President Kem Sokha has previously been sued by former colleagues at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) for corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust.
Muth Chantha, Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) spokesman, was widely suspected of making the anti-CPP interpretation; something he denied.
“No comparison was made,” he said. “Hun Sen based his reaction on the words of his spy with poor-eye-sight.”
Eng Chhay Eang, SRP secretary-general, said the premier was allowed to interpret the ballot order as he wished. “If such remarks are not allowed, it is a restriction of human freedom. We are not worried or afraid of such commentary,” he said. “The order is not important. The important point is the relations with voters. When voters are confident in any political party, they will vote for the party no matter what number on the ballot the party is.”
For once Hun Sen seemed to agree with the opposition, saying ballot order “is just for identifying the order of each party. It does not determine the destiny of each party [which] depends on voters and it will be clearly known after the election outcomes are revealed.”
Despite his own outburst, Hun Sen appealed to all supporters of political parties, including his own CPP, to avoid comment on any ballot listing except that of their own party to “avoid violence or verbal war.” He stressed that the order had been chosen at random.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said a party’s ballot order may be used in election campaigning. However, he asked that if such a discussion causes problems, “all political parties should stop using it.”
2 comments:
#4 is way to go!
12:06Pm to go where?
1-Hanoi
2-Hell
3-Hang
4-Hook
5-Hun Xen = all above!
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