The 11 parties on the election ballot (Photo: Koh Santepheap)Monday, 02 June 2008
Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times
The National Election Committee (NEC) on Friday released the order in which political parties will be listed on the ballot papers for July’s national election, drawing bold predictions from politicians.
The random draw was presided over by religious leaders.
The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) is to be listed first, followed by the Khmer Democratic Party in the second spot, the League for Democratic Party third and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) fourth.
The little-known Khmer Anti-Poverty Party is to be at No. 5, the Khmer Republican Party at No. 6, the Society of Justice Party seventh, the Funcinpec Party at No. 8, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) ninth, the Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party at No. 10 and the Human Rights Party at No. 11.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, currently in self-exile in Malaysia, said on local radio he was glad the NRP is to be listed first, suggesting the NRP’s good fortune was due to Karma.
“[It is] because my party is loyal to the nation, people, throne and Buddhist religion,” he said. “I suffered a lot because of serving the nation and victimized people, defending Cambodia from violation by neighboring countries and illegal immigrants.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen, CPP vice-chairman, said during a speech yesterday that his listing augured well as the number four represents the four Buddhist desires for longevity, prosperity, health and strength and the four attributes of a pure nature: compassion, pity, joy at another’s happiness and sincerity.
In addition, the premier said the number four represents the Year of the Rabbit, “an animal which is very smart and lucky,” the four elements, the four-faced god Preah Prum, the Hindu god Preah Vishnu with his four hands and the Chaktomukh (four-face) river junction.
Lastly, the “number four represents the fourth mandate … [and] the rectangular strategy which has four targets: growth, employment, equity and equality,” Hun Sen said.
Keo Puth Rasmey, president of the Funcinpec Party, which is to be listed eighth, expressed satisfaction at a good “geometric omen.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy was also upbeat. “Cambodian people always say that the number nine is a good number,” he said. “It represents the Nov 9, 1953 [Cambodian] Independence Day and Nov 9, 1995 SRP birthday.”
HRP President Kem Sokha, to be listed 11th, reasoned that the number 11 is “double number one, which means that the HRP will win two times.”
The random draw was presided over by religious leaders.
The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) is to be listed first, followed by the Khmer Democratic Party in the second spot, the League for Democratic Party third and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) fourth.
The little-known Khmer Anti-Poverty Party is to be at No. 5, the Khmer Republican Party at No. 6, the Society of Justice Party seventh, the Funcinpec Party at No. 8, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) ninth, the Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party at No. 10 and the Human Rights Party at No. 11.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, currently in self-exile in Malaysia, said on local radio he was glad the NRP is to be listed first, suggesting the NRP’s good fortune was due to Karma.
“[It is] because my party is loyal to the nation, people, throne and Buddhist religion,” he said. “I suffered a lot because of serving the nation and victimized people, defending Cambodia from violation by neighboring countries and illegal immigrants.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen, CPP vice-chairman, said during a speech yesterday that his listing augured well as the number four represents the four Buddhist desires for longevity, prosperity, health and strength and the four attributes of a pure nature: compassion, pity, joy at another’s happiness and sincerity.
In addition, the premier said the number four represents the Year of the Rabbit, “an animal which is very smart and lucky,” the four elements, the four-faced god Preah Prum, the Hindu god Preah Vishnu with his four hands and the Chaktomukh (four-face) river junction.
Lastly, the “number four represents the fourth mandate … [and] the rectangular strategy which has four targets: growth, employment, equity and equality,” Hun Sen said.
Keo Puth Rasmey, president of the Funcinpec Party, which is to be listed eighth, expressed satisfaction at a good “geometric omen.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy was also upbeat. “Cambodian people always say that the number nine is a good number,” he said. “It represents the Nov 9, 1953 [Cambodian] Independence Day and Nov 9, 1995 SRP birthday.”
HRP President Kem Sokha, to be listed 11th, reasoned that the number 11 is “double number one, which means that the HRP will win two times.”
1 comment:
The right track and direction to prosperity is via #4. Forget about the rest because it is the track and direction to Zimbabwe and year-zero.
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