SRP President Sam Rainsy leaves the National Assembly building after the inaugural session of the newly elected parliament. (Heng Chivoan)Thursday, 25 September 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng and Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post
Lawmakers from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party cancel their planned boycott of the new National Assembly's inaugural session after last-minute talks with CPP officials
THE last-minute collapse of the opposition's planned National Assembly boycott is an early indication the bark of the opposition in the new CPP-majority mandate could be a good deal louder than its bite.
Following 11-hour talks with officials on Tuesday night, Sam Rainsy Party officials agreed to attend Wednesday's inauguration ceremony, leaving a handful of MPs from the Human Rights Party to carry out the boycott alone.
Both parties previously said they would skip the inauguration to draw attention to their allegations that thousands of opposition supporters were barred from voting in the July 27 national poll due to the manipulation of voter lists.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that SRP officials approached Cambodian Chamber of Commerce Chairman Kith Meng with a message for the prime minister Tuesday evening, suggesting talks over the planned boycott.
He added that a compromise was reached after midnight, with Sam Rainsy agreeing to attend the ceremony in return for an amendment to the Assembly's internal rules that would formally recognise the role of the Kingdom's opposition parties.
"The SRP requested that the government recognise the role of the opposition ... in order to save face," Hun Sen told reporters after Wednesday's inauguration, adding that the proposed amendment would be passed onto the Assembly after it had been vetted by the NA's legislative committee. "I had no intention of negotiating with those threatening a boycott, but I did so because of peace."
SRP spokesman Son Chhay said the role of the opposition was vital in democracies. He hailed the agreement with the government and the proposed amendment to the Assembly's internal rules as an important step forward.
In a tacit recognition of the difficulties faced by the SRP in the new CPP-majority government, Son Chhay said that the party's involvement was better for the future of Cambodia than continued non-cooperation. "We quit the boycott because we are thinking of the interests of the nation," he said. "It was difficult to make the decision but we hope that cooperation with the ruling party will help to encourage them to respect the law and the rights of the Cambodian people."
Unprecedented stability
Due to the CPP's landslide electoral victory, which delivered the ruling party 90 seats out of 123, Cambodia has managed to avoid a post-election political deadlock for the first time since the UNTAC era. After the 2003 election, government was paralysed for more than a year as competing factions negotiated coalition agreements, but Hun Sen said the new government would rule with one voice. "From now on, I will not allow the small-voice parties to hold the majority-voice party hostage," he said.
Puthea Hang, executive director of election monitor Nicfec, said the SRP had successfully used its boycott to force some changes, but that CPP dominance would nonetheless be the keynote of the next five years. "We see that the boycott of the opposition was a way of advocating for the CPP to make changes in the NA, but it will still be difficult to establish checks and balances," he said.
Comfrel Executive Director Koul Panha said despite the overwhelming majority won by the CPP in this year's polls, the compromise and appearance of Sam Rainsy at the inauguration was beneficial for both parties.
"I think the opposition was taking a risk [in threatening a boycott], but the CPP was also taking a risk and the CPP understands this," he said. "So they are taking another approach."
THE last-minute collapse of the opposition's planned National Assembly boycott is an early indication the bark of the opposition in the new CPP-majority mandate could be a good deal louder than its bite.
Following 11-hour talks with officials on Tuesday night, Sam Rainsy Party officials agreed to attend Wednesday's inauguration ceremony, leaving a handful of MPs from the Human Rights Party to carry out the boycott alone.
Both parties previously said they would skip the inauguration to draw attention to their allegations that thousands of opposition supporters were barred from voting in the July 27 national poll due to the manipulation of voter lists.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that SRP officials approached Cambodian Chamber of Commerce Chairman Kith Meng with a message for the prime minister Tuesday evening, suggesting talks over the planned boycott.
He added that a compromise was reached after midnight, with Sam Rainsy agreeing to attend the ceremony in return for an amendment to the Assembly's internal rules that would formally recognise the role of the Kingdom's opposition parties.
"The SRP requested that the government recognise the role of the opposition ... in order to save face," Hun Sen told reporters after Wednesday's inauguration, adding that the proposed amendment would be passed onto the Assembly after it had been vetted by the NA's legislative committee. "I had no intention of negotiating with those threatening a boycott, but I did so because of peace."
SRP spokesman Son Chhay said the role of the opposition was vital in democracies. He hailed the agreement with the government and the proposed amendment to the Assembly's internal rules as an important step forward.
I will not allow small-voice parties to hold the majority- voice party hostage."Within the amendment ... the opposition party will be officially appointed by the King and will have some funds from the national budget to help it perform its duties. This is a very important promise from the prime minister," he told reporters at SRP headquarters Wednesday.
In a tacit recognition of the difficulties faced by the SRP in the new CPP-majority government, Son Chhay said that the party's involvement was better for the future of Cambodia than continued non-cooperation. "We quit the boycott because we are thinking of the interests of the nation," he said. "It was difficult to make the decision but we hope that cooperation with the ruling party will help to encourage them to respect the law and the rights of the Cambodian people."
Unprecedented stability
Due to the CPP's landslide electoral victory, which delivered the ruling party 90 seats out of 123, Cambodia has managed to avoid a post-election political deadlock for the first time since the UNTAC era. After the 2003 election, government was paralysed for more than a year as competing factions negotiated coalition agreements, but Hun Sen said the new government would rule with one voice. "From now on, I will not allow the small-voice parties to hold the majority-voice party hostage," he said.
Puthea Hang, executive director of election monitor Nicfec, said the SRP had successfully used its boycott to force some changes, but that CPP dominance would nonetheless be the keynote of the next five years. "We see that the boycott of the opposition was a way of advocating for the CPP to make changes in the NA, but it will still be difficult to establish checks and balances," he said.
Comfrel Executive Director Koul Panha said despite the overwhelming majority won by the CPP in this year's polls, the compromise and appearance of Sam Rainsy at the inauguration was beneficial for both parties.
"I think the opposition was taking a risk [in threatening a boycott], but the CPP was also taking a risk and the CPP understands this," he said. "So they are taking another approach."
27 comments:
In the U. S. this is called a flip-flop. Writing to all the world, and trying to enlist the support from EU, SR got nothing but lip service. They all have their own problems. So he thought, 'Well, I better strike a deal, otherwise I will be out of job and no platform for stupid promises.'
He should just resign and let other people run the opposition.
My opinion, Mr. Sam Ransy is the smart leader.
I support him for his decisions.
Khmer, Ca,USA
This is very good news for Cambodia democracy. From now on, the official opposition party will be recognized as such and have role to play. Any statement by the head of the government in the media should be followed immediately by words of response from the leader of the opposition. Print and electronic media should adopt this ethic principal of impartiality between the government and the opposition. As well, in some countries, the leader of the official opposition party is given an official residence similar to the one inhabited by the Prime Minister of the country. This deal is a corner stone for a democratic parliament. It is a great leap forward for Cambodia democracy. Congratulations to all of you, leaders of the country, the government and the official opposition! Democracy is a game, but a safe game, million times better than war and political instability. You should play it carefully. Long life the great country of Cambodia!
Nope, Democracy is not a safe game at this point. A safe game would be to develop as fast as possible without any obstacle as China did.
good move! let's all work together during this mandate for the national interest and social justice like the king was saying. god bless cambodia.
Tell my why SRP sold out?
Whatever happen to unity or conviction?
Democracy is strong when you have unity,
How can SRP saving face if you speak to the devil?
SRP is as low as NRP.
Anonymous said...
In the evening of Sept. 23 SRP and HRP discussed about the swearing in. The two allies agreed to continue the boycott.
Then the morning of Sept. 24 Sam Rainsy called Kem Sokha and told him that SRP's MPs and him are going to the swearing in now; come and join. The time was already late for Kem Sokha and his 2 MPs to get ready (I could see that). HRP decided to keep boycott.
During the lunch time on the same day, Sept 24, Kem Sokha and his 2 MPs came to SRP head quarter for a meeting with Rainsy and his MPs. SRP decided to go for the swearing in - in the afternoon (not the morning) and HRP decided to stand firm.
I do not know who cheated whose. But I know that Sam Rainsy planned to join the swearing in from the beginning no matter what. But he had to try everything he could first.
Maybe Kem Sokha is too slow to play the game with Sam Rainsy. Since he was one step behind, he then decided to continue the boycott. Maybe, I don't know.
I let you the readers make your own judgement. Have a nice day.
Inside SRP,
Face of PUSSYCAT SRP just got out of NA!
Dear 1:45am
"the official opposition party will be recognized as such and have role to play".
My understanding, in the last mandate SRP had 2 recognized posts within the NA watch-dog and this is not something new except allocation of funds from national coffer so SRP can perform the duties.
Hope that this time round, SRP would actively involve in all debates rather than walk out or boycott if National Interest is said to be utmost issue during this break through
I don’t know if it is a culture , a destiny or a curse that Cambodian people is condemned to have mental slavery which condemned them to live miserably under repression and misery. No matter how much crime, cheating those people did against Khmer nation and people endlessly but they are still gods, leaders, savers, still have millions disciples prostrate and lick at foot because they name rainsy, sihanouk, hun sen, sonn san, …. How long this will end? How long it will took before Khmer people can liberate themselves from this slavery mentality before they can liberate their physique and life.
Rainsy is not different from hun sen or sihanouk, just a piece of man full of ruse and cheating .. Like his father and family, he has nothing a model leader or nationalist. Rainsy showed clearly since long ago that he is nothing than a partner of cpp, yuon slave and rainsy is slave of yuon slave.
Lady & Gentlement: Please understand that you you got mad at someone and walked away, there will be nothing resolve. If you try to at least walk together, there will be something good happen.
If you can't beat them joint with them. This is a game.
If SRP walked away and CPP majory lock him of out NA, SRP will have no voice. Remember this is not a real democracy in Cambodia. You try to play game along with them, but keep you heap up at all time.
SRP joint the NA is not like Funcinpec or NRP joint the CPP. This is a very real difference angle.
It is good that SRP joint the NA, not the CPP.
If you want to kill a mad dog like HUN SEN , try to stay close to him as close as possible ... good work MR SMART SAM RAINSY ..
SMART MY AS.....
He is not Smart Sam Rainsy, he is SMART ASS.
He is one day will be killed by Hun Xen, like his father is killed by Xihanouk.
Nothing to gain by boycotting. They lost, no matter how much level of cheating. Go back to work. There is plenty of room for the opposition to play.
One note from me, the Thai and Yuon are so happy to see sissy and repeated traitor Hun Sen stay in power to their advantage. The two neigbor thieves will have ample opportunities to steal more Khmer territories to Hun Sen's absolute silence. Only the Yuon and Siem gain. Khmer people, please stop crying from now on.
It's interesting to see how Ah Scam Rainxy's supporters come up with stupid excuses for their God: If Ah Scam Rainxy did boycott the NA, they will have a set of excuses for it, and if Ah Scam Rainxy didn't boycott the NA, they'll also have another set of excuses.
Doesn't that tell us something about them (fools)?
Eat your heart out Kem Sokha supporters:D Sam Rain Sy and ran....
Hey! If Hun Xen acknowledges the role of the opposition party and I can live with that and I have no problem with Sam Rainsy making a U-turn to join Hun Xen government!
Oh enough excuses, you fagot (8:54). PM Hun Sen is busy developing the country. He doesn't give a rat's arse about oppositions. Just stay out of his way, and everything will be alright.
To 9:20AM
Your PM Hun Xen is so busy with the land grabbing and creating a new class of Cambodian people called the homeless!
Tell me more!
EH FAGOT 9.20 M, HUN XEN IS BUSY SIGNING AWAY MORE KHMER TERRITORIES TO TEH YUON AND SIEMS.
WAIT AND SEE, HE WILL GIVE TA KRABEY, TA MOAN, SURROUNG PVH TO SIAM OR DECLARE TEHM AS NO-MAN'S LANDS WHICH BASICALLY MEANS GIVING TO THE SIAMS.
THIS STRONGMAN HAS NO BALL WHEN DEALING WITH YUON AND SIAMS , BUT WITH KHMER WHO OPPOSE HIM HE HAS NO HESITATION IN KILLING THEM.
Well, we shouldn't be keeping anything that was stolen from our neighbors. It's immoral.
NOW, FAGGOT 9.45AM, ADMITS HE LIKE HIS MASTER IS A THIEF-STEALING ANYTHING FROM PARTY SIGN, OWN PEOPLE'S LAND, AND BALLOT BOXES.
IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE YOUR OWN GRAVEYARD IS TAKEN BACK BY YOUR OWN THIEF GANG.
Flexibility is need in the politic.So, Mr SAM RAINGSY ,you did the right thing.I think he's the man with principle.
What principle?
The strategy was ingeniously cogitated and devised by Hun Sen's senior advisors. In fact, for the ruling party, this has always been a business as USUAL. Moreover, this is a truly remarkable execution by a new additon (Mr. Kem Sokha)CPP member. Of course, Mr. Kem, you were SPECIFICALLY instructed by Mr. Hun Sen to do what you were told in an effort to make Mr. Rainsy looks like an idiot. That said, Mr. Kith Meng negoitiated the deal with Mr. Raimsy (not you -- Mr. Kem).
Mr. kem, you have betrayed your party and the people of Cambodia, and you ought to be abashed of your dirty trick.
The Insider
Sorry 4:52PM, it is the other way around. Your boss SR has been betraying his party and Khmer people.
He promised to stand firm with KS no matter what (I was in the room.) But he switched side and betrayed KS after a long night of negociation with Hun Sen's advisors on Sept. 23, 2008.
The next day he informed KS only a few minutes before he went to the swearing in. KS could not do anything fast enough and then decided to do the boycott alone (I felt sorry for KS.)
More than that KS saved SR's face by telling the world that he was informed by SR from the evening. KS hoped to save a strong alliance and rebuild the relationship with SR.
Please stop paint other people face for just saving your boss ass.
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