Opposition leader Sam RainsyBy Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10 September 2008
Two opposition parties have declined an invitation by King Norodom Sihamoni to join in a swearing-in ceremony for the new government scheduled later this month and have asked to have their newly elected parliamentarians sworn in a day later.
King Sihamoni issued his royal invitation to all 123 newly elected members of the National Assembly, but officials of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties, representing 29 seats, have maintained their position that July's election was illegitimate and say they will not swear in next to the ruling party.
The opposition has instead requested an alternate date to swear in, a day later, according to top officials from both parties.
Neither party is willing to be sworn in next to the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said Kong Kom, acting president of the Sam Rainsy Party, and Yem Ponhearith, secretary-general of the Human Rights Party.
Party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are currently out of the country, seeking support from the international community for claims July's election was fraudulent and a new vote should be conducted.
Both party leaders have said in the past they would boycott the swearing-in ceremony altogether.
A royal official warned Wednesday the request for a second swearing in was not likely to be granted.
"The king, as the head of state, invited all 123 elected parliamentarians to the swearing-in ceremony on [Sept. 24]," Um Daravuth, a member of the Royal Cabinet, said Wednesday. "If any party does not respect the king's orders, I say that party is wrong under the Cambodian constitution."
"In no country in the world does a National Assembly swear in two times," Um Daravuth said.
An independent analyst said Wednesday it was up to the king to bring the parties together.
"The king should use his cleverness to bring all the parties to join the swearing-in together for national unity," said Lao Monghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission.
King Sihamoni issued his royal invitation to all 123 newly elected members of the National Assembly, but officials of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties, representing 29 seats, have maintained their position that July's election was illegitimate and say they will not swear in next to the ruling party.
The opposition has instead requested an alternate date to swear in, a day later, according to top officials from both parties.
Neither party is willing to be sworn in next to the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said Kong Kom, acting president of the Sam Rainsy Party, and Yem Ponhearith, secretary-general of the Human Rights Party.
Party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are currently out of the country, seeking support from the international community for claims July's election was fraudulent and a new vote should be conducted.
Both party leaders have said in the past they would boycott the swearing-in ceremony altogether.
A royal official warned Wednesday the request for a second swearing in was not likely to be granted.
"The king, as the head of state, invited all 123 elected parliamentarians to the swearing-in ceremony on [Sept. 24]," Um Daravuth, a member of the Royal Cabinet, said Wednesday. "If any party does not respect the king's orders, I say that party is wrong under the Cambodian constitution."
"In no country in the world does a National Assembly swear in two times," Um Daravuth said.
An independent analyst said Wednesday it was up to the king to bring the parties together.
"The king should use his cleverness to bring all the parties to join the swearing-in together for national unity," said Lao Monghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission.
15 comments:
ah tra ngorl aot sel , ah sdach ting mong is hun sen's poop. Sihamini never has a brain to begin with and what do you expect from his cleverness?
Neither party is willing to be sworn in next to the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said Kong Kom, acting president of the Sam Rainsy Party, and Yem Ponhearith, secretary-general of the Human Rights Party.
Fair enough that opposition parties are unwilling to swearing - in on the same day [if only permitted under the constitution], but opposition parties shall ask themselves a good question "The ruling party will be in parliament, shall we work next to them or shall we work from home?".
By the way, if permitted under the constitution [which is doubted] to swear in the next day is to say recognize the election result so far therefore Opposition parties shall have the courage to admit and say straight to their supporters that "Talk in public and thing did behind the closed door are two different".
I support SRP and HRP for their determination to boycott NA sworn in celebration. NEC should carry out their own duty properly otherwise their credibility is in question for tehir neutrality, their integrity and their reliability.
Without resolving their disputes, SRP and HRP have their right to boycott this National assembly. This National Assembly will be an illegal one. Areak Prey
Areak Prey
Good to hear from you again.
Of course, no one can say right or wrong about your comment.
The sticking point here is that SRP and HRP oppose to awear in the same day along with other parties but request to swear in the next day which is sadi, my personal opinion, so far to accept the election result.
To solve this post election drama is to overall reform of NEC, however, my personal opinion, don't think either side of the equations could guarantee the nuetrality of the NEC even if there's majoirty of opposition parties are to govern the organization.
I support the two parties who shout out loud that the election is illegal.
Well that's the bottom line!!!
Are you in or are you out??
If you are not IN.. just stay out..
If you are IN... come and join the swearing-in ceremony.
SRP and HRP have saided that they need help
from the king and the old king.
I don't know if it's the way that they show
respect to the king by asking
2 different swearing-in ceremonies.
By law, respect the king first.
And then, the king will have the alternative to give the decision to your request.
HRP and SRP seem more powerful than the king.
Like one maxim said : if you want to be treated like a king,first, treat someone like a king !!!
Law is Law...Come and do like others parties.
If HRP and SRP don't respect the law,
why complaint about CPP's actions.
Act for the example.!!!
Jesus... CPP have 90 seats.
I think at least 60 of the seats are real.
Khmer Canadian
Those who failed to attend the swear in waived their right to their seat, period.
Dear Poster 6:13AM !!
I am not a member of SRP nor of HRP, but your comment is very wild and is very uncivilised. We can call also a daylight robbery !!!.
You must remember that SRP and HRP haven't gain their seats by CPP appointment. They have gained these few seats by competing in which the state has spent about US$13 millions and each party has spents millions of dollars for their seats. Noone can steal their seats at all. Hun Sen was a wild man with wild ambition without shame to make a wrong statement. I have never accepted that kind of distribution of seats from my first comment. THe right way to distribute of seats is to work out by diving the share of all parties by their national share of percentage of all 123 seats. Cambodia has make somany mistakes that is why Cambodia is continueing with social problems as we have lacked of social justice. Even they have accepted this kind of distribution of seats, NEC should have repaired all the disputes in each area to make sure that each party has accepted the winning and their lost with dignity. This kind of winning by CPP is a daylight robbery. Areak Prey
Don't be stupid to stay out! People still need you to fight for future democracy of Cambodia.
SRP & HRP parliamentarians still have a choice by making protest during the swearing-in ceremony on 24 Sept. They can raise banners during ceremoney and walk out after the King's speech or during the process of approving new cabinet.
Doing so, they still acheive their goal which could tell the people that opposition parties never acept the ellection result while being able to adhear to the constitution.
It sounds funny and not bad but I believe it could work anyway.
Country boy.
I agree with 12:38 PM.
Make a surprise protest SRP and HRP, come on!
Sam rainsy, since he is at the head of his party, he did not bring anything positive to the country and to the opposition democrat that to push the people to do the demonstrations, strikes, political and social disturbances, and now his dispute of fuck of the pathetic electoral result obtained by his party for to mask his serious personal defeat.
For this election cost a lot of money to sam rainsy that is now gotten in debt heavily .
Sam rainsy, this fuck politician no longer has political new strategy and intelligent to propose to the opposition democrat in the country.
And now, this idiot sam rainsy proposes to take separated oaths with the other representatives.
This is a child speaking and not an adult.
It is more better than this politician of fuck sam rainsy resigns of the presidency of his party and leaves his place to another boss to lead the opposition to the victory in 2013.
Sam rainsy, this mediocre politician no longer is a political future for the opposition and for all the true democrats to Cambodia.
Any one care to explain this particular scenario:
"Would not swear - in on 24 Septmber 2008 along side with CPP but would attend the next session of parliament on 25th september 2008", my personal opinion is said so far to recognize the results of the election, then why bother to have 2 seperate swearing in ceremony if all sides of the equation will work under the same roof in the new Parliament.
Dear All HRP and SRP's supporters,
Did you agreed with HRP and SRP different swearing-in ceremonies?
Did you agreed with one more new building of the National Assembly for HRP and SRP working?
Did you agreed with separates the country of East of mekong river bank is for CPP and West of Mekong river bank is for HRP and SRP?
Why I asked that, because HRP and SRP said that they can't do swearing-in ceremonies with CPP.
So that mean they can't working, can't living, can't speaking the same khmer langauge,or can't do anything together too?!!!!!
I don't understand.
I RESPECT THE "CHOICE" THE SRP AND HRP HAD MADE. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRATIC IS ALL ABOUT.
AND WHAT THE "Um Daravuth" KNOWS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG ? A SURE SIGNS THAT THIS GUY IS KISSING ASS OF THE CPP.
I don't think there should be a separate swearing-in since they will work under the same roof later.
Let all opposition parliamentians make a suprise protest during the swearing-in ceremony...Let do it!
YOU all fuckup with ah communist killer Hun Sen!
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