Monday, 01 September 2008 Written by Meas Sokchea The Phnom Penh Post
Shift not related to National Assembly boycott, officials say
OPPOSITION party officials say a recent shake-up among top leaders is not due to divisions over their potential boycott of this month's National Assembly meeting to announce a new government.
The Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party have announced they will boycott the meeting, scheduled for September 24, over allegations of election fraud by the ruling Cambodian People's Party in last month's polls.
Nhek Vannara, deputy secretary general of the HRP, said the appointment of Yem Ponhearith in mid-August as the party's new secretary general was made because his background better conformed to the needs of the party.
Former HRP secretary general Ou Chanrath will become vice chairman of the party's discipline committee.
"We made this change not because of any problems in the party," Nhek Vannara said. "It is also not related to any potential boycott of the National Assembly."
The Norodom Ranariddh Party announced that spokesman Muth Chantha will be replaced by Deputy Secretary General Suth Dina.
Suth Dina said he had no idea why the change was made and only recently heard about it from other party members.
"A letter announcing the change was sent to Prince Ranariddh last week, but I haven't seen a copy of it," Suth Dina said.
Former spokesman Muth Chantha told the Post on Sunday he did not know about the change either and could not speculate about the reason for it.
Meanwhile, SRP member Eng Chhay Eang resigned his position as secretary general.
Mu Sochua, SRP deputy secretary general, told the Post on Sunday that Eng Chhay Eang had previously informed the party of his decision but had not made it official until that day.
"I respect his decision because he made it for the benefit of the party," Mu Sochua said, though she could not elaborate on the reasons for his resignation.
OPPOSITION party officials say a recent shake-up among top leaders is not due to divisions over their potential boycott of this month's National Assembly meeting to announce a new government.
The Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party have announced they will boycott the meeting, scheduled for September 24, over allegations of election fraud by the ruling Cambodian People's Party in last month's polls.
Nhek Vannara, deputy secretary general of the HRP, said the appointment of Yem Ponhearith in mid-August as the party's new secretary general was made because his background better conformed to the needs of the party.
Former HRP secretary general Ou Chanrath will become vice chairman of the party's discipline committee.
"We made this change not because of any problems in the party," Nhek Vannara said. "It is also not related to any potential boycott of the National Assembly."
The Norodom Ranariddh Party announced that spokesman Muth Chantha will be replaced by Deputy Secretary General Suth Dina.
Suth Dina said he had no idea why the change was made and only recently heard about it from other party members.
"A letter announcing the change was sent to Prince Ranariddh last week, but I haven't seen a copy of it," Suth Dina said.
Former spokesman Muth Chantha told the Post on Sunday he did not know about the change either and could not speculate about the reason for it.
Meanwhile, SRP member Eng Chhay Eang resigned his position as secretary general.
Mu Sochua, SRP deputy secretary general, told the Post on Sunday that Eng Chhay Eang had previously informed the party of his decision but had not made it official until that day.
"I respect his decision because he made it for the benefit of the party," Mu Sochua said, though she could not elaborate on the reasons for his resignation.
3 comments:
Reshuffle is not a bad news. Although sometimes it is seen as a downward. But downwards can bring experiences and understanding. Opposition parties have encountered many failures from the clashes between the implementation of their western political styles with the local khmer context.
They could be getting stronger from this time on.
I agree that resignation of secretary general of SRP and secretary general of HRP are not enough to show the accountability of the leaderships in a democratic country.
I have observed in many democratic countries, particularly in the US, the party leader will resign when the party lost in election.
Why not in Cambodia? Why do not let other in the party a chance to change the country? Be brave up my leaders, Rainsy and Sokha...!
Show us your leardership committment to advance democracy and for the bright future of Cambodian democracy.
Khmer oversea
Unity is the survival strategy!
KI letters full of men that like to post unpleasant attacks on Women!
Be Careful!
I have some associations of more than ten universities in Cambodia.
I have to use my power to protect Khmer Women interest as well!
stop using harsh words against women, please.
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