Original report from Phnom Penh
23 October 2008
None of the 26 lawmakers of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party attended a UNDP-sponsored seminar at the National Assembly Thursday, including two men scheduled to speak, claiming the training would not strengthen democracy in the legislative body.
SRP lawmakers Son Chhay, who was scheduled to address the seminar on the role of opposition in a democratic parliament, and Yim Sovann, who was to speak on methods of parliamentary oversight, both refused to attend the second day of the two-day seminar.
The seminar was meant to train all lawmakers in their roles in a democracy, including the passage of legislation and responsibility to constituents.
“Our boycott is to send a message to the UNDP that the Cambodian National Assembly right now is not fully enough a democracy,” opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday. “The opposition does not have any leadership role in the National Assembly, and the National Assembly right now belongs to the [ruling] party, not to the nation.”
UNDP said in an e-mailed statement Thursday it had a mandate “to promote democracy and support democratic processes.”
“As such we are working with the National Assembly, which is made up of democratically elected members of parliament, as we do with other democratic institutions,” UNDP said. “UNDP's role is one of a neutral partner who works with all political parties and democratic institutions to strengthen democracy.”
Following the inauguration of the National Assembly in September, lawmakers of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party were given control of all nine of the legislative body’s committees.
In the former National Assembly, which changed following elections in July, the Sam Rainsy Party’s Son Chhay and Yim Sovann held chairmanship of two committees.
The CPP now has 90 of the National Assembly’s 123 seats, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party’s 26, three by the Human Rights Party, and two each for Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party.
“If we join this program, it means we recognize the National Assembly’s not following democratic rules,” Sam Rainsy said. “We want to tell the UNDP to suspend this seminar… A UNDP that wants to help promote democracy should not recognize an institution that does not respect democracy.”
SRP lawmakers Son Chhay, who was scheduled to address the seminar on the role of opposition in a democratic parliament, and Yim Sovann, who was to speak on methods of parliamentary oversight, both refused to attend the second day of the two-day seminar.
The seminar was meant to train all lawmakers in their roles in a democracy, including the passage of legislation and responsibility to constituents.
“Our boycott is to send a message to the UNDP that the Cambodian National Assembly right now is not fully enough a democracy,” opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday. “The opposition does not have any leadership role in the National Assembly, and the National Assembly right now belongs to the [ruling] party, not to the nation.”
UNDP said in an e-mailed statement Thursday it had a mandate “to promote democracy and support democratic processes.”
“As such we are working with the National Assembly, which is made up of democratically elected members of parliament, as we do with other democratic institutions,” UNDP said. “UNDP's role is one of a neutral partner who works with all political parties and democratic institutions to strengthen democracy.”
Following the inauguration of the National Assembly in September, lawmakers of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party were given control of all nine of the legislative body’s committees.
In the former National Assembly, which changed following elections in July, the Sam Rainsy Party’s Son Chhay and Yim Sovann held chairmanship of two committees.
The CPP now has 90 of the National Assembly’s 123 seats, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party’s 26, three by the Human Rights Party, and two each for Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party.
“If we join this program, it means we recognize the National Assembly’s not following democratic rules,” Sam Rainsy said. “We want to tell the UNDP to suspend this seminar… A UNDP that wants to help promote democracy should not recognize an institution that does not respect democracy.”
9 comments:
Where the hell is Kim Sucka in this period of crisis?
As opposition Kim Sucka always said that he is BETTER PM than Hun Sen. We voters want to know how he "WOULD" be better than Hun Sen. He should have come out and OFFERED suggestion to the government, what he "WOULD" do if he "WERE" PM.
Sucka only criticize Khmer and work to ban foreign aids to Khmer, but when it comes to protect Khmer, he has no ideas. I have lost all my faith in the opposition now, after this crisis and after Sucka flip flop his pledge to boycott NA as a result of BRIBES by Kith Meng.
Now it shows why Cambodia needs Hun Sen. Sucka is hopeless useless foreign idiots.
oh would stop being a broken and useless record already. Pretty soon you're be out of job like your Friend Soy Sopheap. Then you'll be force to drink wine with no potency.
Fact is everyone has already made suggestion. You're just too ignorant and dumb to even understand.
Oppositions have been calling for dealing legal matter of territory problems even before the armed conflict.
Their solutions were rejected by your PM Hun Sen. Even when international mediators accept the challenge to help your PM rejects.
He wants to bila bila with the incompetent Thai negotiators. Let him do it. let see the outcome of your great minister.
So far we already saw 3 dead Cambodians and 1000s armed Thai on border. Seem he having a real success at that!
Not only you're a broken record, but you got no brain of your own!
7:01am
I've just found all the opposition parties having party with all your female relatives, include your mother. They're fucking each other like rabit.
Hello poster 7:01AM!
I think you are the most idiot person on this planet by barking to the wrong person. Mr Kim Sokha and his party has been elected as the second opposition party of the country. They have not agreed that the last election of 2008 was fair and trouble free as yet. But NEC has not work out for all their complains yet before declaring the result in which it has against the interest of the people of Cambodia as a whole. NEC should be neutral and reliable for all parties and should work as a shoe mate for the CPP party at all. As a second opposition party, Kim Sokha has no mandate to spend government moneys at all. Only party which going to be the government has the mandate to spend moneys and to deliver all their services as per their promises during their election promises. Kim Sokha and his colleagues roles are to monitor all government spending, working for the people and protect Cambodia from foreign invasion and protect Cambodian from all their individual security. The killing of Khim Sambo and his son was a failure of the government. Hun Sen should sack the person in Charge of this failure. The fire should start from the top first such as Sar Kheng, Hok Lung dy and these people should be gone for ever for failing to secure public security. THe National Assembly should not also a shoe mate of the Government. It is one of the Nation highest institution to make sure that law from from there are to be protected and to be respected. All government members ( ministers and Prime Minister should be there all the time for answering all questions put foward for them from all opposition parties and all members of the House. THe sitting should be arranged by having All opposition leaders sitting opposite side of the government and their leaders are opposite side of the Prime Minister ( Please see parliament in England and in Australia). Or Ruling parties in one side and opposition in one side and all leaders are at the same row such as in New Zealand. Opposition leaders must have their full role in making sure that they are really opposition parties. Areak Prey
It is an UN seminar, not the CPP.
Boycott is not a good solution. SRP should attend the seminar so that they can present the people voice who have voted for them. Boycott will turn nothing to democracy in Cambodia. The seminar already scheduled, so the opposition voice is less heard.
I agree with poster 8:52AM.
If the UN is organising this seminar, all opposition parties should be there to refer their concerns. We need good democracy for life not just between CPP and SRP or from SRP with HRP. We want Real DEMOCRACY regardless who will be the Government. Areak Prey
When you lose you said that no democracy. this is so stupid. So if you win majority, there will be democracy?
To my dear 7:01am you are still didn't get it.This time you just take Csam Rainsy out of your comment.Yes the majority CPP members are elect Ah Kvak to be your PM.He should do his job as PM. you get it this time.
The people had spoken in the election. All representatives must stop assaulting on Democracy by suppressing their voices.
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