Thursday, December 18, 2008

Toward an alliance of opposition parties?

17 Dec 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French


A press conference was announced by the Human Rights Party (HRP) for Thursday 18 December. The HRP will discuss about its wish to form an official alliance with the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP).

The HRP, led by Kem Sokha, revealed its intention to ally itself with Sam Rainsy’s SRP. According to HRP officials, following a survey among party followers in Cambodia and overseas, this decision was made. “Besides the CPP, only the SRP and the HRP are left,” Kem Sokha explained. His party obtained three seats at the National Assembly during the last election. According to him, a merger between the two parties would be a better solution, but it remains to be discussed.

It remains to be seen if the SRP will agree with this or not. However, according to Son Chhay, spokesman for the SRP, the SRP is in agreement with the HRP declarations. He also recognized the honesty displayed by HRP party members who remained united with the SRP since the election. The SRP and HRP, which were allied to the NRP and Funcinpec right after the election, saw the two royalist parties rejoining the CPP very quickly. “Forming an alliance is something we have thought about for a while now. It is a good thing to reinforce the opposition,” Son Chhay announced while admitting that the idea of a single party have been discussed within the SRP. However, how to reach that point? Son Chhay tried to avoid using the word “merger.” Nevertheless, he indicated that HRP members could join his party, and this would be a tough decision to make for HRP MPs.

Following the HRP defeat at the general election, Keo Remy and Kem Sohon (Kem Sokha’s brother), both HRP members, decided to defect to the CPP. Since the formation of the new National Assembly, elected HRP MPs constantly asked for an opposition role, just like what the SRP demanded. Due to the NA’s internal rule, the three HRP MPs do not have enough voice to speak out on the floor and they demanded to the CPP MPs to amend the internal rule, but nothing has happened up to now.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Before the election, perhaps Kem Sokha had too much confidence in his party. But it won't be late now if he wish to form an official alliance with SRP. Both must do it for the better future of the Khmer people who have been maltreated for many decades. Somehow a dictatorial ruler should be ended by means of using democratic way. Hoping the Royal families to rescue Cambodians
from this oppression seems like hoping for a heavy rain to fall down in the hot summer. They are more useless now than ever before.

Anonymous said...

REAMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR.............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

Regarding the issue of opposition parties, they’re being eradicated one at the time by the ruling party due to corruption and personal gain of individuals. Look at FUNCINPEC as an example. Money is more crucial than the party. Later his party falls apart. If this is a foot step for opposition parties to follow, soon people lost confident in them. The prince was bought out by CPP, and then he bowed to CPP’s power. Then he almost became a homeless man and a useless creature. Lucky he got pardoned by the king that approved by HUN SEN and got appointed as a supreme advisor to the king.

Any idea where and how did the CPP discover their maneuvers/tricks in the past decades in order to grip to the power? Anyone should know the answer.

Good luck and God bless for opposition parties so that they can accomplish their goals and serve the nation in the near future.

Anonymous said...

This is the only way if we wish to have the opposition party and perhaps a chance to lead the country in the future. This should be done before the national election, but it is not too late. It is also the time for all the Khmer Democrat to be united not just the two parties. And remember the Democracy is the power of people. So, in order for the party to be successful in the future, those politicians have to listen to what the people want. Especially when party is making any major decision. Not just among high rank members, spouses, brothers, and sisters. In the Democratic system it doesn't work that way. Finally, maybe it is time to reclaim the party's name Cheat Khmer back now because in my personal opinion, SRP name is too personal.

Good Luck

Anonymous said...

I agreed with you 11.23 am in having a party name SRP which is too personal.

Anonymous said...

CAMBODIA MUST SEEK UN SECURITY COUNCIL FOR HELP!!!

CAMBODIA MUST INFORM WORLD COURT ABOUT THAILAND'S VIOLATION OF THE 1962 ICJ DECISION ON PREAH VIHEAR.

CAMBODIA MUST ASK FOR UN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AGAINST THAI AGGRESSION

CAMBODIA MUST NOT WASTE ANY MORE TIME...PROLONGING THAI OCCUPATION OF 4.6 KM2 OF PREAH VIHEAR AREA = LOST OF KHMER TERRITORY!!

WAKE UP HUN SEN!!!!!

KHMER PEOPLE MUST UNITE AND EXPELL ALL FOREIGNERS OUT OF CAMBODIA.

LAND THAT THAI STOLE FROM CAMBODIA IN BROAD DAY LIGHT = PREAH VIHEAR, POIPET, TA MOAN, TA KRABEI...WE MUST PROTEST GOOGLE, WIKIPEDIA ONLINE SATELLITE MAP TO COMPLY WITH 1904-07 FRANCO-SIAMESE TREATY AND UN MAP, NOT THAI-MADE MAP!!!

Anonymous said...

Too late now !!!

Anonymous said...

ABHISHIT IS ENEMY NO.1 OF CAMBODIA!

Khmer people must understand who caused the Thai occupation of 4.6 km2 near Prasat Preah Vihear, Prasat Ta Moan, Prasat Ta Krabei, etc.

Anonymous said...

It is BEST for your Country if you twoo joint each other honestly. You see the Vietnamese men and women willing to do anything to expand their country. They don't care about any big or high position all they care are expand...May be you Khmer knew that the Vietnamese spy working as a bicycle or moto cycle repair men sit near by the dirty road to see and observe. The women became prostitute or married with a high rank Khmer try to get all the information. They don't need air conditioning or fancy material. My dear friend I would like to see you all joint hand togehter to save your Country and for sure your people are not dumb but you have to use your brain wisely.

Your good neighbor

Anonymous said...

Dear Cambodian at all levels,

This is the time to collaborate in order to be strong. We should understand enough that when we spit, we are weak, very weak. We can see the results, 1 chair, 3 chairs are most. Why do SRP, and the HRP keep spiting?. Who would die for Mr. Sam RangSey and Mr. Kem Sokha?, We only respect these two leaders, but we all would die for our Nation, our country. This is called dying with Diginity.

As soon as SRP, HRP, and other party collaborate working out for our country and Cambodian people interests, then YOUN/SIEM who want to swallow Cambodia fall apart. But in the past, we have been giving them a lots of chances because we never join.

Please understand the word "We" and "I" when working for politic.

Engough is enough. It's time now.

Anonymous said...

Nope, when working for politic, everything is bullshit and exaggerated.

Anonymous said...

smaller political parties of all kinds need to consolidate or unify their "small" parties to make just one big opposing party, otherwise, due to their "smallness" in size, they will have no chance against the bigger, majority party when comes to a chance in the next national election. take it or leave it, it is up to them, however, but when they lose again, don't lament the fact that they did not take into consideration this sound suggestion. even common sense dictates that small party cannot win a bigger party; there has gotten to be some kind of leverage in this. go figure! god bless.

plus, if they can't do this simple task of unifying, it goes to show a bigger picture of how ineffective their leadership is at a national level. so be careful with that as well. please be smarter and cleverer. as they say, make mistake once, shame on you, make the same mistake twice, shame on me! very profound and meaning, please think deeply about it! thank you and god bless.

Anonymous said...

To Mr. 1:27 AM,

That is your own understand. We are lucky just to have only you, but 10 people like you. Otherwise, Cambodia will become year Zero again with upside down.

I don't you are deaf or hard of hearing Mr. 1:27 AM if you don't know how to talk to benefit the readers, just shut-up!

Anonymous said...

It's good for these 2 parties to united but I afraid that we can't win the election anyway because NEC controle evry tight the election.But we have to go one step at a time.In the SRP internal they have 2 groups,one is belong to Eang say no to the unification and they also have most powerfull in the party.They got monnies and political deals from the cpp throught Eang.So Eang is an agent of cpp and also hold SRP an hostage and hold a lots political weakness of Sam Rainsy.

Anonymous said...

Please stop using the word
"OPPOSING" or "Opposting Party". The mall Party want to collaborty is because of Cambodian people's Interests. HRP and SRP are the party of Cambodian people's interests. Ok.

Anonymous said...

Enough Bullshit, just get a life, losers!

Anonymous said...

Yep, stop crying! do something with Youn tourists in cambodia..they are not leaving the country!! who know? Viet-army, viet spy?