Thursday, 19 February 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Defectors claim they are better able to serve the people under the CPP’s umbrella, while HRP president Kem Sokha remains optimistic
SEVEN high-ranking Human Rights Party (HRP) officials have defected to the ruling Cambodian People's Party, claiming they have a better chance to serve the people in government than they do in opposition.
Touch Nilkiry, one of those who defected Tuesday, said fighting the CPP was useless since the party's win at last year's national election, which showed it has the support of the people.
"I have joined the CPP to serve the people," he said. "I have been in opposition for nearly 20 years."
Political analysts say the defection could weaken the HRP's recent alliance with the Sam Rainsy Party, saying both parties needed to work harder to prevent defections of senior leaders.
"To bar defection, the leaders of the parties must reform themselves," said Puthea Hang, executive director of election monitor NICFEC, adding the parties were being drained of valuable experience.
Meanwhile, Comfrel Executive Director Koul Panha said national elections were far enough away that there was still enough time for the HRP to strengthen itself against further defections, but warned that departures in the run-up to election campaigns could be a propaganda boon for the ruling party.
No problem
But HRP President Kem Sokha told the Post the defections would not harm his party's popularity since the party's key leadership remained in place.
"While it gets newcomers, [the party] must also have defectors. CPP members have defected to the HRP and HRP have defected to the CPP," he said, but acknowledged that "if top leaders defect, we will have difficulties".
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said that those who had defected did not seek positions, but departed because they are unhappy with the recent alliance between Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, which will see the two parties campaign under the banner of the Democratic Movement for Change in future polls.
"They defected because the HRP shook hands with Sam Rainsy," he said Tuesday.
SEVEN high-ranking Human Rights Party (HRP) officials have defected to the ruling Cambodian People's Party, claiming they have a better chance to serve the people in government than they do in opposition.
Touch Nilkiry, one of those who defected Tuesday, said fighting the CPP was useless since the party's win at last year's national election, which showed it has the support of the people.
"I have joined the CPP to serve the people," he said. "I have been in opposition for nearly 20 years."
Political analysts say the defection could weaken the HRP's recent alliance with the Sam Rainsy Party, saying both parties needed to work harder to prevent defections of senior leaders.
"To bar defection, the leaders of the parties must reform themselves," said Puthea Hang, executive director of election monitor NICFEC, adding the parties were being drained of valuable experience.
Meanwhile, Comfrel Executive Director Koul Panha said national elections were far enough away that there was still enough time for the HRP to strengthen itself against further defections, but warned that departures in the run-up to election campaigns could be a propaganda boon for the ruling party.
No problem
But HRP President Kem Sokha told the Post the defections would not harm his party's popularity since the party's key leadership remained in place.
"While it gets newcomers, [the party] must also have defectors. CPP members have defected to the HRP and HRP have defected to the CPP," he said, but acknowledged that "if top leaders defect, we will have difficulties".
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said that those who had defected did not seek positions, but departed because they are unhappy with the recent alliance between Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, which will see the two parties campaign under the banner of the Democratic Movement for Change in future polls.
"They defected because the HRP shook hands with Sam Rainsy," he said Tuesday.
8 comments:
It is very sad to see many poor and innocent people suffer because government care only power, not people.
What's news!!! Greed, money, and pussies can buy Khmer at any time. Khmer don't give a hoot when come to nationalism even they know the cpp is under the viet to gulping khmer land for good. Khmer deserve to live like cham people, nonetheless. What a stupid race.
The more I serve the Khmer peoples the bigger my villa grows.
Nationalism and patriotism is important. As khmer I seen patriotism in every philipino. We khmer need to rise up and do the same. Hope and faith is crucial for the long term effect.
Those who join the SRP or HRP now only do so in order to jump ship.
They have founda nw way to become konseys. They beat their way faster to the positions than many long time CPP supporters.
So true, only dumb and stupid people will waste time (decades) with losers .
Hey 2:07 AM - you've got a great sense of humour
If you voted for CPP (Cambodian People's Party):
Also known as:
Communist People's Party
Khmer Rouge People's Party
Khmer Krorhorm People's Party
You're support the killing of 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples.
You're support the killing of innocent men, women and children in Cambodia on March 30, 1997.
You're support murder of Piseth Pilika.
You're support assassination of journalists in Cambodia.
You're support political assassination and killing.
You're support attemted assassination and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.
You're support corruption in Cambodia.
You're support Hun Sen Regime burn poor people's house down to the ground and leave them homeless.
These are the Trade Mark of Hun Sen Regime.
Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin are Khmer Rouge commanders.
When is the ECCC going to bring these three criminals to U.N. Khmer Rouge Trail?
Khmer Rouge Regime is a genocide organization.
Hun Sen Regime is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Bodyguards is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Death Squad is a terrorist organization.
Cambodian People's Party is a terrorist organization.
I have declare the current Cambodian government which is lead by the Cambodian People's Party as a terrorist organization.
Whoever associate with the current Cambodian government are associate with a terrorist organization.
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