Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)SAM RAINSY’S INTERVIEW WITH THE CAMBODIA DAILY
On 3 January 2010, the following questions from The Cambodia Daily (Q) were answered by Sam Rainsy (A).
Q. Can you explain why you choose to remain abroad and not return to Cambodia? And why you have done so in the past? What do you hope to gain (or prevent) by staying overseas?
A. To make it short, I am awaiting two answers: one from Hanoi, and one from Phnom Penh.
- From Hanoi: See my offer in the 21 December 2009 statement “The Real Court Is in Hanoi” at http://tinyurl.com/y99gv8w
- From Phnom Penh: See my offer in the 2 January 2010 Cambodia Daily’s article “Rainsy Says Will Return When Prisoners Freed” and other press reports such as the one from Radio France Internationale at http://tinyurl.com/yzqq5nn
I must give the two governments some time to respond to my consistent and legitimate offers.
I hope they will answer in one way or another. But, in the present circumstances, no answer is also an answer, a telling answer. The Cambodian people and Friends of Cambodia all over the world will be able to judge.
After that, I will consult with my colleagues in Cambodia and abroad to decide on the next step.
Q. Does your absence hurt the SRP in its operations or its public image?
A. By past experiences, I can say it affects the SRP only to a limited and manageable extent, but my “absence” from Cambodia gives us many opportunities elsewhere.
I am proud of, and blessed by, the permanent presence on the spot of countless competent and dedicated colleagues at all levels who are capable of adjusting to any situation like the one in 2005-2006 when I was “absent” for a whole year. The first subsequent polls (commune elections) in early 2007 were a big and unprecedented success for the SRP, proving that the SRP had not been that “affected” by my “absence.”
In the present world and with modern technologies, the word “absence” in the political field does not have the same meaning as only ten years ago. Look at Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra [the fugitive former Thai prime minister]: In spite of his self-imposed exile, he is very “present” in Thailand. Just a few days ago, I took part in a radio call-in show broadcast live from Phnom Penh. Was I really “absent” from Cambodia?
[End]
Q. Can you explain why you choose to remain abroad and not return to Cambodia? And why you have done so in the past? What do you hope to gain (or prevent) by staying overseas?
A. To make it short, I am awaiting two answers: one from Hanoi, and one from Phnom Penh.
- From Hanoi: See my offer in the 21 December 2009 statement “The Real Court Is in Hanoi” at http://tinyurl.com/y99gv8w
- From Phnom Penh: See my offer in the 2 January 2010 Cambodia Daily’s article “Rainsy Says Will Return When Prisoners Freed” and other press reports such as the one from Radio France Internationale at http://tinyurl.com/yzqq5nn
I must give the two governments some time to respond to my consistent and legitimate offers.
I hope they will answer in one way or another. But, in the present circumstances, no answer is also an answer, a telling answer. The Cambodian people and Friends of Cambodia all over the world will be able to judge.
After that, I will consult with my colleagues in Cambodia and abroad to decide on the next step.
Q. Does your absence hurt the SRP in its operations or its public image?
A. By past experiences, I can say it affects the SRP only to a limited and manageable extent, but my “absence” from Cambodia gives us many opportunities elsewhere.
I am proud of, and blessed by, the permanent presence on the spot of countless competent and dedicated colleagues at all levels who are capable of adjusting to any situation like the one in 2005-2006 when I was “absent” for a whole year. The first subsequent polls (commune elections) in early 2007 were a big and unprecedented success for the SRP, proving that the SRP had not been that “affected” by my “absence.”
In the present world and with modern technologies, the word “absence” in the political field does not have the same meaning as only ten years ago. Look at Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra [the fugitive former Thai prime minister]: In spite of his self-imposed exile, he is very “present” in Thailand. Just a few days ago, I took part in a radio call-in show broadcast live from Phnom Penh. Was I really “absent” from Cambodia?
[End]
14 comments:
if srp isn'r affected by sam rainy according to his own words, is there really a need for him in the party anymore? If his colleagues are so competent, maybe they can run the party without him altogether. Isn't it logically good for the party to cut the member that does nothing to affect the party so you save the expense on that member's salary.
What would Sam Rainsy Party be without Sam Rainsy? His name is engraved on the party's title. Sounds like Sam Rainsy doesn't want anyone to run this thing except him, doesn't it? Can Mu Sochua step up and take Sam Rainsy's place and be the leader of Sam Rainsy Party? It sounds off because as much self-less Sam Rainsy likes to promote himself to be, his action is sometime the opposite, such as case for the party name. Is he so egotistical to feel the need to name the party after himself? I thought he is claiming to promote collectivism.
Can anyone run Sam Rainsy Party besides Sam Rainsy?
No one is as vocal, and for khmer as Mr Sam Rainsy!
8:38 am, can you take his place? I meant can you be like him and more ? Can anyone out there that you know or don't know ?
Its easy to criticizes, but it harder to fills out someone else shoes.
Mr. Xam Run Shit, your confirmation is completely right..Of course, you are absolutely absent and absent forever from Cambodia..and what can be present, it is just only your devil spirit who is always haunting and intimidating Khmer innocent people especially the two guy who are in prison caused by your irresponsible action in Svay Rieng...
Khmer
To 9:23 AM,
Are you sure to say Sam Rainsy will not return to Cambodia forever? I don't think so. Can you bet with me? I think he will return to Cambodia.
Hey Khmer Chkorch 9:23am . You are just a youn kiss ass power grabber. Some days youn will kick your butt. You think you smarter than youn. Think it over my freind before time is running out or you 're going to say sorry to your own family.ORrrrrr
SENK EING SAS EY.
lauk SAM RAINSY please vary careful
before making your next move.
remember that,who are you dealing with? SAM DACH HUN SEN is khmer rouge
grew up in jungle and educated in hanoi.
BUDDHA BLESS YOU.
11:47 AM
Your problem of resorting to calling people you disagree with youn is a very common psychological defense system that many Khmer people have used. If you're an old person, you are a bad example. If you're a young person, you have inherited the curse. Do you feel good about yourself when you call others youn so you feel you're much more nationalistic than them? Khmer people need to get educated not just academically but cognitively that the ancient Khmer way of labeling others as "the other" may please your ego right now but this kind of thing is why we had 3 decade long civil war. Think about it.
9:00 AM
I made my question just based on what Sam Rainsy said himself. He said right here that his party's popularity is not affected by his presence/absence even for a year. So a logical question based on that statement is "is there a need for Sam Rainsy in the Sam Rainsy Party anymore?" since whether he is there or not, SRP is doing fine.
Mr. Sam Rainsy, as your supporter, if you plan on returning to Cambodia you should accept the legal challenges ahead of you to demonstrate to us, your supporter that you truly still fight for and can sacrifice for our cause.
If you believe in our cause, the Khmer sovereignty, dignity, and care of the Khmer farmers then you will not write a letter of apology in order to come back in.
If you write a letter of apology you can be sure to lose my vote and all those supporters like me forever who care enough about Khmer farmers to support you through this even if you have to go to prison.
What we cannot stand is a leader who stand for one thing and act out on another for his or her convenience.
Most of us cannot still get over the fact you wrote an apology letter for the border ratification in order to come back to Cambodia.
And now, i think another letter of apology for Hun Xen for the regime's crime against Khmer people will be the last straw for me and many of your supporters.
So H.E Sam Rainsy, if you plan on writing another apology letter, you can count my votes, my families, and all of my friends out!
I will not vote for CPP but I will not vote for you either in event you will decide to betray the Khmer people's pain.
Thank you,
Khmer citizen, your fellow countrymen and supporter.
Sam Rainsy must remain the symbol of Khmer patriotism and dignity.
In business, you need trademarks such as IBM, Coca Cola, McDonalds, etc , that guarantee same and constant product quality.
In politics, you need symbols that guarantee same and constant respect for an ideal.
Trademarks and political names may be invaluable assets and must be protected against dishonest people and other crooks.
Hun Sen is using Kem Sokha to try to change the Sam Rainsy Party's name in order to take control of the strongest and most credible opposition party.
In the same manner, Hun Sen took control of the now-defunct BLDP of Mr Son Sann.
Kem Sokha, who was Secretary General of the Son Sann Party, is now just a tool for Hun Sen to take control of the Sam Rainsy Party by changing its name.
The Khmer people don't care about the party name: They want to win over Hun Sen and the Viets whatever the name of the party they support as long as the party is really loyal to our country.
After following events in Cambodia for the last 20 years, I believe the Sam Rainsy Party is loyal to our country.
I am a businessman in Cambodia. Don't believe all businessmen are heartless and support the CPP. I am officially a CPP member but I secretly support and always vote for the Sam Rainsy Party.
To 2:34 PM
You are either crazy or blind, may be both: Sam Rainsy has never made any "apology" to Hun Sen. He only expressed "regrets" for the fact that Hun Sen is killing Khmer people and destroying Cambodia. If you cannot make the difference between "apology" "regrets" don't make silly comments.
4:48, maybe you need to revist the past. Hun Xen would not accept a "regret" of Hun Xen killing of Khmer people.
Mr. Hun Xen is a arrogant man, he is not as stupid as you think. If Sam Rainsy didn't struck his pride chord with the "regret" letter, a politician's word for apology then Mr. Xen would not let him in.
I think it is you who is blind and willing to defend Sam Rainsy in everyway.
A politician need to now what his base think of his decision, he does not need a bunch of hay-eu and hooray sycophants. If Sam Rainsy is in for that, then there is no point of Voting one Hun Xen out for another one.
Signed
Supporter of H.E Sam Rainsy.
To 2:00 AM
I am a supporter of Samdech Decho Hun Sen, our beloved Prime Minister, but I start to realize he has become a little bit crazy.
Please tell me, if I continue to love him, am I also crazy?
Cheyo Samdech Decho!
Samdech Hun Sen's supporter
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