CPP expands party branches in the U.S

By Khmerization
Source: RFA

The Cambodian Embassy in the United of America said that it is trying to expand the political influence of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in America by trying to induce defections from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) which had a large following for many years, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Hem Heng (pictured), the Cambodian Ambassador to the United States, said on the weekend that about 400-500 Cambodian-Americans, including many former members of the SRP, in Lowell in Massachussets had defected to the CPP through the Embassy based in Washington. "In my capacity as a member of the CPP, I have met many supporters of the CPP in many states. Some people expressed desire to join the CPP and they wanted to set up party branches in order to facilitate and to propagate the news about the developments in Cambodia, especially news from Cambodia", he said.

He said supporters of the CPP spread out across the U.S, like in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Texas, Florida, Washington, Virginia and Louisiana. He added that the Cambodian Diaspora, including the defectors to the CPP, do not have the right to vote, but they can contribute to the result of the election through indirect decision-making like sending their money to relatives which can encourage them to join the CPP back home.

Mr. Hourt Kim Chhay, one of the defectors in Long Beach, California, said at least 34 people from Long Beach had joined the CPP. "I see that in Long Beach, many people support the opposition parties. When officials from the CPP want to come to Long Beach, they don't have anybody to receive them. This is what I see. In order to strengthen the CPP or offer a place to stay to the CPP officials in order for them to establish good relations with the people to promulgate their political programs about Cambodia, it is easier if they have party branches in the area", he said.

Mr. Hourt Kim Chhay said other than political activities, CPP supporters in Long Beach had organised fundraising to help the Cambodian Red Cross headed by Mrs. Bun Rany, wife of the Prime Minister Hun Sen who is a vice-president of the CPP. He said often people in Lowell in Massachusetts, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and in California raised about $4000-$5000 and sent to Mrs. Bun Rany through the Cambodian Embassy in Washington.

Mr. Anthony Kim, from California, has just defected to the CPP. He said he decided to join the CPP because the party had developed the country very impressively. "I am the young generation, I saw the present ruling party in Cambodia has developed the country very fast, from zero (nothing) to what we've seen today which is outstanding", he said.

Global Witness in its 2007 reports said that Pheapimex, a company owned by the CPP Senator Lao Meng Khin and His wife, Mrs. Cheung Sopheap, better known as Yeay Phu, controlled 7.4% of all economically and arable lands in Cambodia. This is excluding tens of thousands of hectares of other arable lands given as concessions to another CPP Senator, Tycoon Ly Yong Phat, the report said.

Mr. Chea Kim Ly, president of the opposition SRP in America, said he is not concerned about the defections, saying that those who joined or defected to the CPP have done so for economic or personal interests. "I'm not concerned because I understand that our Cambodian people living overseas are very well educated. They are individuals who have a nationalistic conscience. For one or two persons who decided to join the ruling party, they have done so for personal interests. So, it did not cause the SRP to be concerned", he said.

Mr. Kouch Chanly, from Maryland, said those who joined the ruling CPP wanted to accumulate wealth by contributing to human rights abuses, corruption and abuses of powers committed by the present ruling party. He criticised the Ambassador for using his official function to serve the interests of a particular political party. "For those who have a nationalistic conscience, they never worked for or helped a government that has committed widespread violence, abused its own citizens, or a government that has rampantly committed corruption", he said.

The SRP had set up about 30 party braches in the United States and now the ruling CPP is trying to rival the SRP by making great effort to establish its own party branches across the United States, starting from Pennsylvania, Louisiana, California and Massachusetts.