Friday, March 18, 2011

Public opinions on the stripping of Sam Rainsy’s rights as MP

(Photo: AFP)
17 March 2011
By Den Ayuthyea
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Civil society and a number of people in Cambodia indicated that the loss of rights and ability to become an election candidate by opposition leader Sam Rainsy show the CPP’s fear of Sam Rainsy’s popularity. They also indicated that Sam Rainsy’s inability to participate in upcoming elections is a backward move of democracy in Cambodia.

On 15 March 2011, the National Assembly (NatAss) of Cambodia decided to strip opposition leader Sam Rainsy of his duty and rights as MP from Kampong Cham during the 4th electoral mandate, i.e. his name was struck down from the NatAss roster. Because of this stripping, Sam Rainsy could no longer participate in upcoming elections.

A number of people among the public indicated that in a democratic society, there should be no restriction on the opposition leader’s rights to participate in the political process, nor should he be restricted from participating in the elections.

Dorn Rithy, a farmer from Prey Veng, indicated that he wants to see Sam Rainsy, the leader of the largest opposition party in Cambodia, be present in Cambodia during the upcoming 2012 commune election and during the upcoming 2013 general election. His presence should be fair and equal to that of the ruling CPP party.


He also indicated that in Cambodia where the country leaders claimed that the country is a democratic one, the latter should not create political situations that would restrict the rights of the opposition leader from participating in the elections.

Keo Thai, a teacher from the Hun Xen Boribo junior high school teacher in Kampong Chhnang, indicated that restricting Sam Rainsy from participating in the election or present himself as candidate to the elections of 2012 and 2013 is not by chance, but rather a true political game [by the CPP].

An anonymous man from Kampong Thom indicated that a large number of people in Cambodia are supporting opposition leader Sam Rainsy, therefore, whether it wants it or not, the ruling CPP must find a way to get rid of Sam Rainsy, to restrict him from participating in the elections because this opposition leader dares to stand up and help farmers who lost their lands etc…

Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), expressed his disappointment to see the NatAss stripping Sam Rainsy from his MP position, as well as the NatAss restriction on his ability to return back to the country to participate in the upcoming 2012 and 2013 elections. He indicated that Sam Rainsy’s case is a political case and he said that any election without the presence or participation of the opposition leader would constitute an unfair election that lacks transparency.

Regarding this issue, Sam Raindy indicated that the stripping of his rights and duty as MP, which was initiated by the NatAss on 15 March, is contrary to the democratic principles, and it also shows that the current leaders only want to see one party in Cambodia.

During his phone interview with RFA, Sam Rainsy indicated the SRP is still strong and popular even if he is absent from Cambodia.

Dr. Hang Puthea, the executive director of NICFEC, said that Sam Rainsy – the individual – is an integral part of the party, therefore, the loss of one portion of the party could weaken the party somewhat.

He added that the presence or absence of Sam Rainsy during the upcoming election will not be that important as long as the SRP is represented during the election in order to compete with the ruling CPP.

Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), said the stripping of Sam Rainsy’s rights and duty as MP, initiated by the NatAss, is contrary to the people’s will who elected Sam Rainsy as their representative.

Phay Siphan, mouthpiece of the Council of Ministers, indicated that the government did not prevent Sam Rainsy from returning home, and that Sam Rainsy is involved with the court, not the government.

It should be recalled that the reason Sam Rainsy cannot participate in the upcoming election was because on 29 October 2009, he led a group of farmers to uproot border stakes at border post no. 185 located in Samrong commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province. Sam Rainsy claimed that these stakes were planted on top of rice fields belonging to Cambodian farmers living in that area.

Sam Rainsy saw his parliamentary immunity lifted 3 times ever since he participated in Cambodia’s political arena: once in 1995, the second time in 2005 and the third time in 2009.

After his immunity was lifted in 2009, the Svay Rieng provincial court sentenced him to 2-year of jail time on 27 January 2010. The court charged him of destruction of public property after he uprooted the border stakes on 09 October 2009.

Later on, Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia by the Phnom Penh municipal court to 10-year of additional jail time after charging him of falsifying public document simply because he published maps in which he claimed that Cambodia lost territories to Vietnam due to the planting of border post No. 185.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Human Righ! Human Right! American goverment had bombed B-52 killed innocent cambodians included babies, infants, disable people, young kids, teenagers, women, men, elderly about one millions lifes during American bomb cambodia. American goverment allow their Amry using chemical weapons to toxic innocent cambodians from generation to generation!

Human Right ! Human Right! American! Human Right! American! Human Right! Where are Human Right for lifes that had been lost by American bomb?

KI, Voice of America in Khmer, Radio free asia, Radio France International we want to hear more about American bomb Cambodia at that time debate more, more and more. As professional radio you guy shouldn't try to silence and forget about this injustice for khmer lifes that have been murdered by US B-52 and chemiscal weapons of US ARMY!

Anonymous said...

6.30am,


You bark like a dog. Preach that to your yuon dog Hun Xen

Anonymous said...

Guys! Cambodian people have peace now after long civile war. Please let's khmer people live in peace and khmer people now can go anywhere in cambodia without the fear of Pol Pot now. Please let's us in peace we are sick of war and revolution as history teach very well about revolution at 1970 to now.

At 1970 all students and well educated people were support the revolution of Khmer rouge but after khmer rouge win they murdered all students and well educated people because khmer rouge scare of these people do revolution as they did to Non Nol regime. We learn from the history very well so we are cambodian people say no to any revolution.

Hun Sen may be not the best leader in the world but so far my families and majority of cambodian people live in peace and can walk or do whatever we want with no restriction as Khmer Rouge regime.

So we are happy that Hun Sen remain in power. So we still have peace in Cambodia. Plus Hun Sen already rich so he may not want more money as leader coming at all. At 1993, Cambodian people gave the opportunity to Doctor Prince to demonstrated democracy to develop Cambodia but Doctor Prince as well as his party members are so currupted and so cheap and hungry for money that is why as the result they have today. Nobody belive in them anymore.

In 1997 a lot khmer belive in Doctor Prince and his party have been murdered but Doctor Prince as well as his party member can't even dare to find justice for them till today. They are using innocent cambodian people to gain their power to currupt again that's all.

CPP look down on Doctor Prince and his party member because of that! Money hunger.

Hun Sen May not a perfect prime minister but so far Cambodian people live in peace now. We like Hun Sen remain in power so we can have peace.

Anonymous said...

6.30am viet cong in heart of khmer rouge and joined to killed khmer people almost 2 millions ,and now the imaged of opposed SRP are killing field of khmer right to homeland .
question is DO you think that recently government are viet minh or sva need banana ?

Anonymous said...

6:30
The more you open your mouth, the more you reveal your stupidity. In fact, you don't know a damn thing about politics and history.
Why don't you go back and check with your CPP before you make a fool of yourself here. Shame on you.

Anonymous said...

Hi there

Hun Sen need your help to pay Lon Nol dept during 70-75. can some one who pro Lon Nol help Hun Sen to pay USA's dept. there is only $300m. come on please!

Anonymous said...

6:49
You look, but can't see, you listen, but can't hear. Don't ever try to lie to yourself by praising the notorious dictator in Khmer soil. Be real, and face the music. My friend, life is too short to be a hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen is well known for his ruthless and bullied politician. He is man of an old school with mentality of communism and authoritarian. To deal with this man, Sam Rainsy must find a way to work around his lawlessness behavior in order to achieve political goal. Any politician has to be more patient, more mature and less combative yet goal driven with Hun Sen. He is definitively one of a kind kid from the pagoda and he is getting smarter too in term of keeping most Cambodians happy...

Anonymous said...

Vietcong is getting very brave while in cambodia, using the cpp.

They can forced exiled on Sam Rainsy not gonna shut up!

Too many wrong in cambodia, cannot make a right by vietcong.

Anonymous said...

The only person who warns his own people of possible repeat of war and Pol Pot's genocide is Ah DICK-traitor Kwack in in order to achieve his youn intersts and to stay in power!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The guy on the left never want Cambodia country get peaceful.

Anonymous said...

6:30AM It's hard to judge you because i don' t know who you rely are but your comment sound like FK.

But I can tell you that you must be a former Khmer Rouge or old people. Only those people know the effect of the B52 bombing.

you only mentioned about the B52 bombing but not the 122mm rockets that Viet Cong fired into Phnom Penh.

6:49AM,
"CPP look down on Doctor Prince and his party member because of that! Money hunger".

The pot called the kettle black!

You said "There is peace in Cambodia as long as Hun Sen is the prime minister", indicates how evil this person is. If he is not allowed to be the prime minister, he would destroy Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

Dear All,
Indeed, Cambodian constitution has fully cover all political participations from all Cambodian people and there is no law from any level included the King can remove opposition leader from his Mandate after his election from last National Election.
His mandate and his Parliament seat can only be removed if he cannot be re-elected by next Election. This removal from National National Assembly is a violation of Cambodian Nation Constitution and is a coup d'etat.
Cambodian from all walk of lives must stand up with this violation from these National traitors, Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng sam Rin and CPP member of parlaiment. All SRP members must boycot this violation and flee from Cambodia for international intervention.

Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

6:49 AM

Please don't just think about the past and present.....you must open your wide brain to think a long run in the future too......does Cambodia has peace now??? kind of kidding ahh....yes, but only pouk ah kwack group.

You know that if ah kwack is still in power, CAMBODIA IS NOT JUST like CAMPUCHEA KROM.....BUT EVEN WORSE THAN CHAMPA TODAY.


Khmer Prey NorKor

Anonymous said...

lon nol gouvment clean the vietnam out of country ,he did not have a chance to build the country becauce the stupid khmer rouge ( hun sen ) .
hun sen pay viet bak with land and let vietnam prosperus in cambodia
you say piece in cambodia now ,verry soon canbodia will be khmer krom.
long lives 18 march 1970

Anonymous said...

Guys please stop drilling on the past we cannot change it and for us Cambodians we never learnt from it…..concentrate on the present issues and fight for the future of Cambodia while we still can…we have to remove this spineless slave now…….

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen coward like than Swe

Anonymous said...

I honestly have no favor in any parties in Cambodia because I had experienced enough with wars, killings,...and as the result, I lost my parents, brothers and sisters during Khmer Rouge as well as many of us in here. And to make the long story short, kHMER just came back from HELL and don't want to encounter HELL again. Therefore, it's hard for me to trust any leaders out there...Period. If we look at Sam Rainsy, he is a brave and great man. He has been teaching Cambodian what is DEMOCRACY and to stand up for what is right that would benefit to KHMER, but he does not have a chance to lead the country in full force yet since he has been in the political arena. Hun Sen is also a great man. He brought Vietnam to save Khmer from Pol Pot regime, but in return he has to show great respect to his friend. He WON'T STAND UP for Khmer who lost their lands to Vietnam. Instead, he rather save his friendship with VIETNAM and turned around punished KHMER. For THREE DECADES of his ruling, KHMER and his CCP PARTY have made him and his family SUPER RICH and FAMOUS, also have great respect over him for what he has done for KHMER. Now he becomes greedy and willing to do anything he possible could to save his power; even he has to sacrifice his morality. I think KHMER would love to have a leader who is INTELLECTUAL, COURAGEOUS, GENEROUS, and WILLING TO STAND UP TO PROTECT KHMER.
Therefore, the LEADERS I believe in now are KHMER PEOPLE. THEY ARE THE TRUE GREAT LEADERS WHO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR KHMER. THEY ARE INTELLECTUALLY AND COURAGEOUSLY CAPABLE AND HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND A LEADER WHO HAVE THE SAME VISION AND COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR KHMER AND LEAD THEM TO THE BRIGHTER FUTURE.

Anonymous said...

I think CPP is return Cambodia back to the old day of year Zero.

The dictatiorship by Ah Hun Sen, Ah Heng Samrin & Ah Chea Sim is so similar to Gaddafi of Liyba...

Constant oppression and selling ignorance of Veitnam Boarder encroach and the illegal immigration and Viet spies roam free in Cambodia. I have no doubt that the Ah Hun Sen court try to isolcate Sam Ransy ..it clear of a personal attack and it has no relations to NATIONAL interest of Cambodia and it People.

All the acts perform by CPP as aim at PRETECTING THEIR INTEREST THE CORRUPTED DOLLARS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO STREAL FROM CAMBODIA AND FROM IT PEOPLE...

Anonymous said...

I think CPP is return Cambodia back to the old day of year Zero.

The dictatiorship by Ah Hun Sen, Ah Heng Samrin & Ah Chea Sim is so similar to Gaddafi of Liyba...

Constant oppression and selling ignorance of Veitnam Boarder encroach and the illegal immigration and Viet spies roam free in Cambodia. I have no doubt that the Ah Hun Sen court try to isolcate Sam Ransy ..it clear of a personal attack and it has no relations to NATIONAL interest of Cambodia and it People.

All the acts perform by CPP as aim at PRETECTING THEIR INTEREST THE CORRUPTED DOLLARS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO STREAL FROM CAMBODIA AND FROM IT PEOPLE...

Phnom Penh Khmer said...

You can bark all you want behind your screens. Come to Cambodia and see all the infrastructure development. Bridges are built and roads are paved. Some areas don't even look like it's Cambodia at all. And Cambodia has never been more peaceful. Hun Sen is no saint, but alot has been done under his leadership.

Who would u recommend to run this country, Sam Rainsy? NOT. This man has done nothing in Cambodia, but stirs things up. All he has ever done was cause Chaos.

Anonymous said...

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AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN


Kon Kmeng Naek Srae