“He’s our hope." Our hope because he plans to have like the teacher or officer salary higher - better than now," he said. "Now is bad condition. I mean salary cannot survive. And Mr. Sam Rainsy, my hero, he will provide us with this expectation.”
The size of Friday’s turnout makes it clear that the opposition leader is the hope for many others too, and that will surely unsettle some in the ruling party.
Exiled Cambodian Opposition Leader Returns to Huge Crowds
Voice of America | 19 July 2013
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s exiled opposition
leader Sam Rainsy arrived in Phnom Penh Friday after nearly four years
in self-imposed exile. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of
the capital to welcome him back, little more than a week before the
country goes to the polls.
Earlier this week the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party estimated that 20,000 people would line the road to the airport on Friday to welcome Sam Rainsy, and that a further 20,000 would congregate in Freedom Park, the public space where he later addressed his supporters.
Far more turned out. Several tens of thousands lined the airport road. Some observers estimated the crowd at more than 100,000.
Even Sam Rainsy himself was astonished at his reception. He spoke briefly to VOA after arriving on stage at Freedom Park in central Phnom Penh to address thousands of supporters, saying he was very touched to be home.
"Incredible. I cannot find words to express my emotions," Rainsy said.
He also predicted the outcome for elections set for July 28.
"If the election were free and fair, we would win a landslide victory."
Earlier this week the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party estimated that 20,000 people would line the road to the airport on Friday to welcome Sam Rainsy, and that a further 20,000 would congregate in Freedom Park, the public space where he later addressed his supporters.
Far more turned out. Several tens of thousands lined the airport road. Some observers estimated the crowd at more than 100,000.
Even Sam Rainsy himself was astonished at his reception. He spoke briefly to VOA after arriving on stage at Freedom Park in central Phnom Penh to address thousands of supporters, saying he was very touched to be home.
"Incredible. I cannot find words to express my emotions," Rainsy said.
He also predicted the outcome for elections set for July 28.
"If the election were free and fair, we would win a landslide victory."
Rainsy addresses supporters in Phnom Penh on July 19, 2013.
Rainsy then set off to address the adoring crowd, standing side-by-side
with deputy party leader Kem Sokha, the man who has led the opposition’s
electoral charge in his absence.
Sam Rainsy left Cambodia in 2009 ahead of an 11-year jail term on charges that the opposition and others have long held were trumped up.
Earlier this month, after nearly four years away, he pledged to return regardless of the consequences. The United States was one donor that told the Cambodian government it would take a dim view if it jailed the leader of the opposition.
And so a week ago a pardon was ordered by Rainsy’s great political rival, Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose ruling Cambodian People's Party has more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament and which is expected to win this election. The pardon, said a government spokesman, was to promote peace and national reconciliation.
Rainsy’s return leaves him with just a week or so to campaign. On Saturday, Rainsy and Kem Sokha will together visit key provinces to try and boost the opposition’s chances.
One man who will not need any persuading is Narith, a government employee who was waiting at the airport for Rainsy. Narith, who was reluctant to give his full name, said he has long admired Sam Rainsy and his policies, particularly the opposition’s pledge to boost the salaries of public servants.
“He’s our hope." Our hope because he plans to have like the teacher or officer salary higher - better than now," he said. "Now is bad condition. I mean salary cannot survive. And Mr. Sam Rainsy, my hero, he will provide us with this expectation.”
The size of Friday’s turnout makes it clear that the opposition leader is the hope for many others too, and that will surely unsettle some in the ruling party.
Yet few analysts believe Rainsy’s presence will see a change in government: Hun Sen and his party remain popular, particularly in rural areas. Cambodia’s rolls of eligible voters are also in disarray, leading to worries that the polls remain vulnerable to rigging.
Sam Rainsy left Cambodia in 2009 ahead of an 11-year jail term on charges that the opposition and others have long held were trumped up.
Earlier this month, after nearly four years away, he pledged to return regardless of the consequences. The United States was one donor that told the Cambodian government it would take a dim view if it jailed the leader of the opposition.
And so a week ago a pardon was ordered by Rainsy’s great political rival, Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose ruling Cambodian People's Party has more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament and which is expected to win this election. The pardon, said a government spokesman, was to promote peace and national reconciliation.
Rainsy’s return leaves him with just a week or so to campaign. On Saturday, Rainsy and Kem Sokha will together visit key provinces to try and boost the opposition’s chances.
One man who will not need any persuading is Narith, a government employee who was waiting at the airport for Rainsy. Narith, who was reluctant to give his full name, said he has long admired Sam Rainsy and his policies, particularly the opposition’s pledge to boost the salaries of public servants.
“He’s our hope." Our hope because he plans to have like the teacher or officer salary higher - better than now," he said. "Now is bad condition. I mean salary cannot survive. And Mr. Sam Rainsy, my hero, he will provide us with this expectation.”
The size of Friday’s turnout makes it clear that the opposition leader is the hope for many others too, and that will surely unsettle some in the ruling party.
Yet few analysts believe Rainsy’s presence will see a change in government: Hun Sen and his party remain popular, particularly in rural areas. Cambodia’s rolls of eligible voters are also in disarray, leading to worries that the polls remain vulnerable to rigging.
6 comments:
យើងខ្ញុំ សុំសួរថា ប្រសិនបើគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ
មានវាសនានឹងទទួលជោគជ័យលើគណបក្សប្រជា
ជន តើ អាចនឹងមានសង្រ្គាមកើតឡើងទេ?ជាពិសេស
សង្រ្គាមស៊ីវិល
CPP is no longer popular in the rural areas, why because they did not protect Cambodia and Cambodian on boarder issues Sam Rainsy, Kim Sokha and CNRP did, CPP Hun Sen did not protect Cambodia(n) in term of find the markets to sell their pproduces, because CPP favour Vietnamese producted since the Thai Embasssy Coup, CPP have largest accelerate the destructions of rainforest and natural resources that benefits CPP MP members and theire associations.
Cambodia, once a lush country is becoming dryer, hottter from carelest and personal gain developments of the CPP Hun sen.
The Rural Cambodian people faces many health and education costs, problems in accessing health care seeing people left untreated and died, problem accessing proper housing, leading to many homelessness. Even the illegal Vietnamese Hun Sen brough in have better support from his Government end to end they have more rights than most Cambodian.
But CRNP will hope to reconcile some of these issues and protect Cambodian citizen including Vietnamese ethnic who came to Cambodian for proper and correct way. They will all like other Cambodian benefits from CNRP policies across the board.
And in my view there will be an improve in Productivities from higher wager and lesser corruption and less donations from internation communities. So CRNP will not only benefit Cambodian in the City but the rural and remote communities will too get access to the CNRP policies.
I have to acknowledged that the rural area is where NEC and CPP "Popular" in vote rigging system.
There is no POOR people that according to Hun Sen will get a Coffin as part of their pension.
Or an increase in minimal wages, or access to doctor, basic medicine free of charge, or sent their kids to schools and universities and the younger Cambodian dont have to leave the country to find jobs that they are exploited under the current CPP, they offer not protection to Cambodian whom work abroad.
There is not action again corruption by the CPP since they GoLive with the corruptions law, we see more innocent citizen put in goal. The Crime are still free in Cambodia under Hun Sen but the honest decent working Cambodian whom have no money will end up in goal or framed. This is CPP popularity..
Even if CNRP win, Hun Sen is not going to up his seat or power that easy. Dictator is not afraid to die and is not afraid to send someone else to die or to die for him, especially when he is cornered. so embrace yourselves Cambodians, things just got started.
No, if civil war is to happen, we know that, it will be led by the VC because they had done this before during pol pot and Hang Sarin and so, if it does occur, then, it will repeat itself that is all.
But UN and NATO are already aware of this issue. Right now, China and US agreed if these things is to happen again, they will attack Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), this time make no mistake.
The VC can lie once, twice but not three times. There will be no negotiation, because with the VC negotiation won't work, accept ready to put them all down. Since they are cheater. liars and deceivers.
The Chinese never like VC anyway, they are considered are outcast. The VC still owe China alot of money don't want to pay them back and so Chinese is going to take the whole Island near VN but VC doesn't like that and send the demonstrators to the street demanding Chinese to return its Island. But Chinese are not stupid, they are not going to let the VC off the Hock, VN owe them, so they have to pay, simple as that.
To the Chinese. VC are scumbag, liars, cheater, ruthless, cunning, manipulative kind of of people where they don't want to see them exist more than we do.
So yes, we hope US and Chinese finally recognise who these VC are and what are they capable off really.
All dictators have lots of hot air threatening with this and that if they loose. Look at all of them in the past, where did they end up? Not even one squared meter of land for themselves at the end.
Losers never play it fair, that's what will make them losers in the end.
This intimidation tac tic will be documented and added towards the mountaint of evidents that the election is NOT free & fair!.
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