SRP defectors handsomely rewarded by Hun Sen [-Chao Phally: Working for democracy doesn't pay, unlike serving Hun Sen]

Monday, February 18, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Two of last week’s SRP defectors to join the CPP, were awarded with salaried positions to live on. The Cambodia Daily reported that Chao Phally, a member of the SRP committee and party president for Kratie province, was rewarded with the position of advisor to Hun Sen with the rank of minister, and Hor Sopheap, a member of the SRP committee from Banteay Meanchey, was rewarded with the position of government advisor with a rank of secretary of state. Chao Phally told The Cambodia Daily by phone on Sunday about the reason he decided to defect his party to join the CPP was because he felt that his 7-year work for the SRP is a waste of time. The Cambodia Daily also reported Chao Phally as saying: “I have sacrificed myself for the sake of democracy for a long time.” Hor Sopheap said that he joined the CPP to build the country. Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, said that among the 100 SRP committee members, only 7 left.

Four more SRP Senior Officials Defect to CPP [-Koul Panha: "To my observation, it is not that serious"]

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
15 February 2008

As Cambodian parliamentary election scheduled for July 2008 is drawing near, more and more politicians from the opposition are leaving the party.

Four additional senior officials from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party decided on Friday to defect their party and enter the ruling party CPP, making the total number of defectors so far to more than ten. They are Chao Phally, Ouk Meoung, Leng Thaly, and Hem Kolboth.

One of the defectors, Chao Phally, a former SRP's lawmaker, described the leadership of the Sam Rainsy party as dictatorial.

"The reason I left the party is that the party's leadership was against the democratic principles, disrespected the rules and internal regulations, and decided things according to the president and his groups. It did not make use of the real democracy. That is the reason I left the Sam Rainsy Party", said Chao Phally.

While SRP claims it is still doing fine, observers say the defection could somehow affect the party in the coming election.

"To my observation, it is not that serious. However, it could somehow affect the party as those senior officials are the core strength and the fact that they enter another party means they are still of some value to the party", said Koul Panha, director of COMFREL.

Political defection

12 Feb 2008
Editorial by Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Five months prior to the election date, political defections are the talk of the town. This is an old trade in the country. However, this year, there are two changes as compared to the previous elections. The first change is that the defectors try to defect as discretely as possible, and they no longer hold press conference as their colleagues did in the past. The second change came form the fact that reactions from political leaders about this practice become more mature. In the past, politicians who defected were considered as traitors, while those who remained behind were considered as simple courtesans. Nowadays, comments are more measured, with the exception of the defections between the two warring royalist parties: Funcinpec and NRP. Between the latter parties, things do not change much even as time goes by, and their animosity towards one another remains alive.

Leaving one’s own party to join the competing party has now become common practice among the politicians, and they no longer respond to the expectations of the party activists. However, to most observers, this action highlights the weakness of democracy in the kingdom.

Two explanations about these defections can be contemplated: (1) It could reflect the lack of solid base for the political parties and they no longer answer to the expectations of their activists. Some deceived by their leaders try to find more clement weather elsewhere while hoping that their ideas would succeed there. (2) It could also point out to personal interest or personal conflicts.

A large number of Cambodian people condemn these defections. They consider that such politicians only look to maintain their position, or to acquire a new position. Thus, their motivations are far from the people’s expectations. They lose a large portion of their credibility, both in the eyes of the voters and in the eyes of their colleagues. Maybe this is the reason why these defectors do not want to see any publicity about their departure from one party to another.

Ideology, personal interests or any other reasons, these last minute defectors give a bad reputation to politicians. Therefore, they could clearly use some better training, (short of that) they should show better clear-sightedness (than the nefarious action they are taking now).

Constant Defections Could Come Back To Haunt Politicians

Op-Ed by Chum Sirath
Phnom Penh

I find it difficult to believe that there wasn’t a bargain of some sort in the defections drama between the SRP and CPP. The day these defectors went public, we also learned that they were rewarded with positions in an already plethoric government.

As a taxpayer, I cant help but raise an eyebrow.

And what about the ethics of those who have been elected by their fellow citizens on a given political agenda and then, towards the end of their mandate, jump ship to another political party with a completely different agenda?

Some argue that this is a citizen's right. Well, it is not a crime, but this behavior could at some point turn citizens away from being interested in politics and as a consequence deny the political elite the support they need in difficult times.