Is the CPP so poor in human resource that it is unable to offer alternative to Hun Sen as PM candidate?

CPP extraordinary congress confirms Hun Sen as party PM candidate

Monday, January 14, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The 2-day CPP extraordinary congress held on 12-13 January 2008, has decided to nominate, once again, Hun Sen, the CPP party vice-president, as the candidate for prime minister for the upcoming 4th legislative mandate.

In the decision made by the CPP extraordinary congress, issued on 13 January, after the closing of the congress, it is confirmed that the CPP has unanimously selected Hun Sen as candidate for the prime minister for the 4th legislative mandate.

In addition to the nomination of Hun Sen, the congress which was participated by 900 party members coming from all over the country, confirmed again the CPP standing to continue to strengthen the tight cooperation with the Funcinpec party, as well as all nationalist source in the society in order to unite and achieve the application of the 3rd mandate government policy, and to continue the faithful cooperation for the development of the country, following the election.

The congress also unanimously agreed to the announcement of the CPP policy, and the 11-point program which shows clearly the campaign goal, as well as the policy in all fields to continue the building and national defense for the period of 2008 to 2013. The congress also showed the CPP determination in participating in the competition to wrestle victory for the upcoming 4th mandate legislative election, by strongly abiding to the law and the rules for the election. It will also cooperate to preserve a good political atmosphere so that the election may be conducted freely and fairly.

The congress did not omit to deeply thank King Norodom Sihamoni, the Hero-King Nodorom Sihanouk, father of the nation, and Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the mother of the nation, who dedicated their strength and clairvoyance for the independence, national unity, sovereignty, lands and seas integrity, and the happiness of the Cambodian people.

CPP boasts about numerous achievements but failed to address: Corruption, land-grabbing, land-theft, land-eviction, poverty, deforestation etc...

The CPP holds its extraordinary congress

12 January 2008
By Keo Nimol
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The CPP convoked an extraordinary congress with representatives coming from all over the country, on 12 January, in Phnom Penh, to review a number of issues in view of the preparation for the July 2008 election, and to approve the party policy for the 5-year period between 2008 and 2013.

Chea Sim, CPP president, read the opening message to the congress. He stressed that, under the CPP rule, from one mandate to another, the CPP resolved numerous important national issued, such as resolving the almost 1-year political stalemate, the resolution of the throne problem, the resolution of the border issue, the defense and administration of social order, the amendment of the constitution by introducing the 50+1 majority rule rather than maintaining the 2/3 majority, the organization for the election of village chiefs, the commune election, etc…

In his opening speech, Chea Sim also recognized that during the 2003 election, the number of votes received by the CPP decreased in spite of the increasing number of voters.

Chea Sim pushed party members to put more effort in 2008, in order to achieve the results set by the party, which is to obtain 81 seats at the 123-seat-National Assembly. Currently, the CPP only has 73 seats at the National Assembly.

Recently, prior to the CPP extraordinary congress, an announcement was issued indicating that a number of high-ranking Funcinpec officials defected to the CPP. However, the exact number of defectors is not known yet.

The CPP extraordinary congress was held behind close door, and nobody besides the CPP members were allowed in.

The CPP extraordinary congress was participated by about 900 party members, during a 2-day event. The CPP has million of party adherents, and its central committee consists of 268 members, among whom, 28 belong to the permanent committee. Chea Sim is the party president, Hun Sen, the party vice-president, and Heng Samrin, the party honor president.