Hun Sen: PM candidates should not have dual nationalityWednesday, November 28, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Samdach Dek Cho Hun Sen, the prime minister of Cambodia, declared on Tuesday that candidates to the position of prime minister in 2008 should have a single nationality only and not dual nationality.
During a speech given at a diploma distribution for teaching students at the Education Institute in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said: “Cambodian politicians should put an end to dual nationality, they are not brave at all, in particular those PM candidates should renounce one nationality if they are strong.”
Hun Sen asked whether the PM candidates would renounce the dual nationality or not. If they are not willing to, how could anybody trust them? They work in Cambodia, do business in Cambodia, but pay taxes in France instead. Hun Sen added that he is also concerned because currently, one of his grandchild was born in the US, and he is also a US citizen, but Hun Sen does not know what to do to have his grandchild renounce the US citizenship. The reason Hun Sen is concerned is if the US is at war, his grandchild could be drafted in the US army. Furthermore, if Hun Sen’s grandchild does business in Cambodia, but he does not pay tax in the US, he could also be arrested by the US.
Hun Sen’s statement regarding the nationality issue met with strong reaction from an opposition leader. Kem Sokha, HRP president told VOA on Tuesday evening that: “the nationality issue is not important, what is important is the person.” Kem Sokha stressed: “There are some leaders who indeed only hold one nationality, but they destroy the nation, they are dictatorial, and they are involved in corruption. All these actions are not good at all.” Kem Sokha added: “What’s important is not the nationality issue, the main issue is the term limit for the prime minister to one or two mandates at most, this is a more relevant issue.”
Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that Hun Sen’s declaration was political, and the constitution of Cambodia does not stipulate that Cambodian people who hold another foreign nationality cannot participate in politics.
Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy said that even though he holds dual nationality, he is a Cambodian citizen who serves the Cambodian interests and he does not serve any foreign interests.
Sam Rainsy and Prince Ranariddh both hold the French citizenship.
During a speech given at a diploma distribution for teaching students at the Education Institute in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said: “Cambodian politicians should put an end to dual nationality, they are not brave at all, in particular those PM candidates should renounce one nationality if they are strong.”
Hun Sen asked whether the PM candidates would renounce the dual nationality or not. If they are not willing to, how could anybody trust them? They work in Cambodia, do business in Cambodia, but pay taxes in France instead. Hun Sen added that he is also concerned because currently, one of his grandchild was born in the US, and he is also a US citizen, but Hun Sen does not know what to do to have his grandchild renounce the US citizenship. The reason Hun Sen is concerned is if the US is at war, his grandchild could be drafted in the US army. Furthermore, if Hun Sen’s grandchild does business in Cambodia, but he does not pay tax in the US, he could also be arrested by the US.
Hun Sen’s statement regarding the nationality issue met with strong reaction from an opposition leader. Kem Sokha, HRP president told VOA on Tuesday evening that: “the nationality issue is not important, what is important is the person.” Kem Sokha stressed: “There are some leaders who indeed only hold one nationality, but they destroy the nation, they are dictatorial, and they are involved in corruption. All these actions are not good at all.” Kem Sokha added: “What’s important is not the nationality issue, the main issue is the term limit for the prime minister to one or two mandates at most, this is a more relevant issue.”
Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that Hun Sen’s declaration was political, and the constitution of Cambodia does not stipulate that Cambodian people who hold another foreign nationality cannot participate in politics.
Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy said that even though he holds dual nationality, he is a Cambodian citizen who serves the Cambodian interests and he does not serve any foreign interests.
Sam Rainsy and Prince Ranariddh both hold the French citizenship.
