Mu Sochua vows to confront the CPP

SRP MP Mu Sochua (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

02 March 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

SRP MP Mu Sochua, who was recently transferred from Kampot to Battambang province to replace Mr. Eng Chhay Eang, vowed to lead a political fight against the CPP in order to push for democracy in Cambodia. On Monday, Mrs. Mu Sochua said: “We only have one competitor: the CPP. The SRP knows about this already, therefore, we must strengthen ourselves from the grass root level all the way to the national level. I am very moved that the party is transferring me to the Battambang province, I am determined to dedicate my life to democracy.” Even though Mr. Sam Rainsy, the SRP party leader, is absent from the country due to government lawsuits against him, Mrs. Mu Sochua claimed that the SRP is not weakening, quite to the contrary, the SRP’s popularity is stronger than ever, therefore, the SRP is not afraid of the CPP’s competition in the future.

The CPP troubled?

In response to Mu Sochua’s determination to lead the political fight against the CPP, Chheang Vun, the CPP MP for Battambang province, mocked Mrs. Mu Sochua, saying that she is not stronger than anybody else. Chheang Vun told the Phnom Penh Post that: “Chumteav Mu Sochua is not stronger than others, how many people in Battambang know her? If Mu Sochua is strong, she could attract more votes in Kampot province, and there is no need for her to come to Battambang.” Chheang Vun added: “There is nothing to fear or to be concerned about the replacement of H.E. Eng Chhay Eang by Chumteav Mu Sochua in Battambang.” He added that from one mandate to another, the CPP keeps on increasing its number of seats because it is helping the people (sic!).

The thief of the Nation: Opposition and NGO officials are corrupt, they have money to fly in and out of the country

"For the [immunity] lifting, 91 [MPs] voted [to lift the] Phnom Penh [MP], and 90 [MPs] voted to [lift the] Kampot [MP], but to return back [your immunity], it cannot be done" - Hun Sen (Photo: Khmer Sthabna)
If opposition and NGO officials who are flying in and out of the country in commercial planes are corrupt, does it mean that a PM who flies short distances inside the country in his private helicopter is an ULTRA-CORRUPT THIEF OF THE NATION? (Photo: Reuters)

22 June 2009
By Sopheak and Sopheap
Khmer Sathabna news
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

On 22 June 2009, at Kraing Yov village, Sa’ang district, Kandal province, Prime minister Hun Sen criticized opposition and NGO officials for involvement in corruption: that is why they have money to fly in and out of the country.

Hun Sen said: “… These peasants (using derogatory “Ah Srer”) curse others for being corrupt, they fly in and out in planes. When they travel outside, they have nothing to ride, they own no company, they do not farm, they only have NGOs and political parties. Where do they get the money to take planes in and out? When they travel by plane twice, it costs one school building, they stay in 5-star hotels…”

Hun Sen added that those who point others as being corrupt, where do they get the money to go gamble everyday? Hun Sen added: “I know where they gamble, it is at 3030 Chhouk Tip 404, now they go to Street 6A, I know their gambling place,” Hun Sen warned. He said that this gambling leads to corruption, there is nothing to be puzzled about, don’t yell at others as being corrupt.

Hun Sen also used to claim that opposition officials call each others over the phone to gamble in private houses, and he said that some of these officials are also MPs.

At the same time, Hun Sen said: “Now, we lift the immunity of 2 of them: one Phnom Penh MP and one Kampot MP. They lift their immunity to push the court to sentence them. This time, we are strengthening both democracy and the rule of law, this not anarchic democracy. Democracy must go along with the rule of law.”

Hun Sen added: “As a MP, if you do wrong, the court will sentence you, to sentence you, we must lift your immunity. The Phnom Penh MP’s [Ho Vann] speech affects the army [generals], the army [generals] studied hard to receive their degrees, he said that these army [generals] only try to fill in their biography gaps so their chief respect them.”

Hun Sen said: “Let’s fight each other at the court. For the [immunity] lifting, 91 [MPs] voted [to lift the] Phnom Penh [MP], and 90 [MPs] voted to [lift the] Kampot [MP], but to return back [your immunity], it cannot be done. Now that the lawsuits are on, the foreigners and a number of other people don’t get involve with [our] law. If you get involved with the law, we also have the law to deal with those who get involved also. When we use the law, you say that we are this and that.”

Hun Sen indicated: “We use the court to avoid [any] situations, if we don’t resolve them according to the law, like [for example, when] people chase after the robbers and beat them to death, the reason the people beat them was that when they send these robbers to the court, the court release them back. So, when we use the court to strengthen the law, to strengthen the rule of law, you can say whatever you want as long as you don’t touch the rights of others, because others have the rights also, they are human, they are not animal.”

Opposition reshuffles leadership

Monday, 01 September 2008
Written by Meas Sokchea The Phnom Penh Post

Shift not related to National Assembly boycott, officials say
OPPOSITION party officials say a recent shake-up among top leaders is not due to divisions over their potential boycott of this month's National Assembly meeting to announce a new government.

The Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party have announced they will boycott the meeting, scheduled for September 24, over allegations of election fraud by the ruling Cambodian People's Party in last month's polls.

Nhek Vannara, deputy secretary general of the HRP, said the appointment of Yem Ponhearith in mid-August as the party's new secretary general was made because his background better conformed to the needs of the party.

Former HRP secretary general Ou Chanrath will become vice chairman of the party's discipline committee.

"We made this change not because of any problems in the party," Nhek Vannara said. "It is also not related to any potential boycott of the National Assembly."

The Norodom Ranariddh Party announced that spokesman Muth Chantha will be replaced by Deputy Secretary General Suth Dina.

Suth Dina said he had no idea why the change was made and only recently heard about it from other party members.

"A letter announcing the change was sent to Prince Ranariddh last week, but I haven't seen a copy of it," Suth Dina said.

Former spokesman Muth Chantha told the Post on Sunday he did not know about the change either and could not speculate about the reason for it.

Meanwhile, SRP member Eng Chhay Eang resigned his position as secretary general.

Mu Sochua, SRP deputy secretary general, told the Post on Sunday that Eng Chhay Eang had previously informed the party of his decision but had not made it official until that day.

"I respect his decision because he made it for the benefit of the party," Mu Sochua said, though she could not elaborate on the reasons for his resignation.

Sam Rainsy Party predicts victory in upcoming election

Sam Rainsy surrounded by SRP supporters in Kampong Thom province (Photo: SRP)

Monday, 14 July 2008
Chun Sophal
The Mekong Times

The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) has announced that it expects to win over 50 percent of the votes in the July 27 general election, claiming that victory in the poll has been assured by the electorate’s disillusionment with the present government.

“People can see the government’s powerlessness to prevent corruption and inflation,” SRP Secretary General Eng Chhay Eang told The Mekong Times Saturday, adding that the party expects to make gains particularly in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham province.

“[The] SRP’s target is to win 62 seats in this election. We are confident because people know that only the SRP can eliminate corruption, lower goods prices, solve unemployment and provide free health services,” he said.

The SRP hopes to gain six more seats in the capital and five more in Kampong Cham, the nation’s most populous province, according to a recent prediction from the SRP. In the 2003 election, the SRP won just 24 of the 123 seats contested for the National Assembly (NA).

Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the opposition party’s remarks were made to attract politicians who are looking to pay for high positions in the party. “He makes these claims now, but when he loses, he will announce that there is a threat, so he cannot return the money [to those who paid him],” he said, adding that, as a party that respects the law, the Cambodian People’Party (CPP) does not want to talk about other parties.

“But we will make every effort in this election to win 10 more seats,” he said. The CPP won 73 seats in the last election.

Civil society organizations monitoring the election have noted that political parties are stepping up their campaigns considerably, with less than a fortnight remaining until Cambodians go to the polls.

“We can see that political parties have made a lot of effort so far in the official 30-day campaign period,” said Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia. “But we do not think these remarks about gaining [seats] are realistic.”

Optimistic predictions are typical around election time but the real results will only be known after the election, he said. “Only the voters can decide.”

Major opposition party expects to win half votes in general election of Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The major opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) expects to win over 50 percent of the votes in the July 27 general election, English-Khmer language newspaper the Mekong Times said Monday.

SRP "is to win 62 (out of the 123 seats at the National Assembly) in the election" and will make gains particularly in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham province, the paper quoted SRP secretary general Eng Chhay Eang as saying.

The victory in the poll has been assured by the electorate's disillusionment with the present government, as "people can see the government's powerlessness to prevent corruption and inflation," he said.

People know that only SRP can eliminate corruption, lower goods prices, solve unemployment and provide free health services, he added.

Altogether 11 parties participate in the current election. Major ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has predicted landslide victory for itself.

SRP was established in 1995 as an opposition force. It used to be the third largest party of the kingdom, but surpassed the co-ruling Funcinpec Party in April 2007 during the commune councils election to be No. 2 closely trailing CPP.

Opposition party welcomes the CPP's standing

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Hun Sen’s declaration that the CPP will peacefully transfer power to the winning party from the election was welcomed by the Sam Rainsy Party. Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, told The Mekong Times that: “This declaration is good for democracy, because we know that a number of Cambodian people are concerned should the SRP win the election because the ruling party may refuse to transfer power.” Eng Chhay Eang said that Hun Sen clearly confirms that, in Cambodia, regardless of the party in power, there is no problem for peaceful power transfer. Eng Chhay Eang added that the SRP would like to lead the country by itself if the SRP receives enough votes, i.e. the SRP will not cling to any party’s tail. Eng Chhay Eang indicated also that if the election is free and fair, the SRP will accept its results, however, if the election is fraught with cheating and it is not fair, the SRP and the voters will not accept the election outcome.

Hun Sen and the CPP is doing all it can to hamper the SRP before the election ... is the CPP that scared of the opposition SRP?

Opposition Faces Police Investigation

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
17 June 2008

Military police and police have opened up an investigation into allegations opposition Sam Rainsy Party members have been involved in violent plots against the government.

Last week, Sam Rainsy Party defector Lek Bunnhean accused opposition officials of being involved in the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, an Angkor Empire Movement, and the rocket attack on Prime Minister Hun Sen in Siem Reap in 1998.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Tuesday the accusations were "unbelievable."

"Because the election is nearly approaching, the CPP knows that Sam Rainsy has more popularity and the CPP has a problem when the people are angry with it over land disputes and the price of goods, and the people don't believe CPP anymore," he said.

Lek Bunnhean, who joined the ruling Cambodian People's Party less than two weeks ago, said Tuesday he had documents implicating Sam Rainsy, Eng Chhay Ieng and former senator Thach Setha in the various plots.

Lek Bunnhean left his position after he worked in Pursat province for the Sam Rainsy Party and as a representative for SRP Secretary-General Eng Chhay Ieng.

He took the documents from a Sam Rainsy Party office in Thailand, he said, but he refused to provide copies. The documents include photographs of Sam Rainsy with jailed CFF president Chhun Yasith, he said.

Sam Rainsy said Tuesday he had met with many Cambodian expatriates at different demonstrations in Cambodia and was often photographed with people, but that didn't mean he knew what organizations they belonged to.

Eng Chhay Ieng could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said the investigation was being conducted at the behest of "the government."

"In this investigation, the government needs collaboration with Sam Rainsy Party defectors," he said.

"We are doing this work," he said, but declined to give further details.

Gen. Sao Sokha, commander of the military police, also confirmed his police were investigating, following the order of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"Regarding the information we obtained, we must investigate with utmost care," he said. "We must work in accordance with the law and without partiality."

NGOs fear political violence ahead of election

Tuesday, 03 June 2008
Ly Menghour
The Mekong Times

A group of some 40 civil society organizations yesterday expressed deep concern over the increase in violence against political party members in Cambodia in the first part of this year. The organizations say this political violence is threatening Cambodian citizens’ and politicians’ freedom to take part in politics, a right they say is enshrined in the constitution.

The civil society group – including the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), and coalition the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) – said the court system and some government institutions are used as political tools to propagate political violence and threats.

The group said that the rights of the individual are often not respected, with party defectors often filing complaints against their former parties over violence and threats. They warned such a situation could cause a political crisis for the Jul 27 national election.

“Cases of murder, threat, intimidation and political persecution are occurring, especially in far flung areas, while Cambodia is preparing for the upcoming national election,” Thun Saray, president of local rights group Adhoc, said at a press conference yesterday.

According to the observations of the NGO group, detailed in a report covering January to April of this year, there have been five assassinations of political party members, 21 cases of persecution and intimidation of party members and 15 cases of removing political party banners.

“Civil society organizations believe that the political situation in Cambodia is very bleak if political violence is still occurring in the period leading up to the national elections. This will affect the result of the national election which should be free, just and fair in compliance with the demands of the Cambodian people,” Thun Saray added.

Civil society organizations also noted that most perpetrators have yet to be arrested, let alone prosecuted. No robust legal measures have been instituted to prevent such abuses, they claimed.

“The Cambodian legal system is like a spider’s web which functions to ensnare the vulnerable and victims of crime, and which frightens voters,” Center for Social Development President Theary Seng said about the Kingdom’s court system.

Koul Panha, director of COMFREL, said the murder and intimidation chiefly happens to members of opposition parties, such as the Sam Rainsy Party, Norodom Ranariddh Party and Human Rights Party.

“As well as [what is occurring now], murder, violence and intimidation took place against party members before the 2003 national elections. These cases still remain under investigation and have not been solved,” he said.

According to the group, the five months running up to the 2003 elections saw eight assassinations of political party members and 43 cases of violence and intimidation. However, in the first five-month period of this year, there have already been five party member assassinations and 21 cases of violence and intimidation. The group claimed these figures show the situation this year is worse than in 2003.

Hang Puthea, NICFEC director, noted that, although the campaign period defined by the National Election Committee (NEC) – 26 June 26- July 25 July – has not commenced yet, political parties have already commenced campaigning.

Tep Nytha, secretary general of the NEC, rejected the civil societies group’s appraisal, claiming that the situation before this year’s national election is better than that of any of the previous elections.

“[Murder] is something that happens in simple societies,” he said. “The research has not been clearly conducted, but some political parties and civil society groups have been drawn into [making these conclusions] on political issues. Also, civil society groups don’t believe the research and conclusion of the experts. On the contrary, civil society organizations make conclusions by linking the [murders and violence] to political issues, which ruins the political environment.”

Tep Nytha claimed political violence, threats and murders have declined in 2008 compared to the 1993 and 2003 general elections and the 2007 commune elections. He said the NEC has been working with the government since 2007 to ensure security during the election.

However, Eng Chhay Eang, secretary general of Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), agreed with the civil society group’s statement. “If the intimidation and murders of political party members continue, the election will not proceed freely and justly,” he warned. “During the period before the election, the SRP has suffered from intimidation and the ‘buying of hearts’ [by other parties]. This concerns the SRP for the election.”

SRP denies it is boycotting the election

Thursday, May 8, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A high-ranking SRP official rejected the rumor indicating that the SRP plans to boycott the upcoming July general election. Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper over the phone that the rumors about the SRP planning to boycott the election are not true, and he said that these rumors are lies and they were spread to dishonor the SRP. The Kampuchea Thmei reported that, in spite of Eng Chhay Eang’s denial, one low-ranking party official indicated that the SRP held a secret meeting with major party officials to review the possibility of boycotting the 2008 general election. The low-ranking SRP official indicated also that there are 3 views raised during the meeting: (1) asking Sam Rainsy to boycott the election by not registering with the NEC, (2) asking Sam Rainsy to boycott during mid-election campaign, and (3) asking Sam Rainsy to boycott the election one day prior to the election. Tep Nytha, NEC secretary-general, said that the SRP boycott is the party’s prerogative, but he said that we should remember that there are many opposition parties, the SRP is not the only one and the SRP may regret it.

SRP to register for the election on 12 May

Thursday, May 8, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

While denying that the SRP plans to boycott the general election, Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, indicated that his party will register with the NEC on 12 May 2008, the last day of registration. Eng Chhay Eang told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper about the reason why the SRP decides to choose this date to register the party name, saying that this is the SRP habit in all the past election. According to Tep Nytha, the NEC secretary-general, up until 08 May, among the 57 parties registered with the Ministry of Interior, only 5 parties have registered with the NEC for the election: (1) the CPP, (2) the Sangkum Khmer Niyum party (Society Khmer prefer), (3) the Hang Dara Democratic movement party, (4) the Norodom Ranariddh Party, and (5) the Human Rights Party.

SRP to weigh election participation

SRP supporters during the 2007 commune election campaign (Photo: RFA)

04 May 2008
By Mom Sophon
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A high ranking opposition official indicated on Sunday 04 May, that his party will convoke its permanent committee to weigh in whether the party will participate in the upcoming general election or not, because of a number of irregularities which are taking place during the election preparation.

Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, indicated that the party permanent committee will hold a meeting this weekend to review and discuss about the election progress. Eng Chhay Eang said: “… should we participate in the election or not? There must be some changes made to the election progress. We see a lot of lacking issues within the NEC which acts improperly in the election registration and the removal of names from the voters’ election list. For the election campaign, we saw that the (ruling party) is using state-owned media, therefore the ruling party has access to a very strong broadcast media, starting from now on, whereas other political parties do not. Furthermore, regarding the neutrality of civil servants, now, the ruling party uses civil servants, it uses state resources for its own election campaign: such as the police force, army force, the court, etc… and this is a violation of the party law, but, we didn’t see the NEC taking any measure, it closes its eyes and allows the ruling party to do whatever they want.”

Tep Nytha, NEC secretary-general, said that during the upcoming election campaign, the NEC will organize an election on state-media with equal time for all parties. Tep Nytha said: “I don’t know when they made their criticisms, because during the election campaign, the NEC will organize an equal-time (campaigning program) on state media. On the other hand, right now, the ruling on the campaign is not the NEC’s duty. During the 30-day election campaign, the NEC will organize a campaign program broadcasted on state media, both on radio and TV, to meet with parties participating in the election, there will be equal time allotted.”

Kem Sokha, HRP president, said that his party will participate in the election, even though there are a number of irregularities. Kem Sokha said: “We decided to participate (in the election), we must participate, even if there are some irregularities, and there are some doubtful issues. We must participate and we will protest about some of the issues.”

Kul Panha, Comfrel Director, said that the pre-election situation for this mandate is better than the previous elections, and the use of campaigning means seems to be less restrictive: “It’s better for the 2008 election, in particular, for the security. Up until now, we didn’t see severe cases of violence, assassinations of opposition party members and politicians yet. If we look among the political parties, it is better (than before).”

Up until this Sunday, there are only 3 political parties which registered for the election. 12 May will the final date for party registration for the election.

Too busy criticizing others, Hun Sen can’t see his own faults

Have all those who have folly for women left Cambodia already? You be the judge. Photo from left to right: Hun Sen, Actress Pisith Pilika, Lok Chumteav Thom Bun Rany Hun Sen

Hun Sen criticizes three types of follies

Friday, May 2, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Hun Sen said that those who gamble said that for them to stop gambling, all the casinos should be closed. Hun Sen indicated that even if the casinos are shut down, you still gamble as usual at the Olympic market or at the province of Battambang. Hun Sen said that there are three types of follies: folly about women, folly about alcohol, and folly about gambling. Those who have folly for women have all left, those who have folly for gambling are crazy, and the same for those who have folly for alcohol. He said that those who have follies for women and gambling wouldn’t listen, and you have to let them row the boat against the current. He added that for some, they are getting worst by getting more (women), when the monogamy law was approved, they yelled out that it was political. Hun Sen criticized also that for some, they gamble so much that their wife curse them like animals because they cannot change. Some others gamble until their wife give them a hassle, some had their daughters begging them (to stop), but they turn around and accuse the government. Hun Sen warned that, the next time, when there are gambling raids, everybody will be arrested because their gambling is illegal. Even though Hun Sen didn’t name any name, observers believe that he was pointing at Eng Chhay Eang who is known to be a gambler (in the past).

SRP Lawmaker Sues CTN Journalist

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
20 February 2008

A Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker filed suit Wednesday against a CTN television journalist for defamation.

Eng Chay Ieng, SRP general secretary, said he wanted the court to censure Soy Sopheap for an interview with a former SRP activist Tuesday, in which the activist alleged Eng Chay Ieng entered a Poipet casino.

The story was untrue and should be considered false defamation, Eng Chay Ieng said.

"Soy Sopheap did not do his job on behalf of journalism," he said.

Soy Sopheap said Wednesday he had not seen the suit but had not reported false or defamatory information.

"According to the press law, Eng Chay Ieng can send me a letter to rectify [the information]," he said.

Chan Sarith, a rights investigator for Adhoc, said Eng Chay Ieng should ask for a correction or clarification before filing a suit in the courts.

SRP questions the motive of the gov't rice donation to WFP, especially close to the election period

World Food Program Grants $64 Million in Aid

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 December 2007

The UN's World Food Program announced Thursday it would grant the government $64 million over the next two years to fund projects in emergency food as well as aid to mothers and children.

The government matched the donations with a promise to provide 2,000 tons of rice to the program.

World Food Program representative Thomas Keusters said such donations in foodstuffs have immediate effects and help spur other programs.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong welcomed the money, but Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General Eng Chhai Eang questioned the motives of the government's rice donation.

Criticisms on the Preah Vihear land dispute clash

16 November 2007
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Friday, several statements were issued to condemn the Preah Vihear province authority which used firearms, yesterday, to shoot and kill two Cambodian citizens, and injured 7 others during a police raid to put down the land dispute protest in O’Chheu Teal village.

Battambang SRP MP Eng Chhay Eang, who is also Vice-President of the National Authority for the Resolution of Land Dispute (NARLD), issued a statement condemning the killing of two villagers and the arrests and jailing of other villagers made by the Preah Vihear provincial authority.

Eng Chhay Eang called on all levels of the Cambodian authorities to end the use of violence in all resolutions, especially, when it involves land disputes. He asked them to find peaceful resolutions to these problems.

The Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD) believes that Cambodia is currently turning into an autocratic regime, it is severely violating human rights, and that the action taken by the Cambodian authority is no different from what was happening in Burma recently. The SMD calls on the national and international community to help intervene to end these problems.

Opposition party proposes an extension in the vote registration

14 October 2007
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Opposition party officials have proposed to the National Election Committee (NEC) to extend the period for the vote registration and the voting list verification, in order to allow everybody to be able to register and review their names on the voting list.

Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, said that, in the past, a number of commune chiefs and clerks did not fulfill their duty according to the NEC schedule, and a number of other issues cropped up, such as: “Currently, in a number of provinces, there is a lot of rain, this caused difficulties to a number of people who cannot register (to vote). In some other cases, some commune chiefs do not allow the registration during the 3 days celebration of the Pchum Ben festival, they closed their offices. This is why the SRP proposed to the NEC for a delay in the registration process.”

Phnom Penh SRP MP Ho Vann indicated that since the start of the vote registration and the verification of the voting list, a number of commune officials did not fulfill their work on a regular basis, and in some communes in Phnom Penh city, on 14 October 2007, the door to the (commune) office is not even opened yet.

Ho Vann said: “Some communes are (not) opened. We saw that there are a lot of people who have not registered yet, and the number of people who came to verify their names (on the voting list) is still short, for example, in Phnom Penh city, 110,326 names were erased, and those who came to verify their names on the voting list is not even 10,000 yet.”

Kul Panha, Comfrel director, supported the opposition party proposal. He indicated that an extension of the voting registration is not a problem, however, if people did not register to vote, or did not have a chance to verify their names on the voting list, then they will not be able to vote, and this is a loss of their freedom to select their representatives.

In response to the proposal above, Tep Nytha, NEC secretary-general, said that the registration and the verification of the voting list for the upcoming 2008 election is already longer than in past years.

Tep Nytha added that the NEC will review the results of the vote registration and the verification of the voting list on Monday of next week, and it will make a decision at that time. “The length of this year’s vote registration is more than 30-day, and the NEC will review this issue next week.”

Tep Nytha indicated that the approximate number of people who register to vote for the first time is 680,000, and the results of the vote registration and voting list verification, up to 08 October 2007, indicated that 503,000 people have registered to vote, and among the number of names erased (from the voting list) stemming from Form 10-25, there are 30,000 people who came to protest.

Based on the NEC schedule, the vote registration and the verification of the voting list will end on October 20.

Demand for Eng Chhay Eang’s resignation

Thursday, October 4, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

SRP Presidents in 5 European countries have demanded that the SRP put pressure on Eng Chhay Eang to resign from his position as party secretary-general, claiming that Eng Chhay Eang does not have all the necessary qualities to fill in this position, and his position could also affect the popularity of the party. The Rasmei Kampuchea reported that Chham Chhany, SRP President from Norway, Pang Sokhoeun, SRP Secretary-general from Sweden, Roth Chamroeun, SRP President from Denmark, Sang Vin, SRP President from Holland, and Pen Boravuth, SRP President in Italy, sent a joint letter to Sam Rainsy, to express their displeasure about the nomination of Eng Chhay Eang as the party Secretary-general. Sam Rainsy said the letter dated 22 September 2007, was an old story. He said that this issue has quieted down after Mrs. Mu Sochua sent explanation letters to all the SRP party leaders in these 5 countries. Sam Rainsy said that after the explanations, these leaders clearly understand and have quieted down, therefore, there is no issue to be of concern.

SRP upheaval: Eng Chhay Eang promises to “work good towards the victory of the SRP in 2008”

Click to zoom in on Eng Chhay Eang's statement

13-09-2007
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The recent election of Eng Chhay Eang, the new SRP secretary-general, created a protest within the party. In a communiqué issued on Thursday 13 September, Eng Chhay Eang is reassuring SRP party members.

Eng Chhay Eang who was elected to SRP secretary-general, proclaimed his desire, in writing “to work well, so that the party come up first during the upcoming general election, and not to hesitate to quit his position if it is proven that in the future, he would commit a bad action that would affect the party.” He added “I am determined not to deceive our members and party activists. And I would resign without condition, if I were to commit a bad action that would dishonor the SRP. I will make all the sacrifice to serve the party.”

This declaration with good intention did not convince Rong Chhun, President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Cambodia – who one day after the SRP congress, proposed to this party leaders to think about the transfer of Eng Chhay Eang. Other SRP supporters had also protested against the election of Eng Chhay Eang, who is blamed of being a casino gambler. “I am not interest in such declaration. It is an (internal) affair of this party. I know that I only support a party once I am convinced of the good morality of its leaders, and that they will defend the interests of the workers,” Rong Chun concluded.

SRP Statement on The Election of The Sam Rainsy Party Leadership

September 13, 2007

STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION OF THE SAM RAINSY PARTY LEADERSHIP

Following democratic principles, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) has implemented an in-depth reform over the last three years, so as to elect its leaders from bottom up. Elections started at the village level, went up to the commune level, then to the district level, then to the provincial level, and finally to the national level with the election of the Steering Committee, the Permanent Committee and the party top leaders: President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, and Controller.

On Cambodia's political scene, only the SRP has the will and the means to implement such a reform. By electing all its leaders from bottom up, the SRP has put an end to the practice (still ongoing in other political parties) of appointing leaders following a top-down approach. Over 500,000 SRP members all over the country have taken part in elections organized successively in over 10,000 villages, 1,621 communes, 185 districts and 24 provinces or municipalities. This series of elections at all levels were organized by the SRP with the support of several international organizations including the US Agency for International Development (USAID, representing the US Government), the Washington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), and the Washington-based International Republican Institute (IRI). These organizations help promote democracy in Cambodia and consider that the reform being conducted by the SRP is really strengthening democracy within our party and will help strengthen democracy in our country.

Regarding Secretary General Eng Chhay Eang who was elected into his position at the SRP Fourth Congress on September 8-9, 2007, our party wants to stress that his gambling habit belongs to the past. Before deciding to run again for the Secretary General position, Eng Chhay Eang has amended himself and put an end to his wrongdoing. Because he has amended himself, Eng Chhay Eang was elected by the SRP Steering Committee, through a secret ballot, as Secretary General. The election, which is in line with the democratic reform undertaken by our party, was monitored by representatives from the above-mentioned international organizations. All the participants, including all the candidates, finally recognized the election result as correct and fair.

Besides, the SRP top leadership have decided that, from now on, the SRP Secretariat General will work on the basis of a consensus rule, meaning that all important decisions by the Secretariat General will also require the agreement of Deputy Secretaries General Mu Sochua and Teav Vannol.

In case there is information and evidence showing that any SRP leader is involved in any wrongdoing that affects the work and the honor of our party in the present and in the future, the concerned person will have to voluntarily resign from his position without the Permanent Committee and the Steering Committee having to fire him.

SRP Permanent Committee

Election of the party secretary-general was not planned in advance

Thursday, September 13, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The election of the SRP secretary-general took place during the party congress at the end of last week. This election generated numerous reactions from party supporters, both inside and outside of the country. These groups of supporters claimed that the election of this position was not done democratically and that it was planned in advance so that Eng Chhay Eng could become the party secretary-general. Sam Rainsy said the congress supported Eng Chhay Eang to become the party secretary-general, and Mu Sochua to become the party deputy secretary-general. Sam Rainsy said that this support was not his decision, it was the (party members) decision during the party congress, and it was not planned in advance. However, he indicated also that if the secretary-general issue is too severe, the party can organize a new election, but he said that this is not likely to happen because the first election was conducted with transparency already.