Hun Sen's warning to Funcinpec: No Parliament seat, no coalition government

Hun Sen talks to reporters in front of the National Assembly (Photo: Chantha, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Hun Sen: Those who submitted to the CPP were in fact a boon for the Funcinpec

15-01-2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The defection of several Funcinpec party members does not shock Hun Sen. That they choose to join the CPP is the least damage inflicted on Funcinpec, Hun Sen claimed.

Did the CPP betray its agreement with Funcinpec by accepting several high ranking Funcinpec defectors? The musical chair game which saw the defection of a dozen of Funcinpec ministers, state secretaries, and MPs did not lead to a rupture of the Funcinpec-CPP coalition, Hun Sen claimed. Asked about this subject by reporters, at the National Assembly on 15 January, Hun Sen explained that the free political choice of the citizens must be respected.

“I heard that the Funcinpec dissidents were “traitors” and “unconscious.” These criticisms do not respect the democracy. If they don’t want to stay with Funcinpec, where should they go?” Hun Sen asked.

Hun Sen further argued that “if these people joined political parties other than ours, this would bring more trouble to Funcinpec. If they are with the CPP, they cannot criticize the Funcinpec which is a (CPP) partner. The Funcinpec leaders should understand this.”

While discussing about this topic, he also called on Funcinpec to maintain its efforts in view of the upcoming general election. Obtaining seats at the National Assembly is a sine-qua-non condition to induct Funcinpec party members in the government positions. “The constitution allows the prime minister to provide a position in the government to a member of a party that is represented at the National Assembly. If our partner has no seat, it will be very difficult,” Hun Sen said.

Last week, the Funcinpec spokesman rejected the information claiming that the Funcinpec ministers of Health, Public Works, Education, and Culture defected. Nevertheless, he recognized that some party members did leave the party, but he called them “opportunists.”

The 2008 election does not start yet, but the CPP already announces that it will get 81 seats at the National Assembly

20 Funcinpec defectors show their faces at the CPP congress

Saturday, January 12, 2008
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Today, the CPP held its 2-day extraordinary congress, on 12-13 January, in order to strengthen the efficiency of its work, and to issue its 5-year development goal.

What was strange was the presence of about 20 former Funcinpec officials who joined the CPP and showed their face in this congress also. According to CPP and Funcinpec officials, these 20 or so Funcinpec officials occupy ranks of state secretaries all the way up ministers, and they were invited to participate in this congress.

According to officials from both parties, among the 20 Funcinpec officials present, were Mrs. Ing Kantha Phavy, minister of women affairs, Khun Haing, the minister of cult and religion, Kong Vibol, Ou Bun Long, and Chea Peng Chheang, state secretaries of the minister of economy and finance, as well as a number of other high-ranking officials.

This is the first time that such a large number of recent Funcinpec defectors participate in an internal meeting of the CPP. Nevertheless, CPP officials claim that they will still continue the cooperation with the Funcinpec in the future. Political analysts said that Funcinpec should find its own support for the upcoming 2008 general election (rather than just counting on the CPP alliance).

Political analysts said that if Funcinpec is tripped, and cannot gain a decent number of seats at the 123-seat National Assembly, to secure its solidity in the alliance with the CPP, the ruling party could make another choice. Analysts added that the CPP promise is a good thing for Funcinpec, but the reality is something else, as it can evolve with the changing situation.

At least 900 high-ranking CPP officials, from provincial levels and up, came to the 2-day congress. CPP representatives from around the country will review the results of the past 5 years and will then issue the policy for the upcoming 5 years, from 2003 to 2008. At the same time, the CPP will also review the preparation for the upcoming 27 July 2008 election.

The CPP plans to wrestle 81 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly.