Opposition MPs reject medals awarded to them

SRP MP Son Chhay

25 Dec 2010
By Kim Poeuv
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy

On 24 Dec 2010, the National Assembly organized a ceremony to award medals for the first time to MPs from the 4th mandate, however, MPs from 2 opposition parties did not attend the ceremony to accept their medals.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who is currently living in self-exile in France and who was recently sentenced to more than 10 years of jail time, was awarded the Knight medal during this 4th mandate.

Opposition MP Son Chhay said that no opposition officials showed up to accept their medals even though the opposition leader was awarded this medal. He said that this confirms that [the National Assembly] recognized the effort put by Sam Rainsy during this 4th mandate.

Son Chhay added: “As can be seen, what Lok Prathean Sam Rainsy accomplished provided great results also, maybe that is why what he was accused of is not right, therefore, I say that there should be arrangement made for him to return back to the country.”

The first medal award for the 4th mandate was granted to 116 MPs among the 123 MPs, and the award ceremony was organized on 24 December under the presence of Heng Xamrin at the National Assembly.

CPP MP Chheang Vun indicated that the medals are awarded to all MPs twice each mandate for their service to the people as their representatives.

He said that the medal award for Sam Rainsy and the problem faced by the latter are two different issues because Mr. Sam Rainsy is not considered as a prisoner yet: “When it is not definitive yet, he is not a prisoner yet, let them not be confused. The fact that he fled Cambodia, that’s his problem, it’s not a major problem.”

All 24 SRP MPs, including Mrs. Mu Sochua who was sued by Hun Xen for defamation, as well as all HRP MPs received a medal, but none of them showed up to receive their award.

The opposition MPs indicated that they don’t pay attention to this medal because they are used to seeing rich and high-ranking government officials receiving such medals, but those who came out to demand for social justice and those who fought a lot for the nation so as to provide a better living to the people, they did not receive any honor yet.

Son Chhay indicated: “The work accomplished by our [party] members should receive some award also, [especially] our active members, but we want to see what these medals are awarded for?”

Kandal SRP MP Chan Cheng said: “Yes, the service rendered to the people is not quite 100% yet, then if we accept [the medals], it does not look right if the people are still calling for their MPs to help them, such as in their land dispute problem in Boeung Kak Lake. So it’s difficult to accept [these awards].”

Expressing the same feeling as the SRP MPs, Kem Sokha, HRP President, said that he does not pay much attention to these medal awards either. “We are still poor, and all that we think of is wearing many medals. I believe that we should put more effort into it still. I accept it, but we must put more effort in to be on par to what the king gave us. The medals should also be awarded to Cambodians who dare sacrifice for the nation, they should be given to organizations and union members who sacrifice and work for the nation, more so than the MPs.”

CPP Chheang Vun declared that it was not just the opposition MPs who were absent, in fact, there are several CPP MPs absent as well because they are busy with their work.

In 2000, SRP MPs returned their medals back to the National Assembly, claiming that they are not worth receiving these medals yet.

Anti-Corruption Law Far Off: Lawmaker

Yem Ponhearith, a member of parliament from the Human Rights Party.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
09 June 2009

Cambodia likely will be waiting a long time for an anti-corruption law to be passed, with the next move up to the government, an opposition parliamentarian told “Hello VOA” Monday.

Yem Ponhearith, a lawmaker for the Human Rights Party, which has three seats in the National Assembly, told “Hello VOA” in an interview in Washington that anti-corruption legislation has been in the making for more than a decade and there were no signs it had support now.

Donors have pushed hard for anti-corruption reform, while Cambodia is viewed as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia.

The government recently lashed out against statements by US Ambassador Carol Rodley, who estimated the country loses $500 million per year to corruption.

“The most important matter is to make sure the law can be out for implementation, and the question of effective implementation or not that is another issue,” Yem Ponhearith said. “The law should be passed and promulgated first.”

Responsibility for the law was currently in the hands of the administrative government and not the National Assembly, he said.

CPP Cheam Yiep impressed by Obama's inclusiveness ... unlike the narrow-minded policy of the CPP and Hun Xen

Obama’s Speech Important Gesture: Lawmakers

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
04 June 2009

President Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East and his overtures to the Muslim world were important gestures to the world, including Cambodians, lawmakers said Thursday.

Four Cambodian legislators joined “Hello VOA” in Washington, to discuss their trip with four other lawmakers to Washington, as guests of the National Democratic Institute.

Obama spoke in Cairo, calling for “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition.”

Obama spoke at Cairo University, but his message was intended for more than one billion Muslims around the world.

Cambodia has an estimated half a million Muslims.

Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yiep, who is visiting Washington with the NDI delegation, called Obama’s speech “a great gesture.”

“His speech will be a great influence on the people of the world,” CPP parliamentarian Sik Bunhok said. “It emphasizes his goal to make friendship, reconciliation with all nations and his determination to resolve problems through peaceful means.”

Lawmakers Nin Saphon (CPP), Ho Naun (CPP), Cheam Yiep (CPP), Sik Bunhok (CPP), Eng Chhai Eang (Sam Rainsy Party), Kuoy Bunroeun (SRP), Mao Monyvann (SRP) and Yem Ponharith (Human Right Party) are visiting the US as part of NDI’s study mission, “Constituent Outreach and Oversight of the Extractive Industries.”

Eng Chhai Eang told “Hello VOA” he was “impressed with the US president’s speech,” which “shows a new US policy for a Muslim world that was not happy with the US.”

“I think President Obama wants to end the misunderstanding between the two sides,” he said. “I think this is great for the world.”

Yem Ponharith noted that US policy is “very important to the world.”

“In Cambodia,” he said, “people of all faith live in harmony.”

One caller, from Battambang province, asked what the benefit to US citizens was for the US “always warring against Muslims, such as Iraq and Iran.”

Cheam Yiep said, in his view, Barack Obama was seeking a peaceful world “that has unity, without discrimination against religion, without discrimination against race.”