Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Prime Minister Dék Cho Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy has a verbal clash because of the issue of one term limit for the prime minister. To Hun Sen, a prime minister with a one term limit will be even more corrupt during that one term. However, Sam Rainsy believes that a one term limit will make the prime minister concentrate to work fully to serve the nation.
Hun Sen made this declaration during the opening session of the conference for “Commercial and infrastructure development in Cambodia in 2007” held at the Intercontinental hotel on 07 November morning. Hun Sen evoked the criticisms leveled by some politicians who proposed a one term limit for the PM, whereas some other politicians said: “Mr. Hun Sen, you shouldn’t use your age (as an excuse) to retire.” Hun Sen added: “If you are afraid of Hun Sen, say it directly: ‘If you, Hun Sen, present your candidacy, I will not be elected.’”
Hun Sen said that the election is the path to democracy, and there is no use to talk about term limit or age. Hun Sen added he is PM for almost 5 terms already, and not just 3, and regarding his hold on power, he has been holding it in the past 28 years already.
Hun Sen added: “The setting of one term limit was because they said that it would prevent corruption and dictatorship, however, for a one term limit, the packing (of bribes etc…) is very quick because it arrives for one term only, so there is no reason to worry about anything. Those who stay long, they have to be careful because they need political stability, they need strength and support.”
However, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, believes the opposite. He said in the afternoon of 07 November that the one term limit set for the PM was proposed so that the top leader of the country can fully serve the nation and he/she does not need to think about obtaining another term. He rejects the claim that a one term limit for the PM would make this individual thinks only about corruption because of the short length of the position. He said that if the PM would take such action, he/she will be judged by history. However, the election winners who will become the PM, they are all decent people.
Furthermore, Sam Rainsy said that based on what he observed in neighboring countries, some are advanced, like the Philippines and South Korea where the country’s president is limited to one term only.
The SRP has completed the draft law to set the one term limit. Son Chhay, the leader of the SRP MPs said that this law only calls for an amendment to the new Article 119 of the Constitution. He plans to submit this draft law to the National Assembly permanent committee this week.
Even though the SRP proposed this law, it may not pass because of the large number of CPP seats at the National Assembly, and SRP only holds 24 seats, whereas the CPP holds 73 seats, and Funcinpec holds 27 seats among a total of 123 seats.
Hun Sen made this declaration during the opening session of the conference for “Commercial and infrastructure development in Cambodia in 2007” held at the Intercontinental hotel on 07 November morning. Hun Sen evoked the criticisms leveled by some politicians who proposed a one term limit for the PM, whereas some other politicians said: “Mr. Hun Sen, you shouldn’t use your age (as an excuse) to retire.” Hun Sen added: “If you are afraid of Hun Sen, say it directly: ‘If you, Hun Sen, present your candidacy, I will not be elected.’”
Hun Sen said that the election is the path to democracy, and there is no use to talk about term limit or age. Hun Sen added he is PM for almost 5 terms already, and not just 3, and regarding his hold on power, he has been holding it in the past 28 years already.
Hun Sen added: “The setting of one term limit was because they said that it would prevent corruption and dictatorship, however, for a one term limit, the packing (of bribes etc…) is very quick because it arrives for one term only, so there is no reason to worry about anything. Those who stay long, they have to be careful because they need political stability, they need strength and support.”
However, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, believes the opposite. He said in the afternoon of 07 November that the one term limit set for the PM was proposed so that the top leader of the country can fully serve the nation and he/she does not need to think about obtaining another term. He rejects the claim that a one term limit for the PM would make this individual thinks only about corruption because of the short length of the position. He said that if the PM would take such action, he/she will be judged by history. However, the election winners who will become the PM, they are all decent people.
Furthermore, Sam Rainsy said that based on what he observed in neighboring countries, some are advanced, like the Philippines and South Korea where the country’s president is limited to one term only.
The SRP has completed the draft law to set the one term limit. Son Chhay, the leader of the SRP MPs said that this law only calls for an amendment to the new Article 119 of the Constitution. He plans to submit this draft law to the National Assembly permanent committee this week.
Even though the SRP proposed this law, it may not pass because of the large number of CPP seats at the National Assembly, and SRP only holds 24 seats, whereas the CPP holds 73 seats, and Funcinpec holds 27 seats among a total of 123 seats.
