Well, Mr. Hun Sen, even if the opposition alliance will not last, sooner or later, you'll be out of office as well! It's just a matter of time

Hun Sen predicts hasty demise of new opposition alliance

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned that the recent alliance of two main opposition parties will not last, national media reported on Thursday.

The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP), which are two main opposition parties in the Cambodian National Assembly (NA), agreed last week in principle to establish a political alliance called the Democratic Movement of Change (DMC) for the upcoming elections.

"When I want (the alliance) to separate, they will be separated," English-language newspaper the Phnom Penh Post quoted the premier as saying on Tuesday in Oddar Meanchey province.

"I would like to tell you that now one-third of their members have defected to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP)," he said.

Hun Sen belongs to CPP, which is the major ruling party.

"I am never scared of these mergers. Do not say that an alliance will cause CPP to fall," he added.

The DMC is a new political force to lead and advance the country to have prosperity, according to the joint statement issued by both parties.

The upcoming elections include the 2012 commune councils election and the 2013 general election.

"Our candidates will be registered to represent only one party in polling constituency," SRP president Sam Rainsy and HRP president Kem Sokha told reporters at a press conference.

"We will walk on the non-violent and legal strategies for political actions," Sam Rainsy said, adding that the movement does not oppose any individual or parties.

Meanwhile, Khem Sokha appealed to intellectuals and democratic supporters to join the DMC for upcoming elections.

In last year's general election, CPP won some 90 seats, SRP 26 and HRP 3 in all the 123 seats in NA.

Cambodia 'sympathises' with Thai Asean chair

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Phnom Penh (dpa) - Cambodia said Wednesday that it was concerned about Thailand's ability to host the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in December

Cambodia sympathised deeply with Thailand during its period of political turmoil and was suggesting a contingency plan for the scheduled summit of leaders of the 10-member bloc, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith, said in an official clarification issued by the Information Ministry.

"Until now, the government's desire is nothing but to see the Thai situation become normal in order to have peace and harmony in Thai society and the Asean community," the statement read.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Asean might consider a more stable host such as Singapore or Vietnam for December's summit if Thailand remains troubled.

The chair rotates annually in alphabetical order and hosting the summit is prestigious. Thailand took the chair from Singapore in July but has been wracked by demonstrations that saw Government House overrun and a new prime minister installed Wednesday.

Hun Sen's spokesperson Ieng Sophallet referred questions to Dr Chap Sotharith, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), who said Cambodia's security worries were legitimate and not without precedent.

"Cambodia is an Asean member so we have a right to speak our concerns," Hun Sen said, pointing out that the 2006 summit in the Philippines was postponed, officially due to a looming storm.

He said Thailand has "also previously expressed concerns about us" and that dialogue within ASEAN was healthy. CICP describes itself as an independent, neutral, non-partisan research institute.