Hun Sen the prime minister for life?27 November 2007By Keo Nimol Radio Free AsiaTranslated from Khmer by Heng SoyPrime minister Hun Sen said on 27 November that if the Cambodian people still keep on voting for him, he will continue to cling on to power for life.
During a speech given at a distribution of certificates for students at the National Education Institute, Hun Sen said that some politicians are trying to prevent him (to remain in power: “I was talking about my age being this and that, then they turned around and said that Mr. Hun Sen, you shouldn’t set the age as the rule to retire. I say that if I remain (in power) for 10 more years, I will only reach the 60s, that’s not old. I tell you back: ‘Anh’ (rude form of I, used to look down on someone else) tell you know, if the people keep on voting for me, ‘Anh’ will remain (PM) for life.”
Hun Sen also criticized a number of politicians but he did not name anyone in particular, he said that those who have dual citizenship still want to present their candidacy to the premiership.
Hun Sen added: “Especially, those with dual citizenship, they will leave, we cannot sentence them. As soon as they are sentenced, they leave immediately, those with dual citizenship should end it, they are not brave, if they come to do politics in Cambodia, they should renounce their other citizenship, but they won’t, what can I do to them?”
Hun Sen also warned that if his party loses the election, he will not build schools anymore: “There is no interruption (in school building) when I am prime minister, but if I am no longer prime minister, I will not build anymore (schools), I am sorry, who you vote for, you should ask that person.”
Kem Sokha, President of the HRP which has a party policy of limiting the term of the prime minister in office, said: “Normally, if there is no term limit for the country leader, we will be faced with dictatorship, corruption, because those leaders can do whatever they want, nobody can limit their power. For example, if there is a two term limit, when a leader is in power, he wouldn’t dare doing anything wrong, because if he does something wrong, at the end of his mandate, when he no longer has power, he will be afraid to be prosecuted.”
Regarding the dual citizenship, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said: “I say that this is not the right time to raise this issue, it’s an old story. The second government of Cambodia is in power for three terms already, and during these 3 mandates, there are people who have dual citizenship who were in top position and in the government also, but there were never any discussions on this issue, this is one point. On the second point, the Cambodian Constitution, which the supreme law of the land, does not forbid anyone who holds dual citizenship from participating or holding position in the government either.”
It is noted that, currently, Cambodia is under preparation for a general election which will take place in 2008.
