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Showing posts with label Ke Sovannaroth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ke Sovannaroth. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Hun Xen defends Yuon invasion and occupation of Cambodia?
PM takes aim at Liberation Day critics
Wednesday, 05 January 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Wednesday, 05 January 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out at opposition figures on Wednesday who criticised the country’s celebration of January 7 as a day of liberation from the Khmer Rouge, again emphasising the importance of the day in Cambodian history.
Speaking at a high school inauguration in Kampong Cham’s Memot district two days ahead of the national holiday, the premier claimed all criticisms of the event were motivated by politics.
“I would like to say that January 7 liberated everything, including ghosts and evil spirits and even liberated the heads of those who are cursing January 7,” Hun Sen said.
The holiday, commemorating the anniversary of the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge by the Vietnamese army in 1979, prompts an annual debate in Cambodia about the extent of Vietnamese influence that was ushered in by the event.
After Pol Pot’s overthrow, Vietnamese troops remained in Cambodia, battling resistance factions including remnants of the Khmer Rouge, until their withdrawal in September 1989.
But Hun Sen said that if there was no January 7, there would be no Khmer Rouge tribunal and the country would not have made any progress.
“Those who consider January 7 as their enemy, would they dare say if there was a genocidal regime of Pol Pot or not?” Hun Sen said.
Ke Sovannroth, secretary general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said that the SRP did not consider the day as one of liberation, seeing it rather as the birthday of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party – the successor of the communist People’s Revolutionary Party of Kampuchea that took power in 1979.
She said the country should instead mark the anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords as the day of the country’s liberation.
“We do not welcome this celebration,” Ke Sovannroth said.
“We consider only the October 23, 1991, peace agreement as the day that brought an end to the country’s disputes and brought development.”
Hun Sen said, however, that without the toppling of the Khmer Rouge, the Paris Peace Accords would never have been signed.
“I would like to put the question at this point: If Pol Pot had continued to have power until 1991, would Pol Pot [have] agreed to sign it?” he said.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
SRP visits detainees’ families
Chikreng villagers shot by the savage cops (Photo: Savyouth, RFA)
SRP MP Ke Sovannaroth (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)Friday, 27 August 2010
May Titthara and Will Baxter
The Phnom Penh Post
NINE members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party met yesterday with the families of 12 Siem Reap villagers jailed last week in relation to a local land dispute.
Ke Sovannaroth, an SRP parliamentarian representing Siem Reap, said that the party organised the visit in order to offer its moral support to the families of those jailed.
“The court did not provide justice for these people,” she said. “These villagers are the victims in this land dispute.”
Last Friday, Siem Reap provincial court sentenced nine of the villagers, from Chi Kraeng district’s Chi Kraeng commune, to three years in prison each after convicting them of forming an illegal armed force.
Three other villagers were sentenced to three years in prison on charges of illegal confinement. The nine, originally charged with attempted intentional manslaughter, were arrested after a March 2009 altercation in which police allegedly fired on a crowd in Chi Kraeng commune, injuring four.
Sok Kimseng, a provincial councilor for the SRP, said the families should continue to seek justice in the case.
“Villagers have suffered, lost their land, they have been shot at and detained in prison, he said. “Meanwhile, the people who committed violence against these villagers are still free.... It shows that there is a lack of justice in our court system.”
The Chi Kraeng dispute dates back to 1986, when land was divided equally between Chi Kraeng and Anlong Samnor communes, leaving an unspecified area of farmland in dispute. In January 2009, the provincial court ruled that the land belonged to Anlong Samnor, sparking conflict.
Although judges at Siem Reap provincial court suspended the sentences of all 12 villagers, they will remain in custody for at least a month, pending the possibility of an appeal by the prosecution.
Naly Pilorge, director of the rights group Licadho, said that “there is no indication that...detainees will be allowed to go free as many face additional charges/convictions, and the Siem Reap prosecutor can appeal all or some of the verdicts.”
She said the charges and convictions handed down last Friday were “baseless”.
“Siem Reap court has not proven to have any evidence to convict the Chi Kraeng detainees,” she said, and pointed to the fact that the complainant, lawyer and witnesses for the prosecution were absent during the trial.
Chi Kraeng resident Chea Sam Ol said yesterday that it was an injustice that his father Klin Ieng had been held in prison since March 2009.
“My father did nothing wrong, nothing that the court has accused him of ... they should release him immediately,” he said.
Ty Soveinthal, a Siem Reap prosecutor, said that the villagers had the right to disagree with the court’s decision.
“It they say the verdict was an injustice, they should file a complaint to the Appeal Court,” he said.
Ke Sovannaroth, an SRP parliamentarian representing Siem Reap, said that the party organised the visit in order to offer its moral support to the families of those jailed.
“The court did not provide justice for these people,” she said. “These villagers are the victims in this land dispute.”
Last Friday, Siem Reap provincial court sentenced nine of the villagers, from Chi Kraeng district’s Chi Kraeng commune, to three years in prison each after convicting them of forming an illegal armed force.
Three other villagers were sentenced to three years in prison on charges of illegal confinement. The nine, originally charged with attempted intentional manslaughter, were arrested after a March 2009 altercation in which police allegedly fired on a crowd in Chi Kraeng commune, injuring four.
Sok Kimseng, a provincial councilor for the SRP, said the families should continue to seek justice in the case.
“Villagers have suffered, lost their land, they have been shot at and detained in prison, he said. “Meanwhile, the people who committed violence against these villagers are still free.... It shows that there is a lack of justice in our court system.”
The Chi Kraeng dispute dates back to 1986, when land was divided equally between Chi Kraeng and Anlong Samnor communes, leaving an unspecified area of farmland in dispute. In January 2009, the provincial court ruled that the land belonged to Anlong Samnor, sparking conflict.
Although judges at Siem Reap provincial court suspended the sentences of all 12 villagers, they will remain in custody for at least a month, pending the possibility of an appeal by the prosecution.
Naly Pilorge, director of the rights group Licadho, said that “there is no indication that...detainees will be allowed to go free as many face additional charges/convictions, and the Siem Reap prosecutor can appeal all or some of the verdicts.”
She said the charges and convictions handed down last Friday were “baseless”.
“Siem Reap court has not proven to have any evidence to convict the Chi Kraeng detainees,” she said, and pointed to the fact that the complainant, lawyer and witnesses for the prosecution were absent during the trial.
Chi Kraeng resident Chea Sam Ol said yesterday that it was an injustice that his father Klin Ieng had been held in prison since March 2009.
“My father did nothing wrong, nothing that the court has accused him of ... they should release him immediately,” he said.
Ty Soveinthal, a Siem Reap prosecutor, said that the villagers had the right to disagree with the court’s decision.
“It they say the verdict was an injustice, they should file a complaint to the Appeal Court,” he said.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
SRP MP demands the release of 12 villagers jailed in the land dispute case in Chikreng district
Injured victims of cops opening fire on protesting villagers in Chikreng commune, Siem Reap province (Photo: Savyouth, RFA)21 May 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Based on Hun Xen’s past claim indicating that there will be no arrest of any paties involved in land disputes, a SRP MP demanded that the minister of Justice intervenes for the release of 12 villagers who were arrested stemming from a land dispute in Chikreng distict, Siem Reap province.
In a letter sent by Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, SRP MP for Siem Reap province, sent to the minister of Justice through the intermediary of Heng Samrin, she raised the issue of a land dispute taking place in Chikreng district, Siem Reap province, in which 12 villagers are now being jailed. She indicated that the jailing of these villagers is contrary to Hun Xen’s advice.
She indicated that these villagers ought to be released so that they can pursue their jobs to feed their families as the rainy season is fast approaching. She also pointed out that the minister of Justice already sent 3 intervention letters, but to no avail as the Siem Reap province court refused to apply the minister’s interventions. She demanded that Ang Vong Vattana, the minister of Justice, take rightful measures to release the jailed villagers.
Land disputes over dry season rice fields between villagers in Anlong Samnor and Chikreng communes, located in Chikreng district, exploded into violence in March 2009 when the court issued an order to confiscate lands to give villagers in Anlong Samnor. Several Chikreng commune villagers protested the court order and they were sprayed with bullets by the cops and military cops. Several villagers were tied up and beaten before they were sent to jail.
According to Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, none to the cops who sprayed the villagers with bullets were ever arrested or prosecuted according to the law. She added: “They commited criminal offenses, but they were not arrested, as for the 12 villagers, not only did they lose their lands, they were also sent to jail.”
In a letter sent by Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, SRP MP for Siem Reap province, sent to the minister of Justice through the intermediary of Heng Samrin, she raised the issue of a land dispute taking place in Chikreng district, Siem Reap province, in which 12 villagers are now being jailed. She indicated that the jailing of these villagers is contrary to Hun Xen’s advice.
She indicated that these villagers ought to be released so that they can pursue their jobs to feed their families as the rainy season is fast approaching. She also pointed out that the minister of Justice already sent 3 intervention letters, but to no avail as the Siem Reap province court refused to apply the minister’s interventions. She demanded that Ang Vong Vattana, the minister of Justice, take rightful measures to release the jailed villagers.
Land disputes over dry season rice fields between villagers in Anlong Samnor and Chikreng communes, located in Chikreng district, exploded into violence in March 2009 when the court issued an order to confiscate lands to give villagers in Anlong Samnor. Several Chikreng commune villagers protested the court order and they were sprayed with bullets by the cops and military cops. Several villagers were tied up and beaten before they were sent to jail.
According to Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, none to the cops who sprayed the villagers with bullets were ever arrested or prosecuted according to the law. She added: “They commited criminal offenses, but they were not arrested, as for the 12 villagers, not only did they lose their lands, they were also sent to jail.”
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Cambodian New Year message from SRP Secretary-General Ke Sovannroth
Click on the message in Khmer to zoom inTo all our compatriots,
On the occasion of Khmer New Year, the Secretary General of Sam Rainsy Party wishes to take this opportunity to congratulate and wishing you good health and happiness.
In solidarity,
Ke Sovannroth,
Secretary General
Sam Rainsy Party
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
SRP to commemorate the 1997 grenade attack
(Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)23 March 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The SRP plans to organize a commemoration of the 13th anniversary of the grenade attack which took place in front of the National Assembly on 30 March. This is the 13th anniversary of the 1997 attack when four grenades were thrown on demonstrators who were demanding for justice and democracy. The demonstration was led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy and it resulted in 20 deaths and more than 100 injured. In a letter sent to Kep Chuktema, the Phnom Penh city governor, to ask for the authorization to organize the commemoration, Mrs. Ker Sovannaroth, SRP Secretary-general, indicated that on 30 March, the SRP will organize a commemoration for the victims of the 30 March grenade attack. 400 people, including Buddhist monks, plan to join the commemoration. Up to yesterday, the SRP had not receive the authorization from the city yet, however, Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the ministry of Interior, told the Phnom Penh Post over the phone that the government will not ban the commemoration for the victims if an authorization was sent to the local authority.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Please help Koh Kban Kandal villagers who were victimized by Hanoi's puppet regime
Click on the appeal letter in Khmer to zoom inUnofficial Translation from Khmer
Sam Rainsy Party
Appeal
Appeal
The Sam Rainsy Party would like to inform all our members and all generous persons from both inside and outside of Cambodia that Mrs. Meas Srey and Mr. Prum Chea, two villagers from Koh Kban Kandal North village, located in Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, were unfairly arrested and sent to prison by the Svay Rieng provincial court on 23 December 2009. The court accused the pair of willfully damaging border post No. 185 on 25 October 2009. Mrs. Meas Srey and Mr. Prum Chea were among the many land owners who lost their rice fields due to the planting of border post No. 185 on top on their properties.
Videos summarizing the event can be viewed at the following links: http://tinyurl.com/yhwf289 and http://tinyurl.com/yfmakb5
In the name of the victim’s families and in the name of the Sam Rainsy party, I am appealing to all our members, as well as generous donors from both inside and outside our country, to please help provide funds, according to your means and capability, to help encourage, support and alleviate the needs of the families of Mrs. Meas Srey and Mr. Prum Chea who were victimized and lost their lands from the planting of border post No. 185 on top of their rice fields.
I am deeply thanking our party members and all the generous donors from both inside and outside our country who had always contributed their personal funds to provide for the families of the victims in their fight to defend our national interest, our territorial integrity, our democracy and social justice.
I am wishing all our party members and all the generous donors from both inside and outside our country with the five Buddhist blessings.
Done in Phnom Penh, 26 December 2009
(Signed) Ke Sovanroth
Secretary-General
Videos summarizing the event can be viewed at the following links: http://tinyurl.com/yhwf289 and http://tinyurl.com/yfmakb5
In the name of the victim’s families and in the name of the Sam Rainsy party, I am appealing to all our members, as well as generous donors from both inside and outside our country, to please help provide funds, according to your means and capability, to help encourage, support and alleviate the needs of the families of Mrs. Meas Srey and Mr. Prum Chea who were victimized and lost their lands from the planting of border post No. 185 on top of their rice fields.
I am deeply thanking our party members and all the generous donors from both inside and outside our country who had always contributed their personal funds to provide for the families of the victims in their fight to defend our national interest, our territorial integrity, our democracy and social justice.
I am wishing all our party members and all the generous donors from both inside and outside our country with the five Buddhist blessings.
Done in Phnom Penh, 26 December 2009
(Signed) Ke Sovanroth
Secretary-General
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Hun Xen absolutely forbid taxes for watching TV and listening to radio … and no land taxes yet
Hun Xen's replying to the taxes proposed by CPP MP Chheang Vun (R)19 October 2009
KI-Media
Recently, Chheang Vun, the CPP chairman of the National Assembly’s committee for foreign affairs and international cooperation, broadcasting and information, said that he wanted the population to pay a tax to the government for using radio and TV sets, and he is also pushing the ministry of Information to make the request to Hun Xen again about this issue. In response to this proposal, on 19 October, Hun Xen declared: “the population must not be concerned that they will be forced to pay taxes for watching TV and listening to radio. I will take all actions so that the people will have TV to watch and radio to listen to. Therefore, I ask for a suspension, but it’s like answering that there must not be taxes.”
Hun Xen’s declaration was strongly supported by the opposition SRP party. Mrs. Ke Sovannaroth, SRP Secretary-general indicated: “I support this because we know that our people need information. If taxes are imposed for watching TV and listening to the radio, then our people will not care about social and national issues. For Cambodia which is a country that is stepping toward democracy, our people must receive complete information about national affairs.”
During the same speech, Hun Xen also declared: “We will not tax the TV watching and the listening of radio, how can we tax them? Even for the land taxes, this is not the time yet.”
Mrs. Ke Sovannaroth also supports the ban on land taxation. She also added: “I believe that there should be not just ban of land taxation, but also the people must have sufficient land. Not taxing lands is a good thing because the majority of the population are farmers, but it would also be better if sufficient lands are provided to the people so that they can produce large amount of crops.”
Hun Xen’s declaration was strongly supported by the opposition SRP party. Mrs. Ke Sovannaroth, SRP Secretary-general indicated: “I support this because we know that our people need information. If taxes are imposed for watching TV and listening to the radio, then our people will not care about social and national issues. For Cambodia which is a country that is stepping toward democracy, our people must receive complete information about national affairs.”
During the same speech, Hun Xen also declared: “We will not tax the TV watching and the listening of radio, how can we tax them? Even for the land taxes, this is not the time yet.”
Mrs. Ke Sovannaroth also supports the ban on land taxation. She also added: “I believe that there should be not just ban of land taxation, but also the people must have sufficient land. Not taxing lands is a good thing because the majority of the population are farmers, but it would also be better if sufficient lands are provided to the people so that they can produce large amount of crops.”
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Interview with Siem Reap MP Ke Sovanroth, SRP Secretary-general, during her visit to Australia
Mrs. Ke Sovannroth (L) during her interview with Radio Australia (Photo: Khun Alex)20 September 2009
Producers: Khun Alex and Bun Leviseda
Radio Australia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Recently, a Cambodian delegation, which included the opposition party, visited Australia to study the working function of the Australian federal and state parliaments. This was a good opportunity for Radio Australia to seek out these MPs to understand better about the status of their visit, and to find out about the outcome of their visit to Australia.
The following is the interview conducted by Mrs. Bun Leviseda with Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, SRP Secretary-general and Kampot MP. The interview was conducted in our studio in Merlbourne.
The following is the interview conducted by Mrs. Bun Leviseda with Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, SRP Secretary-general and Kampot MP. The interview was conducted in our studio in Merlbourne.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Four-Year ‘Good Governance’ Project Begins [-Good governance without anti-corruption law?]
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
29 April 2009
The project, supported by the World Bank and launched Wednesday by Interior Minister Sar Kheng, will encourage citizens to take greater part in development and governance in the four areas, officials said.
“The project will play an important role in providing capacity-building and strengthening the state of institutions,” Sar Kheng said. The project will also “encourage the implementation of more effectiveness, transparency, accountability and response to the daily needs of people.”
Programs will be put in place at the “sub-national” level to improve administration and reduce corruption and the abuse of power, he said.
The $25.28 million project will be funded mainly through the World Bank, which is providing the bulk of the money, and the Australian Agency for International Development, which is contributing $3.62 million.
Cambodia’s World Bank manager, Qimiao Fan, said the project was “critical” to the country’s fight against corruption and “cannot be allowed to fail.”
He called on officials to ensure the project was “open and transparent,” to benefit everyone in the country. He would be looking at the project’s implementation “personally,” he said.
Not everyone is convinced the idea will work.
Ke Sovannaroth, secretary-general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said corruption needed to be fought at the national level, including with an anti-corruption law that has been in a draft stage for a decade.
“This project for fighting against corruption at sub-nation level will not meet with effectiveness and will not be enough,” she said. “We want to recommend the government to pass an anti-corruption law, and then we project good governance from the national level down to the sub-national level. This will be effective.”
Original report from Phnom Penh
29 April 2009
“This project for fighting against corruption at sub-nation level will not meet with effectiveness and will not be enough ... We want to recommend the government to pass an anti-corruption law, and then we project good governance from the national level down to the sub-national level. This will be effective.” - Ke Sovannaroth, SRP Secretary-generalCambodia announced a four-year, $25 million project to enhance good governance on Wednesday, seeking to promote the private sector, natural resources, public finance and decentralization.
The project, supported by the World Bank and launched Wednesday by Interior Minister Sar Kheng, will encourage citizens to take greater part in development and governance in the four areas, officials said.
“The project will play an important role in providing capacity-building and strengthening the state of institutions,” Sar Kheng said. The project will also “encourage the implementation of more effectiveness, transparency, accountability and response to the daily needs of people.”
Programs will be put in place at the “sub-national” level to improve administration and reduce corruption and the abuse of power, he said.
The $25.28 million project will be funded mainly through the World Bank, which is providing the bulk of the money, and the Australian Agency for International Development, which is contributing $3.62 million.
Cambodia’s World Bank manager, Qimiao Fan, said the project was “critical” to the country’s fight against corruption and “cannot be allowed to fail.”
He called on officials to ensure the project was “open and transparent,” to benefit everyone in the country. He would be looking at the project’s implementation “personally,” he said.
Not everyone is convinced the idea will work.
Ke Sovannaroth, secretary-general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said corruption needed to be fought at the national level, including with an anti-corruption law that has been in a draft stage for a decade.
“This project for fighting against corruption at sub-nation level will not meet with effectiveness and will not be enough,” she said. “We want to recommend the government to pass an anti-corruption law, and then we project good governance from the national level down to the sub-national level. This will be effective.”
Monday, March 09, 2009
Sar Kheng recommends power-sharing cooperation, Dr. Hun Xen said no power-sharing: CPP does not know what it talking about?
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng speaks at a meeting Thursday last week. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)CPP must cooperate in power-sharing: Sar Kheng
Monday, 09 March 2009
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post
DEPUTY Prime Minister Sar Kheng has told representatives of the ruling Cambodian People's Party that they must work together with other parties' officials to ensure power is shared across party lines at the local level after May's indirect council elections.
The country's 11,353 commune councillors will vote on May 17 to select the members of newly created district, provincial and municipal levels of government - key planks in the government's decentralisation efforts.
Sar Kheng, who is also minister of the interior and head of the government's decentralisation committee, told provincial governors and police officials that the success of decentralisation would require the participation of all four political parties.
"Mixed composition at the local level will bring new ideas.... Fourteen days after the council elections, the new councillors from the four political parties will take their positions, and therefore we should not make any obstacles for any reason," Sar Kheng said at the gathering at the Interior Ministry onThursday. "A dark corner will remain if there is just one party operating."
The National Election Committee has said four political parties will contest the council elections: the CPP with candidates in all 24 provinces, the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party with candidates in 23, the Norodom Ranariddh Party with candidates in seven, and Funcinpec with candidates in five.
In his speech at the ministry, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government had last year spent US$57 million on commune council development projects. He said $82 million was earmarked for the reform program in 2009.
"Although we were flooded with work in 2008, we were still able to deliver support to communes and sangkats, and to coordinate the projects of various development partners through the smooth implementation of the decentralisation and deconcentration policy," Hun Sen said.
Ke Sovannroth, the secretary general of the SRP and an MP, said decentralisation had transformed local government across the Kingdom since the first commune elections five years ago, but said political discrimination - particularly against the SRP - remained an obstacle.
She said some CPP activists put their party's political interests ahead of their willingness to cooperate with SRP councillors.
The country's 11,353 commune councillors will vote on May 17 to select the members of newly created district, provincial and municipal levels of government - key planks in the government's decentralisation efforts.
Sar Kheng, who is also minister of the interior and head of the government's decentralisation committee, told provincial governors and police officials that the success of decentralisation would require the participation of all four political parties.
"Mixed composition at the local level will bring new ideas.... Fourteen days after the council elections, the new councillors from the four political parties will take their positions, and therefore we should not make any obstacles for any reason," Sar Kheng said at the gathering at the Interior Ministry onThursday. "A dark corner will remain if there is just one party operating."
The National Election Committee has said four political parties will contest the council elections: the CPP with candidates in all 24 provinces, the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party with candidates in 23, the Norodom Ranariddh Party with candidates in seven, and Funcinpec with candidates in five.
In his speech at the ministry, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government had last year spent US$57 million on commune council development projects. He said $82 million was earmarked for the reform program in 2009.
"Although we were flooded with work in 2008, we were still able to deliver support to communes and sangkats, and to coordinate the projects of various development partners through the smooth implementation of the decentralisation and deconcentration policy," Hun Sen said.
Ke Sovannroth, the secretary general of the SRP and an MP, said decentralisation had transformed local government across the Kingdom since the first commune elections five years ago, but said political discrimination - particularly against the SRP - remained an obstacle.
She said some CPP activists put their party's political interests ahead of their willingness to cooperate with SRP councillors.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Yim Sovann named SRP spokesman
Yim Sovann (L) shaking hand with Ann Clwyd (R), a member of the British parliament
SRP MP Ke Sovannaroth (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)07 Feb 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Sam Rainsy, SRP President, named Phnom Penh MP Yim Sovann as the new SRP spokesman, replacing his colleague Son Chhay. The decision was made during a meeting of the party permanent committee held on 05 Feb. Very well known within the SRP, Son Chhay did not provide any comment on this change.
Furthermore, Ke Sonannaroth, SRP MP from Banteay Meanchey, who was previously the party standing General-secretary shortly after Eng Chhay Eang’s resignation, was officially confirmed as the permanent party secretary-general. The SRP reorganization marks its will to strengthen itself up in preparation for the upcoming election of municipal, provincial, commune and district councilors which will be held on 17 May 2009.
Furthermore, Ke Sonannaroth, SRP MP from Banteay Meanchey, who was previously the party standing General-secretary shortly after Eng Chhay Eang’s resignation, was officially confirmed as the permanent party secretary-general. The SRP reorganization marks its will to strengthen itself up in preparation for the upcoming election of municipal, provincial, commune and district councilors which will be held on 17 May 2009.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
SRP braces for midyear council polls
Wednesday, 14 January 2009 Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post
Party says meddling by the Ministry of Interior unfair.
AHEAD of May's indirect elections for new district, provincial and municipal councils, more than 2,660 of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party's commune councilors are scheduled to meet in Phnom Penh to prepare for the polls, officials say.
According to Ke Sovannroth, acting secretary general of the SRP, in upcoming elections scheduled for May 17, only those individuals currently holding seats on commune councils will be eligible to vote.
The CPP holds 7,993 seats at commune level, with the SRP a distant second with 2,660. Royalist Funcinpec holds just 274, while the Norodom Ranariddh Party has 425 and the Hang Dara Democratic Movement just one seat.
Election monitor Comfrel has already announced plans for a boycott, saying the overwhelming majority of the CPP at commune level makes the results of the May poll a foregone conclusion.
Moreover, the SRP is concerned over the effect of recent defections, deaths and resignations of SRP commune councilors. In theory, due to the party-based electoral system, the party can simply replace such candidates with new party members. In practice, this is proving difficult. The 200 candidates the SRP needs to appoint as replacements must be approved by the Ministry of Interior, but the process is being blocked, Ke Sovannroth told the Post.
"We are concerned over the political intentions which are making the legal process slow and will make our eligible voters [SRP commune councilors] lose their rights to cast the ballot," Ke Sovannroth said.
Im Suosdey, chairman of the National Election Committee, told the Post that the re-appointment of members of the commune council must follow the legal processes required by district, provincial and Ministry of Interior officials.
"We are ready to help any political party that has problems reshuffling their members during the [May election] registration period, but only through the legal process," Im Suosdey said.
He said the NEC expects to spend approximately US$1.4 million on running the indirect council elections, adding that voter registration is scheduled for February.
Ke Sovannroth said the SRP anticipates having representatives at district, provincial and municipal council levels after the election.
SRP lawmaker Chea Poch said the party will strengthen its active membership to ensure that all eligible voters will have an SRP candidate on their voter list.
Parties can nominate candidates to run in the indirect elections from within their general membership or from their existing commune councilors - who have to resign from their existing positions before running.
AHEAD of May's indirect elections for new district, provincial and municipal councils, more than 2,660 of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party's commune councilors are scheduled to meet in Phnom Penh to prepare for the polls, officials say.
According to Ke Sovannroth, acting secretary general of the SRP, in upcoming elections scheduled for May 17, only those individuals currently holding seats on commune councils will be eligible to vote.
The CPP holds 7,993 seats at commune level, with the SRP a distant second with 2,660. Royalist Funcinpec holds just 274, while the Norodom Ranariddh Party has 425 and the Hang Dara Democratic Movement just one seat.
Election monitor Comfrel has already announced plans for a boycott, saying the overwhelming majority of the CPP at commune level makes the results of the May poll a foregone conclusion.
Moreover, the SRP is concerned over the effect of recent defections, deaths and resignations of SRP commune councilors. In theory, due to the party-based electoral system, the party can simply replace such candidates with new party members. In practice, this is proving difficult. The 200 candidates the SRP needs to appoint as replacements must be approved by the Ministry of Interior, but the process is being blocked, Ke Sovannroth told the Post.
"We are concerned over the political intentions which are making the legal process slow and will make our eligible voters [SRP commune councilors] lose their rights to cast the ballot," Ke Sovannroth said.
Im Suosdey, chairman of the National Election Committee, told the Post that the re-appointment of members of the commune council must follow the legal processes required by district, provincial and Ministry of Interior officials.
"We are ready to help any political party that has problems reshuffling their members during the [May election] registration period, but only through the legal process," Im Suosdey said.
He said the NEC expects to spend approximately US$1.4 million on running the indirect council elections, adding that voter registration is scheduled for February.
Ke Sovannroth said the SRP anticipates having representatives at district, provincial and municipal council levels after the election.
SRP lawmaker Chea Poch said the party will strengthen its active membership to ensure that all eligible voters will have an SRP candidate on their voter list.
Parties can nominate candidates to run in the indirect elections from within their general membership or from their existing commune councilors - who have to resign from their existing positions before running.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Itinerant field workers appeal to opposition for food aid in Kandal
Thursday, 06 November 2008
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Farm workers say flooding in the province has left them jobless and starving, but government officials say further investigation is needed
NEARLY 120 families from Kandal province's Sa Ang district who work as itinerant field hands pleaded with the Sam Rainsy Party on Wednesday for food, saying flooding has left them with few jobs and no way to feed themselves.
Nuon Sokhon, a widow from Krang Yov commune, said she has few resources to support her six children.
"I used to plant rice and earned about 10,000 riels (US$2.50) per day. But now I earn nothing and don't know what to do," she said.
"There is no one to provide food for us," she said. "Others get supplies, but they don't give them to anyone outside their own groups."
That Samuon, deputy chief of Sa Ang Phnom commune, said Wednesday the families are struggling because they have no rice fields and that food aid to the area is administered largely by partisan political groups.
"Most of [the families] are temporary rice field workers, and when they are not needed they face hardships. This is their custom. When they run out of food, they ask for assistance," he said. "They are right in saying that food aid does not reach them because it is given to the commune, not to individuals. But this is not the government's problem. It should be dealt with by local officials."
Sa Ang district Governor Khim Chankiri could not be reached for comment.
But Sam Rainsy Party acting secretary general Ke Sovannaroth said the party would appeal to the King and the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) for relief but could only provide temporary food supplies.
However, Cambodian People's Party lawmaker and first deputy chief of the NCDM, Nhim Vanda, said the situation needed further investigation.
"We can't decide yet how to assist the families because we do not know the reason for their poverty," he said.
"Some of the families have lost their money to gambling, while others were cheated by politicians," he said.
He added that flooding in the province has not been severe this season and was not the cause of food shortages.
NEARLY 120 families from Kandal province's Sa Ang district who work as itinerant field hands pleaded with the Sam Rainsy Party on Wednesday for food, saying flooding has left them with few jobs and no way to feed themselves.
Nuon Sokhon, a widow from Krang Yov commune, said she has few resources to support her six children.
"I used to plant rice and earned about 10,000 riels (US$2.50) per day. But now I earn nothing and don't know what to do," she said.
"There is no one to provide food for us," she said. "Others get supplies, but they don't give them to anyone outside their own groups."
That Samuon, deputy chief of Sa Ang Phnom commune, said Wednesday the families are struggling because they have no rice fields and that food aid to the area is administered largely by partisan political groups.
"Most of [the families] are temporary rice field workers, and when they are not needed they face hardships. This is their custom. When they run out of food, they ask for assistance," he said. "They are right in saying that food aid does not reach them because it is given to the commune, not to individuals. But this is not the government's problem. It should be dealt with by local officials."
Sa Ang district Governor Khim Chankiri could not be reached for comment.
But Sam Rainsy Party acting secretary general Ke Sovannaroth said the party would appeal to the King and the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) for relief but could only provide temporary food supplies.
However, Cambodian People's Party lawmaker and first deputy chief of the NCDM, Nhim Vanda, said the situation needed further investigation.
"We can't decide yet how to assist the families because we do not know the reason for their poverty," he said.
"Some of the families have lost their money to gambling, while others were cheated by politicians," he said.
He added that flooding in the province has not been severe this season and was not the cause of food shortages.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Assembly Committee Weighs 2009 Budget
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
29 October 2008
Original report from Phnom Penh
29 October 2008
One of the first tasks for the new National Assembly will be the approval of the 2009 budget, which is now being considered in the finance committee.
The total budget for 2009 is $2 billion, an increase of 28 percent over the year before, said Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yiep, who is the head of the finance committee.
Spending in 2009 will increase across six sectors, but a large portion will be spent on national defense, he said.
Money budgeted healthcare, education, rural development, agriculture, women’s affairs and social affairs will rise more than 5 percent, but spending for national defense will rise nearly 70 percent, to about $500 million, according to Cheam Yiep, whose committee is reviewing a draft of the budget.
Ke Sovannaroth, secretary-general of the Sam Rainsy Party, said Wednesday she was disappointed with the taxation outlined in the new budget.
“The government will be increasing the taxes that affect the goods people use every day,” she said.
She was also concerned that management of the budget in each ministry would not be undertaken “effectively and with transparency.”
The total budget for 2009 is $2 billion, an increase of 28 percent over the year before, said Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yiep, who is the head of the finance committee.
Spending in 2009 will increase across six sectors, but a large portion will be spent on national defense, he said.
Money budgeted healthcare, education, rural development, agriculture, women’s affairs and social affairs will rise more than 5 percent, but spending for national defense will rise nearly 70 percent, to about $500 million, according to Cheam Yiep, whose committee is reviewing a draft of the budget.
Ke Sovannaroth, secretary-general of the Sam Rainsy Party, said Wednesday she was disappointed with the taxation outlined in the new budget.
“The government will be increasing the taxes that affect the goods people use every day,” she said.
She was also concerned that management of the budget in each ministry would not be undertaken “effectively and with transparency.”
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