Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Lon Rith

Lon Rith has time and money to waste! He should spend his idle time watching Karaoke in Long Beach

Lon Rith, the son of Lon Nol and president of the Khmer Republican Party, announces his party’s intention to run in next year’s commune council elections. (Photo by: Pha Lina)

Republicans gear up for 2012

Monday, 03 January 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Lon Rith, the son of former Cambodian president Lon Nol, has announced his intention to contest next year’s commune elections at the head of the Khmer Republican Party, claiming a support base of more than 100,000 members.

Speaking to reporters at the party’s headquarters Monday, Lon Rith, who lives in California, said his party is restructuring itself in advance of the 2012 poll.

Lon Rith said the KRP, which undertook a largely unsuccessful national election campaign in 2008, would aim to support the work of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, and would run on a platform of preserving natural resources safeguarding Cambodia’s territorial integrity.

The KRP’s overriding objective, he said, was to encourage development.

“I have a principle to arrange the country to be as progressive as other countries,” he said, adding that he would aim to empower grassroots organisations at the commune level.

In March 1970, Lon Rith’s father Lon Nol overthrew then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk in a coup, ushering in a five-year experiment with republican government.

Lon Nol’s regime, which was overthrown by the communist Khmer Rouge in April 1975, was marked by its close alignment with the United States, which provided backing for the civil war effort.

It also broke with centuries of tradition by abolishing the Cambodian monarchy, which was not restored until 1993.

Speaking on Monday, Lon Rith played down his party’s link to the Khmer Republic, saying he had no intention of reproducing its anti-monarchist stance.

“The Khmer Republican Party respects our constitution. We will not do anything contrary to the constitution,” he said.

Lon Rith previously returned to Cambodia prior to the 2008 national election. At the time, he told The Post that he wanted “to elevate the people, give them a voice, and give them not just hope, but the basic needs and necessities: food, education, jobs and a higher standard of living”.

In the end, the party won only 11,693 votes in nine provinces – about 0.19 percent of the popular vote.

Lon Rith noted on Monday that his 2008 campaign had been poorly funded in comparison with other parties and said he was prepared to spend up to US$1 million in the lead-up to next year’s election.

Koul Panha, executive director of election monitor Comfrel, welcomed Lon Rith’s return.

“It has been a long time for him. If he tries from now on he could attract votes from the grassroots for this commune election,” Koul Panha said.

He noted, however, that current election procedures favour larger parties and called for a change to the current election formula.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, also welcomed Lon Rith’s return, but said the ruling CPP did not feel threatened by it.

“We are not scared of competing with any party. We encourage other parties to take part in the competition,” he said.

2 Cambodian parties make alliance before general election

PHNOM PENH, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Two small political parties in Cambodia, the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party (KAP) and the Justice Society Party (JSP) announced Monday that they agreed to make an alliance before the general election on July 27.

"We will both get benefit from this alliance because we could get more votes and have more seats in the parliamentary election," KAP President Krovagn Darorn told reporters.

"We will help each other in this election campaign," he added.

"We have similar political platforms. Therefore we could reach this alliance agreement," JSP President Ban Sophal said.

Long Rith, president of the Khmer Republican Party (KRP) also showed to make alliances.

"Up to now, we have not put all things on the table to discuss and I do not refuse to do so," he said.

Cambodia will conduct the parliamentary election on July 27, in which all 11 parties will compete for 123 seats in the National Assembly.

Three Small Parties Consider Alliance

By Win Thida, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
01 July 2008

The Khmer Anti-Poverty Party and the Society of Justice Party have agreed to help each other in an "alliance" during the campaign, and a third, the Khmer Republican Party is considering joining them, party officials said Tuesday.

Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said Tuesday such an alliance was unlikely to sway the outcome of the election.

However, party leaders said they hoped to bolster each other's efforts in provinces where one party was not represented but could still support another.

Three political parties merge before the election

Monday, June 30, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Three small political parties plan to merge with each other at the beginning of July, in order to be ready for the election. The Cambodia Daily quoted Daran Kravanh of the Anti-Poverty Party as saying that the Anti-Poverty Party will merge with the Social Justice Party and the Khmer Republican Party, in order to unite their force. Daran Kravanh said that the three parties will sign this merger agreement on 07 July. Lon Rith, head of the Khmer Republican Party, claimed on Sunday that his party agreed on this merger on Friday. Ban Sophal, Social Justice Party president, also said on Sunday that his party agrees to this merger and that it will participate in the ceremony held on 07 July. Hang Puthea, executive director for Comfrel, also said on Sunday that he is confident that this merger is a good thing for the smaller parties. He added that if these parties are still not united, then they will not be successful

Phnom Penh provides tight security for Lon Rith

Lon Rith, 45-year-old president of the Khmer Republican Party of Cambodia, talks to reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on April 20, 2008. Lon Rith, son of Lon Nol who ruled Cambodia from 1970 to 1975, left the country in 1973 when he was 11 and has been living in the United States ever since. He returned to Cambodia on Sunday to take part in the National Assembly elections, to be held in July. (Xinhua Photo)

Late Marshall Lon Nol’s son returns to Cambodia

Monday, April 21, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Lon Rith, president of the Khmer Republican Party (KRP) and the son of the late Marshall Lon Nol, arrived in Cambodia on 20 April to organize his party in view of competing in the upcoming general election which will be held on 27 July. Lon Rith left Cambodia to the US in 1973, at the age of 11. This is the first time that he returns back to his native country as the KRP president. About 100 supporters greeted him under very tight security. John Sunny Sok, the KRP vice-president, said that Lon Rith’s presence at this time brings hope to his supporters. John Sunny Sok said that Lon Rith will meet with his party activists from the 24 provinces and municipalities from all over the country, and he plans to organize the party national congress in the future as well, so as to compete in the upcoming July general election.

Lon Nol's son returns to Cambodia as KRP leader for general election

Lon Rith, 45-year-old president of the Khmer Republican Party of Cambodia, talks to reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on April 20, 2008. Lon Rith, son of Lon Nol who ruled Cambodia from 1970 to 1975, left the country in 1973 when he was 11 and has been living in the United States ever since. He returned to Cambodia on Sunday to take part in the National Assembly elections, to be held in July. (Xinhua Photo)

PHNOM PENH, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Lon Rith, the eldest son of Lon Nol, arrived here on Sunday from the United States as President of the newly founded Khmer Republican Party (KRP) to stand for Prime Minister candidate in the general election in July.

Lon Rith is welcomed by about one hundred members of his party at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

"I am very happy to meet with you all and we will organize our political party structure to join the competition for July general election," Lon Rith told reporters after arrival.

"I will stand for vote in the general election on July 27 and it depends on the Cambodian people to decide whether they like a republican regime or not," he said.

His party activists created the KRP in Cambodia in October 2007and he became president of the KRP, which has the same name as his father regime, "the Khmer Republic."

The Khmer Republic regime led by Lon Nol ruled Cambodia from 1970 to 1975 after Lon Nol came to power in a coup on March 18, 1970.

Lon Rith left Cambodian in 1973 when he was 11 years old. He is an economist in the United States, a press release from his party said.

Party of Lon Nol’s son shows it face in Phnom Penh

Lon Rity, KRP party president, who did not show up his face in Phnom Penh as of yet

Saturday, February 23, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Khmer Republican Party belonging the son of late Marshall Lon Nol, showed its face after the Ministry of Interior recognized it for the participation in the 27 July 2008 general election. In a press conference at the Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh on 21 February, John Sunny Sok, the KRP vice-president, said that his party was formed on 11 March 2006, and Lon Rith, the son of Marshall Lon Nol, is the party president. John Sunny Sok said that, if his party wins the election, it will abide by the constitution which stipulates that Cambodia is a monarchy. He said that his party is only one among many other parties and it is not a pro-republican party. The KRP will strive by the free democratic system. Lon Rith, the KRP president, did not show up in Phnom Penh for the public to know him yet, even though the party held two press conferences so far already.

The "no-longer republican" Khmer Republican Party authorized to open its headquarters

Lon Rith, president of the Khmer Republican Party.

Authorization granted for the Khmer Republic party to open its office

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) agreed to authorize the Khmer Republican party (KRP) – presided by Lon Rith, the son of Marshall Lon Nol – to open its headquarters and to raise party signs along villages, communes, districts, provinces, city and municipalities all over the country. In a letter dated 20 November 2007, issued by Sar Kheng, the minister of Interior, to the KRP president, Sar Kheng stated that the MoI does not oppose the request to open the party headquarters, and the raising of party signs. The KRP was recognized by the MoI on 12 February 2007, and it was registered in the list of political parties on 08 October 2007. KRP officials used to claim that the party does not plan to bring the republican regime back to the current kingdom of Cambodia. After the recognition of this party by the MoI, the KRP held a press conference in Phnom Penh, however, Lon Rith was not present there.

The Khmer Republican party has no intention of toppling the monarchy in Cambodia

Rejecting the idea of toppling the monarchy

Thursday, November 08, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Khmer Republican party presided by Lon Rith, the son of former Marshall Lon Nol, issued a communiqué rejecting the information reporting that this party plans to topple the monarchy for revenge. Lon Rith’s party rejected the accusation made against his party wanting to oppose King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. The Khmer Republican party said that this accusation is very unfair for the party, and that this action is not included in the party policy. The communiqué added that, to the contrary, this accusation cannot bring national unity at all, and it will create more disunity among Cambodians. The communiqué also stated that there should be no mistake between the Khmer Republican Party and the Khmer Republic regime, everybody now lives under the (current Cambodian) Constitution and there is no persecution threat towards one another.

Political Cartoon: Xihanuk is haunted

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

More than 30 years on, Lon Nol family back in Cambodian politics [-Can the son fills in his father's shoes?]

Feb 20, 2007

DPA

Phnom Penh - The son of Lon Nol, who overthrew then-prince Norodom Sihanouk in a 1970 coup before losing power to the Khmer Rouge, has announced he would return his family to the Cambodian political arena, local media said Tuesday.

The Khmer-language Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper quoted a spokesman for Lon Rithi's newly registered Khmer Republican Party as saying the party would compete in the 2008 national elections.

'Lon Rithi will put his leg back into Cambodia,' the newspaper quoted Nhean Preah as saying.

Propped up by US aid, the Lon Nol government held out nearly five years until Phnom Penh was overrun by the Khmer Rouge in April 1975 and he fled to Hawaii. He died in exile in the United States in 1985, and Lon Rithi, 47, is a resident of Long Beach, California.

Against the backdrop of a war in neighbouring Vietnam, Lon Nol's regime was widely blamed for sanctioning some of the worst purges of ethnic Vietnamese in the history of the country prior to the Khmer Rouge's brutal Democratic Kampuchea regime.

The political platform of his son's party were not immediately clear.

Lon Nol's Son Enters Politics

Mony Dara
VOA Khmer
Cambodia
19/02/2007

Long Rith, the son of late Cambodian general Lon Nol, who toppled former King Norodom Sihanouk in 1970, has launched his own political party called the Khmer Republican Party.

According to the party officials, the Khmer Republican party has received permission from the ministry of the interior and it plans to compete in the 2008 general elections.

The party's Secretary General, Nhean Preash says that the party adheres to democratic principles, respects the constitution and believes in constitutional monarchy. He says that Cambodian people love the monarchy, and that monarchy should prevail now. Should the people think monarchy is not the right regime in the future, then there should be an election, and the people can elect a royal family member if they wish.

Lon Rith was not present at the press conference Monday. Party officials say he was out of the country at the moment.

Front Sangkum Jatiniyum's president, prince Sisowath Thomico says it is unfair to compare Marshall Lon Nol and his son.

Lon Rith's Khmer Republican Party "will not make a republic of Cambodia"

Son of Cambodian coup leader Lon Nol launches election bid (Mon 19 Feb)
(AFP Photo)

Son of Cambodian coup leader Lon Nol launches election bid

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - The son of former Cambodian leader Lon Nol, a military general who toppled the country's government in 1970, has launched his own political party ahead of general elections next year.

The Khmer Republican Party under Lon Rith, a 47 year-old US citizen, hopes to align itself with smaller parties under a general platform of alleviating poverty and improving health services, the party's general secretary Nhean Preash said.

"It's time for us to start," he said. "It's time for people to vote for the Khmer Republican Party."

Lon Rith is currently in the United States trying to drum up support for his party, Nhean Preash said, adding that he did not think the party would suffer because of its association with his father's government.

The US-backed Lon Nol regime ousted then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk in 1970, but fell to the Khmer Rouge after five years of vicious civil war.

During his time in power, Lon Nol became increasingly erratic, relying heavily on mystics for guidance and brutally suppressing his opponents.

His administration was plagued by corruption and had little support from the public. Lon Nol fled to the United States as the Khmer Rouge seized power and died there in 1985.

"We will not ignore history, but we believe the Cambodian people don't want to be reminded about it. We will learn to work together from now on and forget the past," Nhean Preash said.

But he added: "We will not make a republic of Cambodia."

The 2008 general elections are widely expected to be dominated by Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which has been steadily consolidating its power.

A coalition government agreement with the royalist Funcinpec party was dismantled last year, and critics claim Hun Sen has silenced any viable political opposition.