Hun Sen talks to reporters in front of the National Assembly (Photo: Chantha, Koh Santepheap newspaper)Hun Sen: Those who submitted to the CPP were in fact a boon for the Funcinpec
15-01-2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
The defection of several Funcinpec party members does not shock Hun Sen. That they choose to join the CPP is the least damage inflicted on Funcinpec, Hun Sen claimed.
Did the CPP betray its agreement with Funcinpec by accepting several high ranking Funcinpec defectors? The musical chair game which saw the defection of a dozen of Funcinpec ministers, state secretaries, and MPs did not lead to a rupture of the Funcinpec-CPP coalition, Hun Sen claimed. Asked about this subject by reporters, at the National Assembly on 15 January, Hun Sen explained that the free political choice of the citizens must be respected.
“I heard that the Funcinpec dissidents were “traitors” and “unconscious.” These criticisms do not respect the democracy. If they don’t want to stay with Funcinpec, where should they go?” Hun Sen asked.
Hun Sen further argued that “if these people joined political parties other than ours, this would bring more trouble to Funcinpec. If they are with the CPP, they cannot criticize the Funcinpec which is a (CPP) partner. The Funcinpec leaders should understand this.”
While discussing about this topic, he also called on Funcinpec to maintain its efforts in view of the upcoming general election. Obtaining seats at the National Assembly is a sine-qua-non condition to induct Funcinpec party members in the government positions. “The constitution allows the prime minister to provide a position in the government to a member of a party that is represented at the National Assembly. If our partner has no seat, it will be very difficult,” Hun Sen said.
Last week, the Funcinpec spokesman rejected the information claiming that the Funcinpec ministers of Health, Public Works, Education, and Culture defected. Nevertheless, he recognized that some party members did leave the party, but he called them “opportunists.”
Did the CPP betray its agreement with Funcinpec by accepting several high ranking Funcinpec defectors? The musical chair game which saw the defection of a dozen of Funcinpec ministers, state secretaries, and MPs did not lead to a rupture of the Funcinpec-CPP coalition, Hun Sen claimed. Asked about this subject by reporters, at the National Assembly on 15 January, Hun Sen explained that the free political choice of the citizens must be respected.
“I heard that the Funcinpec dissidents were “traitors” and “unconscious.” These criticisms do not respect the democracy. If they don’t want to stay with Funcinpec, where should they go?” Hun Sen asked.
Hun Sen further argued that “if these people joined political parties other than ours, this would bring more trouble to Funcinpec. If they are with the CPP, they cannot criticize the Funcinpec which is a (CPP) partner. The Funcinpec leaders should understand this.”
While discussing about this topic, he also called on Funcinpec to maintain its efforts in view of the upcoming general election. Obtaining seats at the National Assembly is a sine-qua-non condition to induct Funcinpec party members in the government positions. “The constitution allows the prime minister to provide a position in the government to a member of a party that is represented at the National Assembly. If our partner has no seat, it will be very difficult,” Hun Sen said.
Last week, the Funcinpec spokesman rejected the information claiming that the Funcinpec ministers of Health, Public Works, Education, and Culture defected. Nevertheless, he recognized that some party members did leave the party, but he called them “opportunists.”
