... Meanwhile the CPP is leading its PR campaign to discredit the opposition

28 Nov 2009
DAP-news
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

A SRP official recognized that opposition party members have defected to the CPP, however, he said that defection is a personal right for each party member. Prey Veng SRP MP Chea Poch made this declaration after about 100 SRP party members defected to the CPP branch office in Meanchey district, Phnom Penh city in the morning of Saturday 28 November. The defectors allegedly include Sam Rainsy's bodyguards who used to be faithful to him. The defectors condemned Sam Rainsy for not leading the party properly and he allegedly never thought about party members at all (sic!).
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KI-Media Note: Can these defectors say anything less in order to serve a party that is subservient to Hanoi?

Sam Rainsy: Hun Sen's political buyout diverts the public attention from actual major problems faced by the country

7 SRP candidates defect at Sam Rainsy’s return to Cambodia

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy returned back to Cambodia on 26 May while Hun Sen announced a large defection of 7 SRP candidates to the CPP.

During a distribution of diplomas to 2,259 students, in the morning of 26 may 2008, at the University of Human Resources, Hun Sen said that 6 SRP candidates for the 4th legislative mandate and a current SRP MP defected to join the CPP.

The 6 SRP candidates are: Mey Bun Vithya, a member of the steering committee, Chap Rithy, Bean Thul, Heang Soriyeak, Heang Rasmei, and Em Chantha. The 6 are all SRP candidates for the province of Kandal. Nou Sovath, the current SRP MP in Phnom Penh city has also decided to defect the SRP to join the CPP also.

Hun Sen presented his apologies to the SRP for these departures, however, he still claims that he will continue to accept all opposition officials who want to defect to the CPP. Hun Sen said: “I still accept them, if they are still coming, we will still be accepting them. I am certain that there will be more SRP defectors who will come, the CPP will accept them again because they are all Cambodians, we do not discriminate.” Hun Sen said that the issue that must be clarified is why they keep on leaving the SRP, this problem must be resolved.

Hun Sen added that he nominated Nou Sovath to become the chairman of the CPP workgroup in charge of helping Phnom Penh city. At the same time, Hun Sen also announced that Phauk Sovannrith, the Funcinpec secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mine, had also defected the Funcinpec to join the CPP.

Hun Sen’s announce about the defection of the 7 SRP party member coincides with the Sam Rainsy’s return back from Europe where he was visiting as part of his overseas political activities, as well as for the publication of his book “Rooted in the Stone” which depicts his life and struggle for democracy in Cambodia.

In his interview, Sam Rainsy accused: “This is a trick to divert the attention of the population from the real problems they are facing, such as land disputes, deforestation, joblessness, and inflation, etc…” Sam Rainsy said that the government does not resolve these major issues, but instead, it is using a trick to divert the population’s attention by buying such and such politicians.

Even though he is facing with the defection flow of important party officials, Sam Rainsy still believes that these defections would not affect the popularity and the votes for the SRP. He explained that people do not vote for individuals, but they support the STP standing and policy. He added that some people do not even know who the candidates for the election are.

Nevertheless, political commentators said that the defection of SRP candidates is not a minor issue, and it could hassle the SRP election campaign, and this could affect the attraction of supporters.

Sam Rainsy: During the election period, political buyouts are taking place

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

During the last few days, at least 7 high ranking SRP officials who are candidates for the upcoming election have defected to join the CPP. These departures led some opposition party leaders to call this action a buyout strategy fomented by the CPP during the election season. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who returned to Cambodia from France on Monday, continues to call the departure of his party officials as the CPP strategy to attract and to buy people out. Sam Rainsy told reporters that: “The strategy to attract and buy out people, we have seen it in the past. During the election period, the strategy to buy out is put to use. The buyout is done through money offer and (government) position offer. However, I believe that people will not pay attention and will not value those who sold their conscience to others for personal gain.” Sam Rainsy added: “The CPP never uses such large scale method in the past to attract people. This means that the CPP is scared of the SRP. They attract people through money and through providing a 2-month appointment in the government. I am concerned and I feel very sorry for those who fell to this trick. After 2-month, when the CPP stops needing them, they will be kicked out.”

CPP buying opposition members with promise of gov't positions

Scores of Opposition Seek Defection

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
20 May 2008

At least 77 opposition members and activists from one commune in Preah Vihear province have requested to move to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, officials said Monday.

“This is true information because the list is in my hands,” said Yan Ran, governor of Preah Vihear’s Kulen district, where Sam Rainsy Party members of Tbeng Pi commune have requested the switch.

The members will be granted CPP admission May 25, he said.

CPP first deputy chief of the commune, Prum Khet, said at least 28 members, led by former SRP commune deputy chief So Huon, have been issued ruling party membership cards.

So Huon and other reported defectors were not immediately available for comment.

Long Ry, an SRP official in charge of Preah Vihear affairs, said the defections, if true, could have been coerced.

“If there is such a defection, I think that it would have been a threat against those SRP people, such as threatening them to vote for [the CPP],” he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has repeatedly welcomed defections from the opposition, promising to provide those who change affiliation with positions within the government and ruling party.

Sam Rainsy counter attacks on the defection of SRP members to the CPP

Monday, May 12, 2008
By Duong Sokha Ka-Set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the original article in French
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy held a press conference on 12 May to denounce the numerous intimidations in which 41 of his party members were victims of. On the eve of the 27 July general election, the defection war is intense. To support his accusations, 9 SRP members came to testify to the fact that they were contacted and greatly encouraged, along with the use of threats, to join the rank of the ruling CPP party.

“Journalists report only about defection cases, they never talk about all our members who displayed their faithfulness to the party by rejecting the CPP offers, and for them, threats did not affect them at all,” Sam Rainsy said before letting his “faithful” party members speak by themselves. “An unknown person approached me on several occasions to convince me to join the CPP, he promised me money for my defection. But, I refused. I will never forget that I lost two of my daughters during the 30 March 1997 grenade attack which was aimed at a demonstration in Phnom Penh led by Sam Rainsy…,” Mrs. Pov Heng declared on the microphone. She is the SRP representative at a commune council in the Kandal province.

Taking advantage of the circumstance, Sam Rainsy was happy to see that the CPP highly values SRP members “because they (SRP members) were the only ones that the CPP wants to attract,” he also thanked Hun Sen for weeding the SRP of its “bad apples.” Nevertheless, Sam Rainsy made a point of thanking the defectors for the past work they performed for the SRP, while saying that these defectors were cheated by the CPP and he is not sure if the CPP would ensure a position for them in the future.

Sam Rainsy also took the opportunity of this press conference to announce the publication in the next two weeks of the Khmer translation of his book “Rooted in the stone” which will be available in France starting 14 May.

SRP defectors finally receive their reward from Hun Sen

Thursday, April 03, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Following their defection from the SRP to join the CPP in March, Kong Chan, the former SRP party chairman from Ratanakiri, and Kong Sam Ath, Kong Chan’s deputy, were rewarded with government position. The Cambodia Daily reported that Kong Chan was bought by the CPP with the position of government advisor with a rank equivalent to that of a secretary of state, whereas Kong Sam Ath was bought by the CPP with the position of government advisor with a rank equivalent to that of an undersecretary of state. Regarding these defections, Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP deputy Secretary-general, accused Kong Chan of telling at least 10 SRP party members at the end of March that the SRP was dissolved, and he pressured these SRP party members to defect with him. Kong Chan also took down several SRP party signs. Kong Chan denied that he pressured anybody to defect nor did he take down SRP party signs.

Hun Sen: The CPP is the national solidarity center -sic!-

Friday, March 28, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Prime minister Hun Sen declared that the CPP is the national solidarity center, and regardless of one’s past history, one can always stay with the CPP for national and familial unification. Hun Sen made this declaration during the foundation stone setting at a pagoda in Kang Meas district, Kampong Cham province, on 27 March, in which some of the SRP defectors were present: Ahmad Yahya, Hor Sopheap and Prak Channy. Hun Sen declared that there defectors were former SRP party members and now they no longer Sy (a pun made out of Sam Rainsy’s name, and also meaning “eat”) anymore, but they are Sen (a pun made out of Hun Sen’s name, and also meaning “making an offering [to the spirits]”) instead. Hun Sen added that the CPP is the national solidarity center, and regardless of which party the defectors come from, they can join the CPP for national and familial unification.

Hun Sen buyout of 2 other defectors from Ratanakiri … at this rate Hun Sen’s gov’t will be drowned by secretary of states soon

SRP Ratanakiri party chief defects to the CPP

Friday, March 21, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Kong Chan, the SRP committee chairman in Ratanakiri province and a member of the SRP steering committee, and Kong Sam Ath, the SRP Youth Movement director for Ratanakiri, have resigned from their party to join the CPP. The two men made the same claim as the other defectors who preceded them, claiming that they cannot live with the SRP because of the clannish mentality and the promise it did not keep. Kong Chan said after his defection, the people who support him will also join the CPP, if not 100% of them, at least close to 100%, including both Cambodian people and ethnic minority people. The Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper quoted Oknha Try Pheap, Hun Sen’s advisor (and crony) and the person responsible for enticing Kong Chan to join the CPP, as saying that Hun Sen requested King Sihamoni to nominate Kong Chan as a government advisor with a rank equivalent to that of a secretary of state, and Kong Sam Ath will be nominated as an economic advisor with a rank equivalent to that of an under secretary of state.

Mu Sochua reveals disturbing tricks used by the CPP to pull SRP party members to join them

Affair surrounding the arrest of a SRP commune chief

19 March 2008
By San Suwith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A SRP commune chief from Baray district, Kampong Thom province was arrested by the police on Tuesday morning, after Mrs. Tim Norn, a former SRP party member who recently joined the CPP, complained that she was abducted and illegally detained in a house in Phnom Penh for several days.

Regarding this arrest, In Kong Chit, an investigator of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) said that, based on witnesses in the case, this is what he found out: “Tim Norn went to (SRP defector) Sok Pheng’s house, there, Sok Pheng’s wife gave her $200 to help influence other SRP activists to make them defect to the CPP. When Tim Norn received the money, she did not execute Sok Pheng’s wife order, instead she spent all the money, and she became concerned and wanted to re-join the SRP back. She escaped from her own home, and called a number of SRP officials whom she knew to help bring her to Phnom Penh.”

On Monday, Prime minister Hun Sen asked for an investigation in the threat case against Tim Norn who recently joined the CPP, and after she complained that she was detained.

Hun Sen said: “I will wait and see what the various human rights organizations will yell about, and this case must be researched until a conclusion (can be found) by the authority, the human rights NGOs, as well as by the International community which must look into it. When H.E. Sok Pheng left his position as SRP MP, there were SRP members at the commune and commune councilor levels who also left with him, there were many of them. Then they detained her, and when she went back (home), they told her not to talk about it.”

Regarding the arrest of Tuot Saron by the Baray district police on 18 March, the office of the SRP Secretary-general issued a statement indicating that the arrest of the commune chief by the police took place after Hun Sen’s speech on Monday, and it also clarified that there was no detention on Tim Norn as was claimed. In fact, the SRP was helping to protect her because of her fear and concern for her personal safety, as well as that of her husband and children.

In its statement, the SRP asked the Kampong Thom police and tribunal to end the accusation and to release Tuot Saron immediately and without any condition. The SRP also asked for a clear investigation into this case to reveal the culprits who made up the story to blame an innocent person.

Regarding this issue, Ou Virak, CCHR president, considers it as a measure taken by the ruling party to oppress, threaten, and discourage opposition activists.

Ou Virak said: “This is an excuse to threaten the opposition party. In general, we can see that those in power take measure to oppress the political freedom rights of opposition party activists, this is one point. The second point is that I am concerned that this is not just an isolated case, I am concerned that this could spread into the arrest and threat against activists from other opposition parties also.”

Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP Deputy Secretary-general, rejected that accusation leveled against the SRP claiming that her party threatens their own party members, she also said that the election for the 4th legislative mandate will not be free and fair.

Mrs. Mu Sochua said: “The SRP categorically rejects the accusation claiming that the SRP threatens its own party members. We can see with our own eyes that the CPP is using tricks to attract SRP party members by rewarding them with money and position. We believe that this seriously affects the freedom right of each individual to participate in politics, and in particular, it destroys democracy. In looking at the upcoming election, it is no longer a free and fair election anymore.”

Mrs. Mu Sochua told RFA also that Sok Pheng, the SRP defector, told her about a black list set up by the CPP to arrest Tuot Saron and 3 other stubborn SRP activists from Kampong Thom province: “Sok Pheng called me personally 3-4 days prior (to the arrest), he told me about the accusation made against those on the CPP blacklist, and that they will be arrested. Sok Pheng made the accusation that they (SRP activists) threaten that woman (Tim Norn). A few day after (Sok Pheng’s) accusation, the arrest indeed took place. I can see that this is planned in advance by the CPP in order to break up the SRP, and two days later, the (SRP Kampong Thom province) party vice-president who was named, was indeed arrested. Therefore, those who have strong standing, those who refuse to sell themselves to the CPP, they are listed in the CPP blacklist. In Kampong Thom, Sok Pheng knows all the SRP activists.”

Furthermore, Mrs. Mu Sochua also revealed about the CPP tricks in using former SRP party members who defected to the CPP to influence and attract other SRP party members.

Mrs. Mu Sochua added: “I have another concern because, today, Ngo Sovann, a former SRP MP who defected to the CPP, came to Kampot province which I am in charge of (for the SRP), and he tried to pull our party members to join the CPP, he promised to give them positions at the Council of Ministers and 1 million riels ($250) also. Ngo Sovann was also armed with a gun (when he visited SRP party activists). This is of particular interest to see the trick (used by the CPP) which does not respect democracy at all. They should end this type of action.”

International Community Must Rein Down Hun Sen

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Editorial by Khmerization
Originally posted at http://khmerization.blogspot.com/

“The international community, especially the donor countries, must use their aid and political leverage to rein down Hun Sen. If he is allowed a free rein then he will be unstoppable.”

The events in the Cambodian political landscape in the last few days don’t look promising for a free and fair election. It is looking even unimaginable for a smooth transition, if the opposition wins. In fact it is looking uglier by the day (read the links below).

First comes the surprised and the CPP-facilitated defection of the publisher of the pro-opposition Sralanh Khmer newspaper, Thach Ket. And starting from the 16th, with the arrests of the Sam Rainsy Party officials, namely Tout Sarorn, Huor Sarath and Men Vannak, which was aided and abetted by the once champion of democracy turned a political monster, Sok Pheng, who now is probably the most hated man in the Sam Rainsy Party, the balance of the political landscape is swiftly tipping.

Here, we see that Prime Minister Hun Sen is preaching one thing and is actually practising another thing. Case in point, the prime minister has appealed to his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) members not to engage in political violence and intimidation but with his order to Sok Pheng to orchestrate the arrests of the above-mentioned Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) officials, proved that the PM did not mean what he said and is not sincere in his appeals.

While the charges of kidnapping against the above-named SRP officials was not convincing, one must remember that Hun Sen had used these tricks successfully many times before. In the rightful mind of any rational persons, what the officials did was what any reasonable persons would have done- and that is to help a colleague, in this case is Mrs Tim Norn, find a sanctuary from the possible malicious revenge attacks from the CPP for her double-crossing them.

The trouble came for Mrs. Tim Norn when she defected to the CPP along with Sok Pheng. Later she was given $200 by Sok Pheng and his wife to entice more potential defectors from the SRP. She was not successful is doing so and by spending all the $200 given by Sok Pheng’s wife without having successfully done the job, she wanted to return to the SRP and began to fear for reprisal. Fearing for her life that Sok Pheng and his CPP death squad might do to her she asked the three SRP officials mentioned above to help her escape a possible assassination. That was when her ordeal begun and so the arrests of the three officials.

I feel very sad for Sok Pheng, who was once, as I mentioned earlier, a champion of democracy. It is unimaginable that such a fine young politician had turned into a political monster deserving condemnation in the strongest term. He had not only sold himself out to the CPP but he had also sold out his wife to become a CPP monster in which the CPP will use as a political tool to conduct a political witch hunt against his former colleagues from the SRP. This is a really cheap politics by any standard.

Coming back to the accusations against the three SRP officials, it doesn‘t need to take a genius to see that the charges are invented and politically motivated. In a full functional democracy Sok Pheng and Hun Sen will be charged with interfering in the democratic process by forcing someone, in this case Mrs. Tim Norn, to join the CPP against their will.

With the political trends moving toward a tense political atmosphere, the promise that the election will be free and fair is a remote possibility and is looking grim by the day. Hun Sen’s appeals for his supporters not to engage in political intimidation and violence is just a window dressing designed for political and diplomatic consumption to hypnotise the international community. The international community, especially the donor countries, must use their aid and political leverage to rein down Hun Sen. If he is allowed a free rein then he will be unstoppable.
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Related articles:
http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2008/03/attack-against-sam-rainsy-party-today.html
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/03/srp-kampong-thom-authority-must-release.html
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/03/defector-sok-phengs-wife-political.html

SRP: Kampong Thom Authority Must Release Mr. Tuot Saron

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Click here to read the SRP statement in Khmer

SAM RAINSY PARTY

Kampong Thom Authority Must Release Mr. Tuot Saron

At about 9:30 AM on 18 March 2008, Mr. Tuot Saron, SRP Pong Ro commune chief, Baray district, Kampong Thom province, was arrested by the Baray district police and he was taken to the district police station without any warrant issued by the tribunal. Mr. Tuot Saron was arrested while he was traveling to participate in a meeting at the Baray district office.

The arrest and the taking of Commune Chief Tuot Saron were orchestrated by the police authority after Mr. Hun Sen issued a declaration on Sunday 16 March 2008, regarding the accusation alleging that SRP activists threatened and detained Mrs. Tim Norn.

Mrs. Tim Norn was a former SRP party member in Baray district, she joined the CPP on 14 February 2008. On 16 February 2008, at about 10:00 AM, Mrs. Tim Norn contacted Mr. Thorn Rithy, the deputy chairman of the SRP council committee from Kampong Thom province, and Mr. Men Vannak, the SRP deputy chairman in Baray district, to help her because she decided to leave the CPP. After hearing Mrs. Tim Norn’s insisting pleas, Mr. Thorn Rithy asked Mrs. Tuot Saron, the Pong Ro commune chief and SRP party chairman in Baray district, and Mr. Men Vannak to fetch Mrs. Tim Norn from her hiding place in Kampong Thmor village, Balaing commune, Baray district, and bring her to Phnom Penh where she stayed for a night at the home of Mr. Thorn Rithy on 16 February 2008.

Because Mrs. Tim Norn was scared and concerned about her safety, at 08:00 AM on 17 February 2008, Mr. Thorn Rithy took Mrs. Tim Norn to meet with Mrs. Tioulong Saumura, Phnom Penh SRP MP, at the SRP party headquarters. Afterward, Mrs. Tioulong Saumura told Mr. Thorn Rithy to accompany Mrs. Tim Norn to the Licadho office in Phnom Penh so that this organization can provide her with safety protection. At the Licadho office, Mrs. Tim Norn spoke about her concern over the personal safety of her husband and children in front of the human rights organization officials, and she even asked for help to bring her husband and children to meet her at the Licadho office. During that occasion, Mr. Men Vannak volunteered to bring Mrs. Tim Norn’s husband and children to come and meet her at the Licadho office on 18 February 2008. From that date on, Messrs. Tuot Saron, Thorn Rithy and Men Vannak, as well as other SRP officials, never contacted or met with Mrs. Tim Norn and her family anymore.

Therefore, the arrest made against Mr. Tuot Saron and the attempt to arrest other SRP activists by the police under the accusation that these activists threatened and detained Mrs. Tim Norn, is done with ulterior political motives orchestrated by the ruling party to frighten and discourage SRP activists who refuse to join the CPP.

The SRP asks the Kampong Thom police and tribunal to end the accusation made against Mr. Tuot Saron, and unconditionally release him immediately, and that a proper investigation be conducted in this case to reveal the culprits who invented these charges against innocent people for their personal political benefit.

Phnom Penh, 18 March 2008

SRP Secretary-general

For additional information, please contact: 012 731 111

“Our party cannot threaten anybody because we don’t have any power. In contrast, the CPP threatens members from other parties to join them”: SRP

Hun Sen accuses the SRP of threatening the defectors … again

17 March 2008
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

During a visit to the province of Prey Veng on Monday 17 March, Prime minister Hun Sen demanded an investigation on threat cases made against defectors who were former SRP activists joining the CPP. The first case would be taking place in the province of Kampong Thom. SRP members would have verbally threatened party activists who were ready to join the CPP. In Takeo, two defectors in charge of recruiting new members for the CPP would have received phone threats.

“You are not even in power yet and you violate the right of the citizens already. What will it be when you will be in power?” Hun Sen launched at the opposition party.

Hun Sen’s accusation was categorically rejected by Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general. “Our party cannot threaten anybody because we don’t have any power. In contrast, the CPP threatens members from other parties to join them.”

For several weeks now, the defection issue affects the SRP. Several personalities as well as members at the base have left to join Hun Sen’s party.

The powerful ruling CPP is threatened: Hun Sen

15 March 2008
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

Prime minister Hun Sen, vice-president of the ruling CPP party, said that a non-ruling political party threatened his party because the CPP accepted high-rankling defectors from that non-ruling party.

During the presiding over the inauguration of the Wat Slat Romchey Pagoda, located in Chub Trav village, Svay Chek commune, Angkor Thom district, Siem Reap province, on Saturday 15 March, Hun Sen said that a non-ruling party threatened and accused the CPP of buying people to defect from other parties, and Hun Sen asked this party to stop using the word “buying.”

Hun Sen said: “A non-ruling party threatened back because their members are leaving in drove, including the important leaders who came to join the CPP. Now they accused the CPP of buying out people, and the defectors are accused of being banana leaves (cheap), corrupt and such. I said in Kampong Thom already, do not use the word ‘buyout’.”

Hun Sen is not naming any party in particular that he claimed threatened his party, but, based on his speech, he is most likely pointing at the SRP which saw some party members defection and these defectors received positions in the government in exchange for their defection.

Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, rejected Hun Sen’s claim by saying that the SRP did not threaten the ruling party. However, he called on the CPP leaders who are ruling the government currently, to stop using government positions and government funds to dole out to the defectors. Eng Chhai Eang said that this money should be used to stop inflation, and to help create work for the public instead, that would be a much better alternative.

Eang Chhai Eang said: “When SRP party members join them, the CPP gave them positions. I am calling the CPP to stop giving out government position, to stop doling out money from the national budget to the defectors. This money should be used to subsidize for the ever increasing price of goods.”

Hang Puthea, Nicfec executive director, said that the policy of breaking up party members so that they defect from their parties is not a good culture for a democracy. This provides a bad example to future generation of politicians, and this will create a hurdle for the voters to decide whether to support any political party or not. “This culture should be eliminated, if it exists in the current society,” Hang Puthea said.

Recently, Hun Sen declared that he will provide government positions to all opposition party members who decided to defect from their party. However, on Saturday, he also said that the public should vote according to their conscience to select a political party each individual supports, and he called on an end to threat issued against the voters.

Diplomas for school kids and medals for new CPP-kids on the block (i.e. SRP defectors)

8 SRP defectors received medals

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Eight former SRP defectors received medals from the government of Cambodia. The Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper reported that these 8 SRP defectors were former high-ranking party officials, they include: Ngo Sovann, Sok Pheng, Chhit Sarith, Chao Phally, Lon Phon, Mrs. Tes Sopha, Nuon Pha and Pean Jean-Michel, some of these were former SRP MPs or former members of the SRP steering committee before they defected to join the CPP. Following their defections, they have recently earned the position of government advisors, and Hun Sen distributed to them Cambodian medals of the order of the Mony Sarakphoan, Thibdey class, on 12 March, at the same time he was distributing diplomas to middle school students in Kandal province.

Funcinpec tried to woo Mrs. Mu Sochua back

Mu Sochua campaigning during the 2007 commune election

Monday, February 25, 2008
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Mrs. Mu Sochua indicated that two high-ranking Funcinpec officials contacted her to try to attract her to rejoin Funcinpec back.

Mrs. Mu Sochua, deputy Secretary-general of the opposition SRP party, said that two Funcinpec government ministers met her at the Sunway Hotel on 18 February 2008 to ask her to defect from the SRP and rejoin the Funcinpec back. She added: “They said that they took the action based on an order from Nhiek Bun Chhay, and they promised me that I will be the number 1 candidate (for the 2008 general election) in any region of my choice should I choose to join Funcinpec.” She added that she rejected the offer: “I am not a politician who goes around accepting empty position.”

One high-ranking Funcinpec official said that, indeed, there was a contact made with Mrs. Mu Sochua to attract her back to Funcinpec. This official said that: “We contacted her, we want her to come back because we want to regroup the Funcinpec force back, furthermore, we know that she is still angry with Eng Chhay Eang, the SRP Secretary-general.”

In 2007, Mrs. Mu Sochua and Eng Chhay Eang were both candidates for the position of party secretary-general, and this election was marred by internal dissensions.

Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that the SRP is currently facing with internal problems caused by the defection of a number of high ranking party officials, Mrs. Mu Sochua remains a firm believer of the opposition party. She said: “If one or two tiles in the roof are broken, we can still fix the roof back.” She added that if the problems occur at the grass root levels, then the party would be concerned.

Recently, Ly Rosamy, a SRP party member, also defected the party to join the CPP. On the other hand, Ok Socheat, a high-ranking Funcinpec official, indicated that 15 SRP officials from Kampong Cham province defected to join Funcinpec.

Mrs. Mu Sochua also indicated that opposition leader Sam Rainsy will arrive in Cambodia on 26 February (following a tour of Australia).

Hun Sen Rejected the Opposition Party’s Request

21 Feb. 2008
By Phan Sophath,
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer to English by Khmerization
http://khmerization.blogspot.com/

Son Chhay: "....we have always reminded times and again that if the Prime Minister continues to violate the laws, and refuse to review all his wrongdoings, in our capacity as members of parliament, we will apply our legal measures.”

Prime Minster Hun Sen has rejected the opposition party’s request on Thursday by declaring that he will still continue to appoint all defectors from various parties who defected to this own party to government positions.

Speaking to hundreds of supporters in Lvea Em district, Mr Hun Sen appealed to other officials from various parties to defect to his Cambodian People’s Party and assured them that they will be appointed to various government positions.

The Prime Minister said in reference to the opposition: “Everything is a problem, it never satisfies you…everything (I’ve done) is wrong. Now, if anyone dare to defect, I will appoint them again. If you are the members of the Steering Committee all of you will be appointed as advisors to the government. You (the opposition) are not more important than the nation. If the government can make good use of them, no problem. This time, it is my right and it is not your right.”

Mr. Hun Sen’s speech was made after the opposition MP, Mr. Son Chhay, appealed to the Prime Minister to stop appointing anymore ministers or secretaries of state immediately. He charged that such appointments are squandering the national budget which can affect the good governance, in violations of the rights of other political parties and are in violations of the nation’s laws.

Mr. Son Chhay said: “Political parties and the government are separate entities. So I would like to remind the Prime Minister that he should not be confused with the administrative structure of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea regime and the administrative governing structure of the present royal government where after 1993 we have a new constitution. That’s why we have always reminded times and again that if the Prime Minister continues to violate the laws, and refuse to review all his wrongdoings, in our capacity as members of parliament, we will apply our legal measures.”

The exchanges in regard to this matter occurred following many defections from the Sam Rainsy Party and the Funcinpec Party to the Cambodian People’s Party and all the defectors have been appointed as advisors to the government or to the Prime Minister himself, with the rank of ministers or secretaries of state of the present government.

According to opposition officials, at present, without providing the exact figures, they estimated that there are thousands of advisors. So they request the government to send the lists of those advisors to the parliament.

Officials from the civil societies have also expressed the same view that the appointments of so many unnecessary advisors will squander the national budget as well as creating political problems.

Miffed Cheam Yiep: The CPP didn't buy any SRP defectors ... it just offers them juicy positions

Cheam Yiep: SRP defectors are not cattle that can be bought or sold

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

One CPP MP considers that (defecting) SRP officials are not cattle that can be bought and sold. At a time when some SRP officials are defecting to join the CPP, opposition leader Sam Rainsy accused the CPP of using money to lure his party officials in order to win in the upcoming July 2008 election. This attack by Sam Rainsy was retorted by Prey Veng CPP MP Cheam Yiep who said that Sam Rainsy’s accusation is his right, but that Sam Rainsy must look around him to see whether his party officials who are MPs and activists are cattle-like goods. Cheam Yiep told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper that in his statement, Sam Rainsy seems to look down at officials of about the same rank as he is. Cheam Yiep added that the CPP is doing all it can to win the upcoming election, and there was no money to buy any officials. He said that he can guarantee his claim. He asks Sam Rainsy to show proof to his statement and not to slander others.

Cheam Channy denies he is defecting the SRP

Cheam Channy following his release from jail stemming from a false accusation (Photo: SRP)

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Kampong Cham SRP MP Cheam Channy denied a report printed by a local newspaper at the end of last week, claiming that he is defecting the SRP to join the CPP. In an interview with The Mekong Times, Cheam Channy indicated that he will pursue his tenure with SRP. He said that he never dreamed of joining the CPP at all. He added that the report is a demagoguery to incite his supporters to blame him, and an action deliberately taken for political gain. In response to the question whether the SRP defectors are conducting their own political suicide or not, Cheam Channy declined to comment. However, he told the newspaper to look back at those people who defected the party to join other parties, what was their final fate? What problems did they have to face later on?

SRP defectors handsomely rewarded by Hun Sen [-Chao Phally: Working for democracy doesn't pay, unlike serving Hun Sen]

Monday, February 18, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Two of last week’s SRP defectors to join the CPP, were awarded with salaried positions to live on. The Cambodia Daily reported that Chao Phally, a member of the SRP committee and party president for Kratie province, was rewarded with the position of advisor to Hun Sen with the rank of minister, and Hor Sopheap, a member of the SRP committee from Banteay Meanchey, was rewarded with the position of government advisor with a rank of secretary of state. Chao Phally told The Cambodia Daily by phone on Sunday about the reason he decided to defect his party to join the CPP was because he felt that his 7-year work for the SRP is a waste of time. The Cambodia Daily also reported Chao Phally as saying: “I have sacrificed myself for the sake of democracy for a long time.” Hor Sopheap said that he joined the CPP to build the country. Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, said that among the 100 SRP committee members, only 7 left.

Political Cartoon: The Defections

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