Officials from 2 parties are defecting

Saturday, February 02, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

2 officials from the Funcinpec party and one from the SRP defected their parties to join Hun Sen’s CPP. The Koh Santepheap newspaper reported that Sin Pin Sen and So Victor, both high-ranking Funcinpec officials, have decided to leave their party to join the CPP. Ahmed Yahya, SRP MP, also defected from the SRP to join the CPP also. Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP Deputy Secretary-general, told Koh Santepheap that indeed, Ahmed Yahya left the SRP. She said that this was his decision, and there should be no problem within the SRP. Prince Sisowath Thomico blamed the defection of high ranking Funcinpec officials on the bad governance of current Funcinpec party leaders. The prince said that, in the past, people criticized the weak leadership of Prince Ranariddh, but he said that now, (the new party leaders) could not even stop the party bleeding.

NRP officials left the party

06 August 2007
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Funcinpec officials in Siem Reap province claimed that about 11 important NRP activists, as well as several hundreds of NRP supporters defected the NRP to join Funcinpec recently, because they are facing internal disputes.

Kim Chhay Heang, Funcinpec deputy chairman for the province of Siem Reap, said on Monday 06 August morning that his party welcomed NRP founders who used to be deputy executive director of the NRP provincial branch, as well as the NRP party district secretary-general, and NRP supporters.

Kim Chhay Heang said: “We received 11 (NRP) founders who were deputy chairman of the party provincial branch, all the way down to party district secretary-general. These NRP founders, just like the ordinary citizens, believe that the rupture of the royalist force pushes the country to face difficulties.”

Kok Chea Yuthan, the NRP secretary-general from the province of Siem Reap who just defected to join Funcinpec, talked about his decision to leave NRP: “I can see that, internally, NRP is very jumbled up. I am very disappointed because they don’t value me.”

However, Muth Chantha, the cabinet chief and spokesman for NRP, rejected on Monday afternoon, he said that NRP is not concerned about the defection of these officials, and that the party already removed them from their positions already.”

Muth Chantha said that the defectors are those whom the party does not trust and they are opportunists.

Muth Chantha said: “Those who left include Mr. Bun Samban and some of his relatives. Mr. Bun Samban was the former executive director, he did not accomplish anything for the NRP. He defected to Funcinpec because he is nominated as the advisor of Nhiek Bun Chhay, and his position is equivalent to an under secretary of state.”

Koul Panha, Comfrel director, said the constant departure to join another party back and forth, is the right of each citizen. However, internal disputes within a party could lead to a loss of trust by the voters.

Koul Panha said: “When they always have problems, and they rupture from one another, this could affect the party works. Sometimes, when people see the politicians changing back and forth too many times, the voters no longer trust them.”

Funcinpec Kim Chhay Heang claimed that since mid-July until 06 August, almost 300 NRP founders and members defected to Funcinpec.

Nevertheless, Muth Chantha rejected this claim, saying that this is nothing more than a ghost lists to seduce Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, only.