Hugo Chavez of Venezuela (L) and Hungo Sen of Cambodia (R)KI-Media Note:
The following is a sarcastic letter sent by opposition leader Sam Rainsy to Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. It pokes fun at those rulers who cling on to power for life, one of whom is no other than Hun Sen of Cambodia. In our opinion, this letter should not be mistaken as the opposition leader condoning unlimited term limit for rulers in any country.
OPEN LETTER
February 16, 2009Dear President Chavez,
On behalf of the Cambodian people whom I represent as an elected Member of Parliament, I would like to warmly congratulate you on the occasion of your personal victory in last Sunday's constitutional referendum that will allow you to run for president as many times as you please, without any term limit.
Maybe, after countless consecutive presidential election victories, you will still be at the head of Venezuela when you are as old as Cuba's Fidel Castro before he stepped down in favor of his brother Raul Castro.
May I ask you to do a favor for the Cambodian people? Could you please convince Cambodia's prime minister, Mr Hun Sen, to be as brave and as decent as you when you decided to hold this referendum on term limits. Like you, our Prime Minister wants to stay in power for ever, or at least -- he says -- until he reaches the age of 90. He has been in power since the early 80's and we would have to be patient with him for another 30 years. But unlike you, he doesn't bother at all to seek to know whether his people want him to remain at the head of their country for so long, possibly for two (lost) generations.
Yes, we want a referendum here in Cambodia like in Venezuela!
Thank you for the good example that you have shown to all leaders who cling to power for the impunity it provides and who want to compete with God in the search of eternity.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Sam Rainsy
Member of Parliament
National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Phnom Penh
On behalf of the Cambodian people whom I represent as an elected Member of Parliament, I would like to warmly congratulate you on the occasion of your personal victory in last Sunday's constitutional referendum that will allow you to run for president as many times as you please, without any term limit.
Maybe, after countless consecutive presidential election victories, you will still be at the head of Venezuela when you are as old as Cuba's Fidel Castro before he stepped down in favor of his brother Raul Castro.
May I ask you to do a favor for the Cambodian people? Could you please convince Cambodia's prime minister, Mr Hun Sen, to be as brave and as decent as you when you decided to hold this referendum on term limits. Like you, our Prime Minister wants to stay in power for ever, or at least -- he says -- until he reaches the age of 90. He has been in power since the early 80's and we would have to be patient with him for another 30 years. But unlike you, he doesn't bother at all to seek to know whether his people want him to remain at the head of their country for so long, possibly for two (lost) generations.
Yes, we want a referendum here in Cambodia like in Venezuela!
Thank you for the good example that you have shown to all leaders who cling to power for the impunity it provides and who want to compete with God in the search of eternity.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Sam Rainsy
Member of Parliament
National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Phnom Penh
