Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy (Photo AFP)By Poeuv Ponlok
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
The following is the transcript of an interview given by Mr. Sam Rainsy with Poeuv Ponlok of Radio Free Asia.
Poeuv Ponlok (PP): Hello Excellency Sam Rainsy. My first question is related to the unhappiness of some SRP members seeing your pliability towards the current leader of Cambodia. What will Your Excellency (YE) say to these SRP members so they can trust YE as the opposition leader?
Sam Rainsy (SR): I want to tell all the men and women SRP members that SRP is preserving its same principles, preserving its same goals, that is to absolutely defend the interest of the people, to search justice for the victims, to do whatever it takes for our country to know true democracy, to bring in the light of democracy to our beloved Cambodia. What is changing somewhat is the way we work. We need to know how to follow the meanders as the occasion arises in order for our work to be effective, and so that we can rapidly achieve our wishes based on our goals, peacefully and with reconciliation with all Khmer people.
PP: In the past, YE and SRP members had raised issues related to corruption like for example, some government officials receiving a low salary but yet they have money to buy a lot of wealth, to send their children to study abroad while poor Khmer children don't even have sufficient schools to attend. Will YE continue the same tone or will you change regarding corruption?
SR: Wherever there is corruption that damages the national interest, and brings in the trampling and suffering on the people like land grabbing, it is both corruption and violation of people's rights, therefore, we must expose it, accuse it, and we must always defend the victims. SRP will preserve its same goals, but from now on, we have the freedom, we have security, we have the ability to accomplish our work effectively. I am stricken because in the past, I want to help Khmer people but it was hard to help because I lack the relationship with those in power. Thus, nowadays, we end useless personal disputes, we are choosing to resolve national interest together, it is more productive.
PP: YE, in various newspapers, there are some who accuse YE of abandoning your solid standing, but YE denied them. I want to ask YE what you will do to avoid the accusation from the people that Khmer politicians are colluding with each other?
SR: I ask them to wait and see the action because each one when they want to hear something, they only hear what they want. However, the most important is the action. Will the action of each party leader and their words match the promises of their party? For SRP, when we say something, we always respect our goal that is: faithful to the nation, faithful to the people. Those who threat us to do something wrong, we are not doing it. Those who want to buy our principles, we will never sell it. Our standing is still preserved and will always be preserved.
PP: YE, last Tuesday, the Asian Human Rights Commission based in Hong Kong recalled that people should not believe that there is no pressure in Cambodia, in reality, pressure on democracy and the problem of human rights issues still remain because the past actions of Prime Minister Hun Sen are already engraved in the heart and mind of the people, from the ordinary citizens all the way up. What is your reaction to the statement of this Commission?
SR: What happens from the past had changed little. This is what they note and observe in their monitoring of Cambodia for many years. I do not differ significantly from what they said. However, what I consider as an issue, we need to think together from now on, in the future what is our ability, will we have the occasion to open the path to alleviate the situation in Cambodia such as open human rights so that there is no violation of human rights like before. We need to act in order for us to see, to know the outcome and how effective it is. That is why SRP had decided that we have to follow the meanders according to the current opportunity, the situation had changed and we saw that Prime Minister Hun Sen now fully understand that Cambodia must clearly show that it has to have an opposition party which is free and has the ability to conduct a dialogue with the government - not as enemies, but as partners even if the parties are different, and the roles are different, but there is only one interest, that of the nation. Therefore, I believe that from now on, whatever we raise, we can work together to push Cambodia towards true democracy and progress.
PP: Does YE plan to participate in the new government including the participation of the opposition?
SR: It depends on the opportunity and the occasion, but for now SRP is an opposition party, we need to strengthen and grow it so as to be an opposition party faithful to democracy, non violence, peace, legality, and development in the sense that SRP can contribute to the development of the country.
PP: In the past, both YE and Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed that when the leaders of all parties understand each other, Khmer people will gain. What is the current gain of Khmer people?
SR: The first gain is that we do not waste time, we do not squander and waste time, we do not loose resources and energy to fight each other uselessly. I believe that if we gather the intelligence of Khmer people from all political parties to build the country together, I am sure that we will be successful together, especially for the next generations.
PP: YE had left the country for almost a year already, my last question to you is what will you do first when you immediately arrive in Cambodia?
SR: Meeting with people to show to expose the truth, and discussing with the government, in particular with the Prime Minister because I had already talked with Samdech Hun Sen, he asked me to help the government, to shout, to raise issues, to help think, to suggest ideas, and to discuss with each other with the people as witnesses. I believe that if we are discussing in this manner, we are respecting each other, it is a gain for the entire nation.
Poeuv Ponlok (PP): Hello Excellency Sam Rainsy. My first question is related to the unhappiness of some SRP members seeing your pliability towards the current leader of Cambodia. What will Your Excellency (YE) say to these SRP members so they can trust YE as the opposition leader?
Sam Rainsy (SR): I want to tell all the men and women SRP members that SRP is preserving its same principles, preserving its same goals, that is to absolutely defend the interest of the people, to search justice for the victims, to do whatever it takes for our country to know true democracy, to bring in the light of democracy to our beloved Cambodia. What is changing somewhat is the way we work. We need to know how to follow the meanders as the occasion arises in order for our work to be effective, and so that we can rapidly achieve our wishes based on our goals, peacefully and with reconciliation with all Khmer people.
PP: In the past, YE and SRP members had raised issues related to corruption like for example, some government officials receiving a low salary but yet they have money to buy a lot of wealth, to send their children to study abroad while poor Khmer children don't even have sufficient schools to attend. Will YE continue the same tone or will you change regarding corruption?
SR: Wherever there is corruption that damages the national interest, and brings in the trampling and suffering on the people like land grabbing, it is both corruption and violation of people's rights, therefore, we must expose it, accuse it, and we must always defend the victims. SRP will preserve its same goals, but from now on, we have the freedom, we have security, we have the ability to accomplish our work effectively. I am stricken because in the past, I want to help Khmer people but it was hard to help because I lack the relationship with those in power. Thus, nowadays, we end useless personal disputes, we are choosing to resolve national interest together, it is more productive.
PP: YE, in various newspapers, there are some who accuse YE of abandoning your solid standing, but YE denied them. I want to ask YE what you will do to avoid the accusation from the people that Khmer politicians are colluding with each other?
SR: I ask them to wait and see the action because each one when they want to hear something, they only hear what they want. However, the most important is the action. Will the action of each party leader and their words match the promises of their party? For SRP, when we say something, we always respect our goal that is: faithful to the nation, faithful to the people. Those who threat us to do something wrong, we are not doing it. Those who want to buy our principles, we will never sell it. Our standing is still preserved and will always be preserved.
PP: YE, last Tuesday, the Asian Human Rights Commission based in Hong Kong recalled that people should not believe that there is no pressure in Cambodia, in reality, pressure on democracy and the problem of human rights issues still remain because the past actions of Prime Minister Hun Sen are already engraved in the heart and mind of the people, from the ordinary citizens all the way up. What is your reaction to the statement of this Commission?
SR: What happens from the past had changed little. This is what they note and observe in their monitoring of Cambodia for many years. I do not differ significantly from what they said. However, what I consider as an issue, we need to think together from now on, in the future what is our ability, will we have the occasion to open the path to alleviate the situation in Cambodia such as open human rights so that there is no violation of human rights like before. We need to act in order for us to see, to know the outcome and how effective it is. That is why SRP had decided that we have to follow the meanders according to the current opportunity, the situation had changed and we saw that Prime Minister Hun Sen now fully understand that Cambodia must clearly show that it has to have an opposition party which is free and has the ability to conduct a dialogue with the government - not as enemies, but as partners even if the parties are different, and the roles are different, but there is only one interest, that of the nation. Therefore, I believe that from now on, whatever we raise, we can work together to push Cambodia towards true democracy and progress.
PP: Does YE plan to participate in the new government including the participation of the opposition?
SR: It depends on the opportunity and the occasion, but for now SRP is an opposition party, we need to strengthen and grow it so as to be an opposition party faithful to democracy, non violence, peace, legality, and development in the sense that SRP can contribute to the development of the country.
PP: In the past, both YE and Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed that when the leaders of all parties understand each other, Khmer people will gain. What is the current gain of Khmer people?
SR: The first gain is that we do not waste time, we do not squander and waste time, we do not loose resources and energy to fight each other uselessly. I believe that if we gather the intelligence of Khmer people from all political parties to build the country together, I am sure that we will be successful together, especially for the next generations.
PP: YE had left the country for almost a year already, my last question to you is what will you do first when you immediately arrive in Cambodia?
SR: Meeting with people to show to expose the truth, and discussing with the government, in particular with the Prime Minister because I had already talked with Samdech Hun Sen, he asked me to help the government, to shout, to raise issues, to help think, to suggest ideas, and to discuss with each other with the people as witnesses. I believe that if we are discussing in this manner, we are respecting each other, it is a gain for the entire nation.
1 comment:
Does anyone remember what month are we at now? February, right? The month that international donors are going to review what had had done by our government in the past year is coming up. Do not think samdech Hun Sen is very generous to let the opposition leaders out of jail easily. by this time of the year our samdech will take out his fangs/long horn and put it aside, but will use again after the review. DO NOT FORGET THIS MONTH OF THE YEAR.
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