By criticizing the internal policy currently adopted by SRP, CCHR had adopted a role far beyond its mandate as a human rights NGO. When pressed with the question: "Does CCHR want to take SRP’s place during the upcoming elections?", Ou Virak, CCHR spokesman, replied: "We have more potential as a NGO than being a [political] party" while avoiding to provide a direct answer to the question asked. (Photo AFEC/CCHR)Wednesday, April 5, 2006
SRP “does not yell so high and so loud for no reason,” Meng Rita explains
By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by KI-Media
Since Sam Rainsy’s return to Cambodia, his party has drastically changed its tone towards the government, and in particular towards the CPP and prime minister Hun Sen. No more vitriolic attacks against the leaders of the country, no more denunciation on anything and everything about their (CPP and Hun Sen) policy both at home and abroad: the SRP has decided to cooperate with government to try to resolve concrete problems affecting the people such as land disputes, the SRP leadership maintains. At the National Assembly, the SRP will find its place as it will chair again in the committees which they were excluded since the beginning of this legislative mandate. When the prime minister speaks of the Sam Rainsy Party, he kindly calls it the “party outside of the government.” The exchange of insults, spiced with legal lawsuits, is over between Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy.
Nevertheless, the SRP is denying that it is making a complete u-turn, and had turned against its founding principles. “We always have the same ideology,” assures Meng Rita, the interim secretary-general of the party, “and we always remain a party which fights for social justice and against corruption.” Only the approach has changed. “We stop making demonstrations in the street. We do not want to yell high and loud for no reason but we are advocating a culture of dialogue and discussion. [With the CPP,] we are talking to each other by phone, and we exchange mails to resolve the citizen problems,” Meng Rita explains. Thus, Eng Chhay Ieng, the former SRP secretary-general and MP from Battambang, is the No. 2 at the National Authority for Resolution of Land Disputes presided by Sok An, the powerful CPP minister from the council of ministers. “This authority obtained a lot of successes,” Eng Chhay Ieng said.
“Cooperative” with the government while keeping its distance from the power, nevertheless the SRP does not want to have its image as a possible alternative to the current regime be taken away. Thus the current tension between Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, the president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, who is a priori in the same camp as the SRP. SRP accused Kem Sokha of disparaging SRP during the public forums organized by Kem Sokha’s center, and also that Kem Sokha has a hidden agenda for forming a political party which could force SRP to lose voters. “Everybody noted that the SRP had changed. It is making less criticisms on the social and economical level. That is its new policy,” commented Ou Virak, the CCHR spokesman. Does CCHR want to take SRP’s place during the upcoming elections? “We have more potential as a NGO than being a [political] party,” Ou Virak made only this simple comment.
For the SRP, the objective to pursue remains the winning of the 2008 election. However, the new tone adopted by the party leaves room to believe that it does not exclude from participating in a government dominated by the CPP – an assumption which Hun Sen did not reject. “Since 1993, the CPP had always said that it wishes to have coalition government,” said Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information and CPP spokesman. “The SRP had changed its attitude. It decided not to be hostile to the government, and it is asserting its views towards the construction of the country.”
Nevertheless, the SRP is denying that it is making a complete u-turn, and had turned against its founding principles. “We always have the same ideology,” assures Meng Rita, the interim secretary-general of the party, “and we always remain a party which fights for social justice and against corruption.” Only the approach has changed. “We stop making demonstrations in the street. We do not want to yell high and loud for no reason but we are advocating a culture of dialogue and discussion. [With the CPP,] we are talking to each other by phone, and we exchange mails to resolve the citizen problems,” Meng Rita explains. Thus, Eng Chhay Ieng, the former SRP secretary-general and MP from Battambang, is the No. 2 at the National Authority for Resolution of Land Disputes presided by Sok An, the powerful CPP minister from the council of ministers. “This authority obtained a lot of successes,” Eng Chhay Ieng said.
“Cooperative” with the government while keeping its distance from the power, nevertheless the SRP does not want to have its image as a possible alternative to the current regime be taken away. Thus the current tension between Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, the president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, who is a priori in the same camp as the SRP. SRP accused Kem Sokha of disparaging SRP during the public forums organized by Kem Sokha’s center, and also that Kem Sokha has a hidden agenda for forming a political party which could force SRP to lose voters. “Everybody noted that the SRP had changed. It is making less criticisms on the social and economical level. That is its new policy,” commented Ou Virak, the CCHR spokesman. Does CCHR want to take SRP’s place during the upcoming elections? “We have more potential as a NGO than being a [political] party,” Ou Virak made only this simple comment.
For the SRP, the objective to pursue remains the winning of the 2008 election. However, the new tone adopted by the party leaves room to believe that it does not exclude from participating in a government dominated by the CPP – an assumption which Hun Sen did not reject. “Since 1993, the CPP had always said that it wishes to have coalition government,” said Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information and CPP spokesman. “The SRP had changed its attitude. It decided not to be hostile to the government, and it is asserting its views towards the construction of the country.”
6 comments:
CCHR seems to be at a cross road. Every CCHR person's response is not clear. As a neutral NGO, it should not strongly oppose to the points that SRP proposed. There is such objection because CCHR's stance has tilted, I think.
PS
CCHR is funded by US (USAID,IRI)dollars as NGO to push US agendas. In reality CCHR organizational structure is more like an profit entreprise with CEO alone to make decision according to its info on web.
Theoretically NGO must not be for profit and staff is hired/fired by the volunteered Board (non paid position)supervision in order to be eligible for public funding. None otherway around.
In CCHR case Sokha is a big fish in his own pond, a double dipper,as the President of Board and Executive at the same breath.Point given there.
According to not for profit status(Board)overseeing executive staff who's paid.
CCHR is not clear either way, Sokha is his own boss and get pay the same time. This is big boo boo in transparency and illegal according to US IRS 501 (c)(3)code and laws. USAID is a governmental agency funded by public fund meaning tax dollars.
This is a simple and legal way to bring CCHR to the cleaner. Here is, send a letter to USAID Director stated in pursuance of Freedom of Information Act(FOA) you request all pertinent information on CCHR including a copy of current contract and Budget. It's public information and tax payer entitles to it. This usually take 30-45 day turn around with charge of copy and shipping cost to requester.
If need not to pay, write your congressman to get it for you. If you like,ask your Congressman to make detail inquiry for you as well.
This will bring you to the bottom of CCHR integrity. Don't waste time with chatty exchange.
If any tax payer serious in this pursuit, this's how.
Mr.Sokha and SRP should take a serious action to stop this argument.
Some people still think; Kem Sokha or SRP is pro-CPP?
We should know that; Mr.Sam Rangsy told the public that; he hasn't change his willing. But; he change his work attitude.
I understand that; his work characteristic is changed completly. That is good to change his work characteristic. Otherwise; his party coudn't do any thing for their supporter.
Recently; Mr.Rangsy has help a few case such as release a few people in Ratanak Kiro/Mondul Kiro. He could do that; because he has a good relationship with Gorvenment, otherwise; nothing he can do in this session.
Mr.Kem sokha has done something over his rule. As he has recently talked on FM 105 that; as NGO; he doesn't have any role to develop or solve any problem for people instead of government. So; what he can do is to collect the problem and report to opposition party or government to solve it.
Opposition party has a role to mention or deny or ask the government for reason because he has chairs in the National Assembly.
As I mentioned above(My idea) we see the different role of CCHR and SRP.
But; we can see that Mr.Kem Sokha has do something more than just NGO. he has share his picture to people(that is not NGO purpose, to advertise a person like a party). So; that is a wrong one(i think).
SRP is also done something not right. While he (Son Chhay) heard that CCHR criticise his party, he start command to his colleage to stop join with CCHR. Actually; SRP and CCHR should come and talk to each other, and find a solution IF THEY ARE WALKING ON THE WAY OF DEMOCRACY.
So; now if the argument still continue; the Cambodia can understand that; both of them(CCHR & SRP) are pro-CPP. and the CPP is their boss.
So; I can ask a question. How much do they sell their(CCHR & SRP) head for CPP?
To Mr. Kem sokha; don't be proud. you will be killed; if you run a party.
To SRP, especially; Mr. Rangsy. People understand that you change work characteristic. but don't sell your willing and brain to CPP which is governed by VN.
At the last words, I request to both of you(CCHR & SRP) stay in the same boad and running the same line.
----
Ta Prum
CCHR, SRP, CCP, and the Prince are blood suckers... Vote for VC in 08
Right now CPP is only attacking FUNCIPEC and is taking a wait and see approach toward Kem Sokha and SRP. Becareful of what you wish for. How can SRP or Kem Sokha expect to defeat CPP? They have hundreds of advisors,paid informant,spies etc... It is unlikely that they(CPP) will give up power at the will of the people. There's no such thing as democracy in Cambodia. Don't jump out of the frying pan and into the fire Mr. Sokha. You have to use reverse pyschology if you want to win.
500 reil toilet.
Mr Kem, I don't know about you running a party, but be proud of yourself. You have done a lot of good things for your country. We are not going to live forever. So don't be afraid to die.
Sous Marom
Post a Comment