By Chamnab
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
Phnom Penh: A reliable information source told Koh Santepheap on 02 April that a number of Funcinpec officials from Phnom Penh had decided to join the CPP party. The information was also confirmed by CPP officials, however, the CPP source did not offer to provide further details on this party switching.
Nonaridh Anandayath, the cabinet chief of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, said over the phone on 02 April that he did not receive this information yet, however, he indicated that the joining of the party or party switching is the freedom of each individual. Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information and CPP spokesman, told Koh Santepheap by phone on 02 April that the news regarding the party switching by Funcinpec officials is true. Nevertheless, the minister did not elaborate further, he only stated that it is up to the permanent committee of the CPP party to decide.
An anonymous Funcinpec official claimed that a large number of Funcinpec party members in Phnom Penh had decided to join the CPP. If this information is true, this is a surprising news concerning the departure of Funcinpec party members from their own party, and it is also a new sensitive issue following the recent multiple issues plaguing the royalist party which is already very embattled.
While a number of Funcinpec government officials have been removed from their positions during the end of this week, five Funcinpec provincial governors have also been removed based on what the government claims as government reform. Funcinpec government officials removed include: Sim Son, the governor of Siemreap province, Kuch Moly, the governor of Oddar Meanchey province, Lao Sunpa, the governor of Kandal province, Heng Chantha, the governor of Banteay Meanchey, Khim Sila, the governor of Stung Treng, and Thu Son, the governor of Mondolkiri. The joining of Funcinpec officials to the CPP party coincides with a number of Funcinpec government officials who were provincial governors or deputy provincial governors, and have been removed from their positions. Their removals were blamed on their incompetence and the fact that they obtained their positions through briberies. It is not clear yet whether the current “trend” adopted by the government will continue or not. However, it is known that there are still a large number of Funcinpec government officials who are currently governors and department directors and who had obtained their positions in an irregular manner.
It is not a surprise to see the joining to the CPP by these Funcinpec officials because prime minister Hun Sen, the vice-president of CPP, had indicated in March that it was willing to accept all Funcinpec officials who want to join the CPP.
Khieu Kanharith added that the fact that Funcinpec officials are joining the CPP is not surprising. When Asked whether the CPP and Funcinpec can merge to become a single party, the information minister said: “both parties should keep their own identitiy.”
Keo Remy, the Sam Rainsy Party member of parliament from Phnom Penh said that he heard about this news also. He added that the joining of Funcinpec officials to the CPP is the freedom of these politicians. If they don’t want to remain with one party, they can join another party.
The current change within the Funcinpec party shows the lack of confidence of party members on their leaders, that is why a number of Funcinpec party officials had decided to join the CPP in order to preserve their political survival. Princess Norodom Vacheara told Radio Free Asia that there are a number of egotists [within the Funcinpec party] who are not loyal with the royalist party, she even requested to change the name of the party for that reason.
Political observers are still skeptical on the news of the party switching by a large number of Funcinpec officials from Phnom Penh to join the CPP. However, these observers indicated that corruption could be a source of lack of confidence on the royalist party, while at the same time, royal family members seem to be “pushed” out of the Cambodian political arena, irrespective of whether these royal family members are happy with it or not.
Nonaridh Anandayath, the cabinet chief of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, said over the phone on 02 April that he did not receive this information yet, however, he indicated that the joining of the party or party switching is the freedom of each individual. Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information and CPP spokesman, told Koh Santepheap by phone on 02 April that the news regarding the party switching by Funcinpec officials is true. Nevertheless, the minister did not elaborate further, he only stated that it is up to the permanent committee of the CPP party to decide.
An anonymous Funcinpec official claimed that a large number of Funcinpec party members in Phnom Penh had decided to join the CPP. If this information is true, this is a surprising news concerning the departure of Funcinpec party members from their own party, and it is also a new sensitive issue following the recent multiple issues plaguing the royalist party which is already very embattled.
While a number of Funcinpec government officials have been removed from their positions during the end of this week, five Funcinpec provincial governors have also been removed based on what the government claims as government reform. Funcinpec government officials removed include: Sim Son, the governor of Siemreap province, Kuch Moly, the governor of Oddar Meanchey province, Lao Sunpa, the governor of Kandal province, Heng Chantha, the governor of Banteay Meanchey, Khim Sila, the governor of Stung Treng, and Thu Son, the governor of Mondolkiri. The joining of Funcinpec officials to the CPP party coincides with a number of Funcinpec government officials who were provincial governors or deputy provincial governors, and have been removed from their positions. Their removals were blamed on their incompetence and the fact that they obtained their positions through briberies. It is not clear yet whether the current “trend” adopted by the government will continue or not. However, it is known that there are still a large number of Funcinpec government officials who are currently governors and department directors and who had obtained their positions in an irregular manner.
It is not a surprise to see the joining to the CPP by these Funcinpec officials because prime minister Hun Sen, the vice-president of CPP, had indicated in March that it was willing to accept all Funcinpec officials who want to join the CPP.
Khieu Kanharith added that the fact that Funcinpec officials are joining the CPP is not surprising. When Asked whether the CPP and Funcinpec can merge to become a single party, the information minister said: “both parties should keep their own identitiy.”
Keo Remy, the Sam Rainsy Party member of parliament from Phnom Penh said that he heard about this news also. He added that the joining of Funcinpec officials to the CPP is the freedom of these politicians. If they don’t want to remain with one party, they can join another party.
The current change within the Funcinpec party shows the lack of confidence of party members on their leaders, that is why a number of Funcinpec party officials had decided to join the CPP in order to preserve their political survival. Princess Norodom Vacheara told Radio Free Asia that there are a number of egotists [within the Funcinpec party] who are not loyal with the royalist party, she even requested to change the name of the party for that reason.
Political observers are still skeptical on the news of the party switching by a large number of Funcinpec officials from Phnom Penh to join the CPP. However, these observers indicated that corruption could be a source of lack of confidence on the royalist party, while at the same time, royal family members seem to be “pushed” out of the Cambodian political arena, irrespective of whether these royal family members are happy with it or not.
2 comments:
Not surprised of the news at all....this is as a result of sting leadersip, disunity which led to manipulation by CPP and the VN. By doing it this way, it appears that FUNCINPEC falls without being pushed hence eventually the whole structure of the royal's family. VN is creeping into the backbone of our system. WATCH OUT PEOPLE.
KG
Not surprised of the news at all....this is as a result of sting leadersip, disunity which led to manipulation by CPP and the VN. By doing it this way, it appears that FUNCINPEC falls without being pushed hence eventually the whole structure of the royal's family. VN is creeping into the backbone of our system. WATCH OUT PEOPLE.
KG
Post a Comment