New Party Says It Hopes To Fill Opposition Void
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The founder of the newly established People Power Party announced Monday that he is seeking a president and hopes to fill the role of political opposition he says was left vacant after the Sam Rainsy Party softened its stance toward the ruling CPP.
Kann Virak, a former SRP official, accused SRP leader Sam Rainsy of alienating supporters and betraying his ideals by cozying up to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"The Sam Rainsy Party is not the opposition party anymore. The People Power Party will be a real opposition," Kann Virak said.
The PPP’s political platform will prioritize criticizing the SRP, but will also find time to verbal attack the CPP, though not Funcinpec because it is already in a state of collapse, Kann Virak said. He also claimed his new party has 6,000 members, most of whom are disillusioned former SRP members.
Sam Rainsy responded on Monday stating that the PPP may have been formed by Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP to try and undermine the ruling party's competitors.
"This is the CPP's strategy to hire small political parties," Sam Rainsy said.
Kann Virak, who was previously the SRPs deputy director for Pursat province, denied he was affiliated with the CPP, adding that he has asked Pen Sovann, former prime minister in the communist-era People's Republic of Kampuchea, to head the PPP.
Pen Sovann said on Monday that he turned down the offer after realizing that the PPP had no political platform and no financial support.
"Kann Virak is just a normal person," Pen Sovann said. "The party has only two people." he added.
Om Yentieng, an adviser to Hun Sen, said the CPP does not need to hire minor parties to undermine its opponents.
"What would be the benefit for the CPP in doing that?" he said.
Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, said he did not believe the PPP had enough support to usurp the opposition.
"The new party has no potential to be an opposition party. They need more time," he said.
Kann Virak, a former SRP official, accused SRP leader Sam Rainsy of alienating supporters and betraying his ideals by cozying up to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"The Sam Rainsy Party is not the opposition party anymore. The People Power Party will be a real opposition," Kann Virak said.
The PPP’s political platform will prioritize criticizing the SRP, but will also find time to verbal attack the CPP, though not Funcinpec because it is already in a state of collapse, Kann Virak said. He also claimed his new party has 6,000 members, most of whom are disillusioned former SRP members.
Sam Rainsy responded on Monday stating that the PPP may have been formed by Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP to try and undermine the ruling party's competitors.
"This is the CPP's strategy to hire small political parties," Sam Rainsy said.
Kann Virak, who was previously the SRPs deputy director for Pursat province, denied he was affiliated with the CPP, adding that he has asked Pen Sovann, former prime minister in the communist-era People's Republic of Kampuchea, to head the PPP.
Pen Sovann said on Monday that he turned down the offer after realizing that the PPP had no political platform and no financial support.
"Kann Virak is just a normal person," Pen Sovann said. "The party has only two people." he added.
Om Yentieng, an adviser to Hun Sen, said the CPP does not need to hire minor parties to undermine its opponents.
"What would be the benefit for the CPP in doing that?" he said.
Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, said he did not believe the PPP had enough support to usurp the opposition.
"The new party has no potential to be an opposition party. They need more time," he said.
4 comments:
PPP party presided by Mr Kann Virak is a branch party of CPP.
PPP party feed by Hun Sen because PPP party support strongly CPP.
It seems that this guy is doing sth for Hun Sen directly-
What the hell is this? Is this another grand opening of mom and pop store by Problematic People Power(PPP)? ahahah. It seems that every time Cambodia is about to have an election and all these mom and pop stores pop up like mushroom and then die away after election!
Kann Virak is dying to make a buck or two! This fool Kann Virak is nothing than an opportunist!!
Give the man a chance! It is freedom and democracy on the move!
Why we have to do thing old way which not work? " Roum knear sankkot kor reas"
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