Cambodian leader says he hopes to stay in power for three more decades
The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
Cambodian leader Hun Sen said Tuesday he wants to remain prime minister of the Southeast Asian nation until he turns 90.
"If I am still alive, I will continue to stand as (a prime minister) candidate — until I turn 90," the 55-year-old leader said in a speech broadcast by state-run radio.
Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia, democratically and undemocratically, for more than two decades. The country has no term limits.
He first became prime minister in 1985 when Cambodia was occupied by Vietnamese troops that overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime during a 1979 invasion.
Hun Sen, himself a former mid-ranking Khmer Rouge soldier, became an elected leader through the victory of his ruling Cambodian People's Party in elections in 1998 and 2003.
He has since consolidated his dominance in the country's political arena by outmaneuvering his opponents.
"If people keep voting for me, I will continue being prime minister," Hun Sen said during a tour of a rice research institute about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the capital, Phnom Penh. His comments were the latest indication that he hopes to remain in power for a long time.
Hun Sen said he has accomplished his goal of bringing peace to Cambodia but has not yet achieved the goal of reducing poverty across the impoverished country.
"The current yield of rice harvest is 2.4 tons per hectare, but I want the Cambodians to get from 4 to 5 tons per hectare and the current (per capita) GDP increased from US$500 (€385) to US$3,000 (€2,300)," he said.
Cambodia will hold a local election in April this year and new general election in 2008.
Sam Rainsy, the head of Cambodia's main opposition party and a key rival to Hun Sen, said the prime minister is "looking down" on the Cambodian people with his talk of remaining in power for the next 45 years.
"Decent people would not like to stick to power forever," he said. "I think Cambodia deserves better."
"If I am still alive, I will continue to stand as (a prime minister) candidate — until I turn 90," the 55-year-old leader said in a speech broadcast by state-run radio.
Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia, democratically and undemocratically, for more than two decades. The country has no term limits.
He first became prime minister in 1985 when Cambodia was occupied by Vietnamese troops that overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime during a 1979 invasion.
Hun Sen, himself a former mid-ranking Khmer Rouge soldier, became an elected leader through the victory of his ruling Cambodian People's Party in elections in 1998 and 2003.
He has since consolidated his dominance in the country's political arena by outmaneuvering his opponents.
"If people keep voting for me, I will continue being prime minister," Hun Sen said during a tour of a rice research institute about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the capital, Phnom Penh. His comments were the latest indication that he hopes to remain in power for a long time.
Hun Sen said he has accomplished his goal of bringing peace to Cambodia but has not yet achieved the goal of reducing poverty across the impoverished country.
"The current yield of rice harvest is 2.4 tons per hectare, but I want the Cambodians to get from 4 to 5 tons per hectare and the current (per capita) GDP increased from US$500 (€385) to US$3,000 (€2,300)," he said.
Cambodia will hold a local election in April this year and new general election in 2008.
Sam Rainsy, the head of Cambodia's main opposition party and a key rival to Hun Sen, said the prime minister is "looking down" on the Cambodian people with his talk of remaining in power for the next 45 years.
"Decent people would not like to stick to power forever," he said. "I think Cambodia deserves better."
6 comments:
It is not yet certain that Hun Sen looks down on Cambodian people, but he certainly does on his political opponents.
With such weak competition, his words may just come true.
SiS
Yes, Cambodia deserves better; but it does not have much choice, does it?
OOOO
No Cambodian people vote for AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave! It is the CPP clans and the Vietcong double agents who are voting for AH HUN SEN!!!!!
To make matter worst AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave even use the Court, military, and the police to intimidate Cambodian people to get his vote!
NOT A SURPRISED NEWS. EX_KING has been doing such that. From prince to king, then was prime minister, back to king again. One in a while trying to quietly trumpet others to declare the country should be given all power to King.
HUN SEN LEARNS from the EX-KING's past actions. In Cambodia, you have to be strong and cut throat and tail in order to survive in Cambodia's wild political landscape.
To 7:50 That sums it up nicely.
To 11:58: You should maybe think of something more meaningful to contribute than your ever-repetitive Vietcong slave, VN double agents statements. It is Cambodian people in the government who have the most to gain from their hold on power, including giving nice deals to the VN. As so often in the past it is Khmer against Khmer, the neighboring countries only benefit from that.
To 11:04PM !
Let it be because AH HUN SEN Vietcong is one dumb fuck leader who can blame him!!!!There are 4 to 5 million illegal Viet immigrants and yet there is no immigration law! Cambodia lost 400 to 500 million dollar in tax due to corruption and yet there is no anti-corruption law!!!
Tell me what country that benefit the most from Cambodian people misery??? I will tell you who is the real loser here! Guess what! It is dirt poor Cambodian people who are the real loser here! So much for your logic!
After all, AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave is a fucken puppet of the Vietcong government!!!So this mean the Viet and the Vietcong government benefitted from dirt poor Cambodian misery!!!!!!!!
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