Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 15, July 27 - August 9, 2007
More than 10,000 Human Rights Party (HRP) supporters gathered July 22 at Olympic Stadium as the fledgling party held its inaugural congress and declared that it intends to bring power to the people and ultimately overcome the ruling CPP.
Among an array of pledges HRP founder and unanimously elected president, Kem Sokha, promised to bring some 2.5 million Cambodians, who he claimed were unable to vote in this year's commune elections, to the polls for the July 2008 national election.
"We hope that we can take over power in response to the needs of the people. We will serve the people and ensure that they have power in their hands. Then they can change society and build better living conditions," Kem Sokha told the Post on July 23.
"After five years working in a human rights NGO, we found that people across the country want change. So that's why we set up this party - to give a choice to the people."
Sokha said that if the HRP wins a majority in the National Assembly, the party will change the current political system. He promised to limit the term of the Prime Minister and push for anti-corruption legislation.
During the congress, Pen Sovann, a former prime minister from the communist 1980s, and former Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker Keo Remy were elected as HRP's deputy presidents.
Son Soubert, a member of the Constitutional Council and son of the late former prime minister Son Sann, was voted in as chairman of the HRP's 36-member steering committee.
The party's national council has 244 members.
"It is time for Cambodian people to become the owners of the nation," Sokha said.
Sokha said the event cost the HRP some $60,000 for free transportation for people from the provinces as well as water and food.
Koul Panha, executive director of election monitoring NGO Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) said that some human rights activists have criticized the HRP for linking the party's name to the activities of national and international human rights organization.
"I think that the HRP will make the existing political parties weaker, but we're not sure whether it will be the SRP or the CPP," Panha said.
But Ou Virak, executive director of Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), said that the HRP would encourage other political parties to present a clear political platform to the public.
"I see now that most political parties have never established a clear political program for Cambodian people about the proper development of the country," Virak said.
"They counter attack each other on personal issues, but no clear policy has been announced for the public. I think that HRP is a real competitor for the elections in 2008," Virak added.
Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, told the Post on July 24 the CPP welcomed the new party and said its entry confirmed that democracy in Cambodia is developing.
Sam Rainsy, president of the SRP, said that HRP would not impact his party's showing in 2008.
"I am not interested and I am not concerned," Rainsy said.
Among an array of pledges HRP founder and unanimously elected president, Kem Sokha, promised to bring some 2.5 million Cambodians, who he claimed were unable to vote in this year's commune elections, to the polls for the July 2008 national election.
"We hope that we can take over power in response to the needs of the people. We will serve the people and ensure that they have power in their hands. Then they can change society and build better living conditions," Kem Sokha told the Post on July 23.
"After five years working in a human rights NGO, we found that people across the country want change. So that's why we set up this party - to give a choice to the people."
Sokha said that if the HRP wins a majority in the National Assembly, the party will change the current political system. He promised to limit the term of the Prime Minister and push for anti-corruption legislation.
During the congress, Pen Sovann, a former prime minister from the communist 1980s, and former Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker Keo Remy were elected as HRP's deputy presidents.
Son Soubert, a member of the Constitutional Council and son of the late former prime minister Son Sann, was voted in as chairman of the HRP's 36-member steering committee.
The party's national council has 244 members.
"It is time for Cambodian people to become the owners of the nation," Sokha said.
Sokha said the event cost the HRP some $60,000 for free transportation for people from the provinces as well as water and food.
Koul Panha, executive director of election monitoring NGO Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) said that some human rights activists have criticized the HRP for linking the party's name to the activities of national and international human rights organization.
"I think that the HRP will make the existing political parties weaker, but we're not sure whether it will be the SRP or the CPP," Panha said.
But Ou Virak, executive director of Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), said that the HRP would encourage other political parties to present a clear political platform to the public.
"I see now that most political parties have never established a clear political program for Cambodian people about the proper development of the country," Virak said.
"They counter attack each other on personal issues, but no clear policy has been announced for the public. I think that HRP is a real competitor for the elections in 2008," Virak added.
Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, told the Post on July 24 the CPP welcomed the new party and said its entry confirmed that democracy in Cambodia is developing.
Sam Rainsy, president of the SRP, said that HRP would not impact his party's showing in 2008.
"I am not interested and I am not concerned," Rainsy said.
11 comments:
I just hope that the forces of Khmer patriots overcome the CPP youn. HRP and SRP must work together, stop fighting each other like dogs.
If you are leaders and patriots you must put the Khmer National interests first before anything else. Don't be selfish and a fool like the past leaders and those in government right now.
Kem Sokha means that, he will get 2.5 million USD after the 2008 general election from HUN SEN. Not 2.5 milloin people will vote for him. He is the spy of CPP to divide the opposition votes.
ZERO seat waiting for HRP and Kem Sokha.
Sralanh Khmer,
You are right Srolanh Khmer.
Kem Sokha will never cooperate with the SRP if he would do so he would not have established a party coz at the end of 2006 he was invited to join SRP personally, yet he kept denying and if he would join SRP , SRP must conditionallly disolve its structure first and arrange a new congress for the party leaderships from bottom to top.
Khem Sokha will never counter the CPP for the better Cambodia yet he will concentrate on how to split vote from SRP only. Believe ME.
Maybe it is a new appraoch. SRP has criticise HUN SEN non-stop in the past ten years, yet nothing has changed. Khem Sokha migh have new idea how to become the next PM of Cambodia. w'll see!!
He would have joined SRP, otherwise our democracy system will be ended by CPP.
Sam Rainsy, president of the SRP, said that HRP would not impact his party's showing in 2008.
"I am not interested and I am not concerned," Rainsy said.
I support Mr Sam Raisy comment.
You are right Mr SAM.... ,
the more we talk about this PRIG GUY( kEM SOKHA) is just the more make hthis guy a pack of monkey ( kem sokha) showing up, that's all
Why are you so mad of Kem sokha?.What he did wrong to SRP?.Critisized another Party is the name of the democratie game.He lunch a Political Party is a right of the Cambodian people,according to the constitution.Many time in the past,SR want KS to join his party as a personel KS only.SR want to used KS as a monkey like you guys by put hin the case and release him when you want show him to the public like SVA PAHEE.KS is not the kind of people.Everything you said is a personel issue ,not a political issues.You see how many SRP leadership walk away from this Party.The rest are frustrated to stay but no choice.Stop attack HRP and go back to your campaign strategy.We play by the rule.Do not cry,get up to the ring and fight as hero.Sam raisy have attitude like a women.He destroyed P. Rannaridh and funcunpec for his personel problems and he want to show now he is no 2 in the country not funcunpec.Bravo Mr Sam Raisy and the next election you will go back to NO 3 again.
I like the idea of 12:07 AM to fight like a man. Hope Kem Sokha does not knee down to hold Hun Sen's legs when he is knocked down. Hope KS still remembers his daugheters' tears while he was in Prey Sar. And hope KS still remember the souvenirs given by the CPP officials every time when he opened a public talk show to preach poor cambodian people about human right. If he forgets all of the mentioned above, he is already a looser.
You people are sick. You aren't working for the country. You are working for your little di.. Bunch of sick Joker!
Look like KS is having an ego problem big time. As long as there is personal problem and pride standing in the way. Forget about the country. Just let Youn's Swas run it. I'm going to vote for nobody! Well, wrong SRP is the brightest! and that could change.
Let's see where did KS got all those money to run his campaign?
Someone is behind it???!!!!!!!!!!
Funcunpic didn't loose the election because of SRP. They lost because they were pigs fool and dumb to the bone. They weren't wroship democracy and its people.They were worshiping big di..head China and that why they lost! and Hun Sun is about to loose themself as well, because he and men too are worshiping big di..head Hanoi. Are any of those serve Khmer's interest? and are we a fool? and just go and for vote for them? Excuse us...bye!
Kem Sokha along with his henhmen are selfish, using CCHR for his political career. He just want to split up and to confuses SRP supporters, and he just a spy of CPP.
Post a Comment