Hun Sen accused "foreign countries" of pushing him to form a coalition with the opposition

Hun Sen reiterates again: If Funcinpec cannot get any seat, the CPP will form the government by itself

Monday 10 March 2008
Koh Santepheap
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Pursat Province – Hun Sen indicated that the CPP sets the goal that if another party wins the election, that party must lead the country by itself, and the CPP will pull itself out to act as the opposition party. On the contrary, if the CPP wins the election, it will take the Funcinpec as its partner. However, if Funcinpec has no parliament seat, the CPP will lead by itself. “We will eat all by ourselves this one time, you (Funcinpec) should get seats and win them,” Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen made this declaration on 08 March during a visit to a water structure construction site in Pursat River, near Khya commune, Kandieng district, Pursat province.

Hun Sen also criticized foreign countries, telling them not to talk nonsense because some foreigners have tried to (informally) push him to work with the opposition party for some time now. Hun Sen said: “What you said was wrong, because democracy in Western countries requires the presence of an opposition party. If you want the opposition to join the government, then it would be a contradiction. This theory would be turned upside down. I need a strong opposition party, not just one party, but many opposition parties, but for the government, I want to control it by myself, it’s easier.”

Hun Sen said that it is easy to work with Funcinpec, but frankly speaking, the CPP by itself is easiest, when he needs it in the middle of the night, it would rise up in the middle night, if he needs it in the middle of the day, it would rise up in the middle of the day. He said that, for example, when a dike ruptured, and the road was cut in the middle of the night because of flooding, (CPP’s) Lim Kean Hor would be right there on the spot, calling one own minister to act is the easiest thing to do. Now tree insect pest problems are happening all over the place, (CPP’s) Chan Sarun is present on the spot.”

Regarding this issue, Hun Sen indicated that: “ If it were another party, we must respect them. When it is close to midnight, you cannot call them, at least we must respect their right to rest and wait until morning time, but by then, it is already too late. Therefore, the secretary of state must be called in, but the latter does not have full right, because the right resides with the minister.” Nevertheless, Hun Sen said that he will not abandon Funcinpec … “I ask that Funcinpec work hard in the government, now many Funcinpec officials have defected to the CPP, but I don’t encourage them to join us. If they cannot stay there (Funcinpec), then they have to go (to the CPP). I told Mr. Keo Puth Rasmey and Mr. Nhiek Bun Chhay already that if the (Funcinpec) brothers and sisters come over, I will receive them, if we let them go elsewhere far, it would be more difficult than this.”

Hun Sen indicated that: “The election vote does not involve alliance, be careful that voting for this party is like voting for the other party as well. In 2003, such election campaign claim was made in Ponhea Krek and Memot districts. At that time, they said that voting for the CPP is like voting for Funcinpec also (at that time, there was no cursing on each other during the election campaign yet).” At that time, Hun Sen declared that: “If voting for Funcinpec is like voting for the CPP, and voting for the CPP is like voting for the Funcinpec, then you all vote for the CPP directly so that the votes remain all together.”

Hun Sen added: “The votes do not imply an alliance, the higher up can allied with each others because they join the government, for us the CPP, we must vote for the CPP. If you see that the CPP did a good job, that Mr. Hun Sen leadership is good, you must vote for the CPP in drove.” Hun Sen also said: “I am talking on the microphone about voting for this party is like voting for that party … but, they are different from one another. No, voting for the CPP then Hun Sen will be the prime minister, voting for others means that somebody else will become the prime minister. They are different, I am confirming this with you now.”

“What I am asking you is that, irrespective of whoever get less or more (votes), regardless of whoever support any political party, don’t forget to work the rice field. This is the time to work on the rice fields, therefore, the importance is the rice fields, but at the same time, you should take the opportunity to go vote, because voting takes only one morning, you should go vote for whoever you like, and you should see if that party can serve you, you should vote based on your respective understanding.”