Meas Sokchea with additional reporting by David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has declared his party will boycott parliament’s debate of the 2012 budget draft law in an attempt to render its adoption invalid.
In a statement obtained by the Post yesterday, Sam Rainsy said the boycott was intended to cast doubt over the legality and validity of a budget that allowed a corrupt government to exploit state revenues while increasing foreign debt.
Citing article 76 of the constitution, which states “The [National] Assembly consists of at least 120 members”, the statement said the withdrawal of SRP lawmakers – who occupy 26 of 123 seats – would at least cause donors to reassess their commitments to Cambodia.
“More precisely, when it comes to the ratification by the National Assembly of loans from international institutions and foreign countries, even a little doubt is enough for serious and professional creditors to stop, reduce or delay any loans that appear more risky,” it read.
“We just do not attend to sit in the parliament and raise [our] hands, it is useless; [The Cambodian Peoples Party] has never listened to our opinion.”
The CPP’s deputy president of the National Assembly, Nguon Nhel, said it made no difference whether or not 120 members voted for the legislation to pass, provided more than 50 percent of votes supported the law.
“Therefore, [the SRP boycott] in order to have the Assembly not to go ahead seems to be SRP delirium,” Nguon Nhel said.
Human Rights Party president Kem Sokha declined to confirm whether or not the HRP would boycott parliament, but said in principle he supported the move and would vote against the draft budget law.
Outspoken government critic Son Soubert, said the boycott posed a difficult “new question” as to whether or not a valid budget could still be passed, which would ultimately be decided by the constitutional council.
“In some ways they are sabotaging the whole process, but at the same time, it’s their right to boycott. They can walk out of the Assembly . . . but this time it may have consequences.”
In an email sent yesterday, Sam Rainsy said the SRP would continue to block the National Assembly unless the government makes electoral reforms and holds a moratorium on land grabbing and instituted electoral reforms in line with recommendations from the European Union.
14 comments:
sam rainsy is a politician, hun sen is a politcian. politicians are always competing and differ in their own political perspective, philosophy, etc. i think that's normal and fair to say. it is what is it, really! still, the rule of law matters more, personal differences, you know! god bless all.
but, still yet, although both are politicians.
Hoon Sen is a traitor, hoon sen is a crooks of the nation for the advancement of vietnam and vietnamese only!
Will Hun Sen die as a traitor like his friend Gaddafi? or
Will Sam Rainsy die as a hero saving our nation!!
Tune in for more drama!
Economic 101!
I don't see how Cambodia can have economic progress if Cambodian leaders especially Hun Sen goes around the world borrowing other countries in the billion and billion of dollars! Tell me who is going to pay back those debts in the billions of dollars? Please don't tell me that it up to the Cambodian next generation to pay for it! Beside who benefit from the spending in the billions of dollars anyway! Now if this Cambodian generation of today benefit from the spending in the billions of dollars then it is the Cambodian of this generation should pay back those foreign debt and not the future generation!
There are many creative ways to build roads and bridges and other heavy constructions! Since Cambodia doesn't have the knowhow, doesn't have the money, and why not invite those foreign companies to invest and have them charge a reasonable fee for certain amount of years for using those roads and bridges!
If you don't have the money and why spend the money!
Sam rainsy should put off the boycott until after the national election. Sam rainsy shift their focus on campaigning and preparing for the election. The party is too fragile to continue with boycotting the national assembly.
For the sake of cambodia's future please do not destroy your party, wait until your party is stronger maybe then you can confront hun sen.
SRP didn't even saw the budget yet. Why they want to boycott it?
Even if the ideas in budget are good they will boycott it?
6:33 AM Now is the best time to boyscott and to get international observers. No need for election result, as we already know, Hun Sen wll win by 99%
oh my god, you sound so ignorant, 7:39am! don't be stupid forever, please!
Ah SRP always come up with stupid ideas that why they never beat hun xen. Khmer people known who helping the people and who building the country.SRP need to go back to school and learn the basic again
ah fucken SRPs always come up with a vietnamese trick to create division among khmer peopple. Khmer people should always remember ah SRP the destroyer of khmer people.
To 6:33AM
Since when it is about Sam Rainsy Party? This is about Cambodia and future generation! AH HUN SEN is so happy when he force Sam Rainsy out politic with jail term and fine for help dirt poor Cambodian farmer to protect their farmland from the Vietcong incursion! Now that Sam Rainsy is out the country and AH HUN SEN can do anything he want! Not so fast!
To 6:50AM
Who are you kidding? The budget is getting bigger and bigger and of course AH HUN SEN government is getting bigger and bigger too to suck up all the money! Now Cambodia is borrowing in the billion and billion of dollars from other countries and the debt is growing by the day!
I hope your children will stick around to help pay back those debt!
As far as I am concerned Cambodian national budget needs reform too!
politicians, please stop being blinded and stupid, please keep getting educated and trained about cambodia and about the world as well because you are the leaders, and act that way, please! stop humiliate our country and khmer people by fighting among ourselves forever, ok! it's time to stop that and develop and unite our country for prosperity, happiness, growth, etc! time to think big for a better future of our country and khmer people and citizens. god bless cambodia.
Love it, when Khmer play Einstein to each other. The drama will continuously display in KI media blog till end of Khmer race.;)
To 2:14PM
Well...you should tell AH HUN SEN that because he thinks that he can shoulder all responsibility in protecting Cambodia and Cambodian people! Tell me what have become of Cambodia after more than 30 years of his rule?
To 9:13PM
This is not about playing Einstein but about using common sense and to do what is right for Cambodia and Cambodian people!
AH HUN SEN can talk to traditional Cambodian enemies but AH HUN SEN cannot talk to Sam Rainsy who is Khmer! You get the idea! If AH HUN SEN continue to behave this way and Cambodia can never be greater then what is it now after 30 years of AH HUN SEN dictatorship!
Allow Cambodian people to come together to have healthy discussion and from here we can more on...
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