21 October 2011 Demonstration in Geneva, Switzerland to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements: SRP-Europe report

Unofficial translation from French:

21 October 2011 Demonstration in Geneva, Switzerland to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements

During the mass demonstration held today, a group of delegates led by Mr. Sam Rainsy met with officials of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as officials from the Italian Permanent Mission at the UN.

The participants to the meeting were: (1) SRP MP Men Sothavarin, (2) Mr. Mungoven Rory, Director of the Pacific Asia Section, (3) SRP MP Tioulong Saumura, (4) Mr. Megally Hanny, Director of the Asia, Pacific, Middle East and North Africa regions, (5) SRP MP Sam Rainsy, (6) SRP MP Long Ry, (7) Mr. Thhai Makar from SRP-Europe, Mrs. Miriachan, ambassador of the Italian Permanent mission.

Merger of Opposition Remains at Impasse

Kem Sokha, president of Human Right Party, called the merger the “final chance” for the parties to organize for democratic change.

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Tuesday, 19 April 2011

“We see that the leadership system today in the Sam Rainsy Party makes it not possible to accept any other forces.”

The leader of the minority Human Rights Party has written exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to propose both parties merge ahead of elections next year, but the two sides remain unable to find common ground.

In an official letter, HRP President Kem Sokha proposes a new party be formed under a new banner, rather than have his party merge under the Sam Rainsy Party banner. He called the merger the “final chance” for the parties to organize for democratic change.

“We want a new establishment for all, which will be a new kind of democracy-building so that all can live together,” Kem Sokha said in a phone interview Monday. “We tremendously want to mobilize and win against the [Cambodian People’s Party]. Then we can change the current leader.”

Hun Xen worried about Sam Rainsy's lawsuit for his involvement in the K5 plan?

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010
By Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

In yesterday's speech, the premier also criticised opposition leader Sam Rainsy for filing an international complaint against him in connection with the so-called "K5 plan".

PRIME Minister Hun Sen has lashed out at his royalist opponent Prince Norodom Ranariddh, warning that his recent return to politics could drag the monarchy back into politics.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new university building in Battambang province yesterday, Hun Sen warned Ranariddh - who announced his return to political life this week - against doing politics as a representative of the Royal Palace.

"You can do whatever you want, but there is one thing: If you do politics it will be linked to the monarchy, you have to be clear on this point," he said in reference to Ranariddh, who is a senior adviser to King Norodom Sihamoni.

"If you want to do politics, you have to quit the Supreme Council as adviser to the King, otherwise the King will lose neutrality on the matter of politics. The name of the King will be used for propaganda, saying I am a brother of the King, I am the son of former King, and it will link the King with politics."

Last weekend, Ranariddh said he would return to head the Norodom Ranariddh Party more than two years after he walked away from politics.

Speaking to supporters in Kampong Cham, he issued a stinging denunciation of his former colleagues in Funcinpec, the royalist party he led to victory in the 1993 elections, saying its current leadership had sold itself out to the ruling Cambodian People's Party in exchange for minor government posts.

He also issued a call for Funcinpec members to defect to his camp.

Hun Sen yesterday reiterated earlier warnings that Funcinpec government officials attempting to defect to Ranariddh would be fired from their government posts.

"I would like to say clearly that with Funcinpec, whether they receive less or more [National Assembly] seats, we will still work together because we have worked together for years, and there is no need for others," Hun Sen said. "Please don't confuse and do anything disorderly to lie to others."

Noranarith Anandayath, chief of Prince Ranariddh's cabinet, declined to comment on Hun Sen's comments, except to say that there were many other royal advisers involved with politics.

In yesterday's speech, the premier also criticised opposition leader Sam Rainsy for filing an international complaint against him in connection with the so-called "K5 plan".

Hun Sen said the plan - devised in 1984-85 as a response to the continuing threat from Khmer Rouge insurgents - would not have been implemented were it not for the United Nations and Western governments supporting resistance factions including the KR.

"At that time, if there was a trial, the UN should be on trial first as it recognised the Khmer Rouge and allowed the Khmer Rouge to sit in the UN," he said.

The eternal confrontation

By Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Editorial
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Thrice upon a time … Sam Rainsy again lost his parliamentary immunity. Such a misfortune befell upon him twice earlier already since he earned his seat at the National Assembly. On Monday 16 November, 87 CPP, NRP and Funcinpec voted for the lifting of his parliamentary immunity. The reason for this lifting: the Svay Rieng authorities blamed the opposition leader of uprooting six posts representing the new border posts between Cambodia and Vietnam. Sam Rainsy acted in this manner because he believed that this new delimitation was perpetrated to the detriment of Cambodia. He was thus obliged to uproot these posts so that Cambodia would not lose a piece of its territory.

On the other hand, the CPP is of a different opinion on the event. For the ruling party, the SRP chief had once again showed that his activism only resulted in damages.

The border issue is sensitive, as well as complicated for Cambodia. Going from the Angkorian splendor to a tiny kingdom that it is right now can explain the suspicion that the Cambodian people have on this issue, and thereby Sam Rainsy’s attitude.

Nevertheless, this chapter shows once more the complete absence of dialogue between the CPP and the opposition party. The two camps are not making any effort to understand one another, nor are they finding a middle ground. The SRP does not give much credit to the government for resolving the border issues with Vietnam to the best interest of Cambodia. As a Cambodian saying goes: “Pure gold fears no fire,” literally, this means that if the government works appropriately on this issue, it has nothing to hide. If the parliament minority were to be convinced of the efficiency of the ruling party, then most likely, Sam Rainsy would not have to uproot these stakes in Svay Rieng.

The perpetual misunderstanding between the CPP and the SRP explains the fact that the former is doing whatever it wants because of its prevailing position, whereas the latter can only resort to provocation to make itself heard. The confrontation is thus unavoidable and the law of the strongest prevails. The way things work does not lead to anything good and it only contributes to hurt the public image of the politicians in the eyes of the voters, as well as in the eyes of the international community.

Immunity Lift Should Not Be Used: Researcher

Dr. Lao Mong Hay (Photo: RFA)

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
24 February 2009

A proposal to lift the immunity of opposition leader Sam Rainsy should not be used in a case over unpaid election fines, a senior rights official said Monday.

“The method of lifting immunity should not be used in this case,” said Lao Monghay, a researcher at the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission. “There will be public concern, especially among opposition supporters.”

The National Election Committee has ordered Sam Rainsy to pay 10 million riel, or $2,500, in fines, following remarks about the ruling Cambodian People’s Party during campaigning last year, but the opposition leader has refused to pay.

Justice officials are considering a request to lift his parliamentary immunity in the National Assembly over the refusal.

However, Lao Monghay said the case was civil, and refusal to pay should lead to the seizure of property, not a penal prosecution.

He disagreed with a Sam Rainsy proposal to seek a pardon from the king if an appeal over the fines fails in the Supreme Court, saying it would be unfair to others who face similar charges.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yiep said Monday he had not seen a proposal to lift Sam Rainsy’s immunity yet, but said if Sam Rainsy paid the fine, the matter would be over.

Sam Rainsy: "I am not afraid of Hun Sen's threats"

Threats to Immunity 'Baseless': Sam Rainsy

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18 September 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program
Click here to listen to Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha interview on RFI

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday his lawmakers-elect would continue to boycott the formation of a new government, in the face of a verbal attack by Prime Minister Hun Sen that hinted at attacking the opposition's parliamentary immunity.

National Assembly lawmakers-elect are less than a week away from swearing in a new government, but elected lawmakers of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties have said they will not attend the Sept. 24 event.

"I'm maintaining my position to boycott the swearing-in ceremony, even if Prime Minister Hun Sen threatens to take legal action against me," Sam Rainsy said Thursday. "I maintain my position against the unfair election and the lack of solution to my election complaints."

Hun Sen said in a public speech Wednesday the National Assembly had been "insulted," by being called "yuon," a racial slur for the Vietnamese, an Assembly of "ghosts," and an institution of "thieves." He was referring to a Radio France International interview with Sam Rainsy.

"If we take legal action against Sam Rainsy, we can easily strip his National Assembly immunity," Hun Sen said, during a graduation ceremony at Pannasastra University.

Sam Rainsy said in the RFI interview that the National Assembly lawmakers for the Cambodian People's Party had been elected by illegitimate or non-existent "ghost" voters.
Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer Thursday the remarks by Hun Sen were intended to "shut up" and censure the freedom of expression and criticism of the opposition.

"I am not afraid of Hun Sen's threats," he said. "I have been getting such threats from the country's leaders for 15 years. I'm not afraid, and I'm not stopping the activities of the opposition, and the remarks of Prime Minister Hun Sen are baseless."

Human Rights Party spokesman Yem Ponhearith on Thursday said the remarks by Hun Sen were detrimental to free speech.

"The criticism during the election campaign did not constitute an insult," he said. "If Hun Sen takes action against Sam Rainsy, I believe our democracy is not enough and this will affect democrats in their expression."

Lao Monghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission, said Thursday the remarks were not a good sign for Cambodia.

"The two sides should make a good compromise with each other," he said. "If Hun Sen complains to the court, the court has been criticized as being under the power of the government and Hun Sen."

RFI Interview of Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha (in Khmer)

PM: boycott could lose SRP its NA seats

Hun Sen showed his anger to Sam Rainsy whom he accused of insulting him during the election campaign.

Monday, 04 August 2008
Ly Menghour
The Mekong Times

In their first public exchange of words since the national election, Prime Minister Hun Sen warned opposition leader Sam Rainsy against his party boycotting the soon to be formed National Assembly (NA), warning the seats would simply be divided among other parties.

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won an estimated 90 seats in the July 27 election. The Sam Rainy Party (SRP) thought it had increased its minority by two to 26, but it has disputed the results, claiming that up to a million voters were disenfranchised.

“If the SRP boycotts the NA, the 26 seats the SRP won will be divided among other parties,” said the premier to Sam Rainsy while they were seeing off former King Sihanouk to Beijing at Phnom Penh International Airport on Friday.

Hun Sen added that while he welcomes the slight increase in votes for the SRP, that the party should now accept the election results.

“On September 24, the NA plans to convene a meeting to swear in. If you do not swear in [its new lawmakers] … your seats will be divided among others,” Hun Sen said.

Sam Rainsy responded with a smile, saying: “My party represents the votes of two million.”

“Two million! But you don’t plan to attend the parliamentary session! You are using this fact to prevent the session? You wait and see if I am right,” warned the premier.

Hun Sen then described the adhoc alliance formed by the SRP, the Norodom Ranariddh Party and Human Rights Party to dispute the election results as “demonic.”

“You want to accuse me. Please go ahead. But I just use rights to defend myself. Now the election has been already conducted … and I have 90 seats.”

SRP lawmaker Son Chhay said that the party is currently busy gathering evidence about irregularities in the election and demanding that the government find solutions for the disenfranchised.

“We don’t have time to decide if we will attend the NA session or not,” he said, dismissing Hun Sen’s remarks as a threat.

If the SRP’s seats are allocated to others, “it is not right according to law and inappropriate according to the principles of democracy,” added Son Chhay.

“The SRP is protesting the election results as it wants respect for democratic principles and law and a balance in power between the government and the NA,” Son Chhay added.

Sok Sam Oeun, president of Cambodian Defenders Project, said if the SRP refused to attend the NA’s inaugural session that the National Election Committee (NEC) can legally take its seats and divide them among other parties.

“But if [we] do so, it is contrary to the principles of democracy, because the party which has seats in the NA represents people. If people’s supportive votes are divided to other parties, it is not proper.”

Tep Nytha, NEC secretary general, added that along with losing its seats, the SRP’s name would be struck from the nation’s list of political parties if it relinquishes its seats in the NA.