CPP’s Win-Win policy turns out to be a Lose-Lose proposition for defectors

SRP defectors disappointed by false promises from the CPP

20 January 2011
By Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Translated from Khmer by Soy

CPP's

WIN-WIN

=

LOSE-LOSE

Phnom Penh – 3 SRP defectors who left to join the CPP have expressed their disappointment against the CPP which promised to give them proper government position, but instead, the trio did not receive anything.

Chim Rithisak, the deputy commune chief for Tuol Tompung 2 commune and former SRP party member, and two of his colleagues, Sam Rithy and Pich Kim Khon, told the Phnom Penh Post on Wednesday that they defected to join the CPP in 2007 through the intervention of two high-ranking CPP officials: Chea Chamroeun, currently a member of Parliament, and Chak Leng, the current secretary of state at the Council of Ministers.

The trio indicated that Chak Leng and Chea Chamroeun, who were responsible for local [party] strengthening in Koh Dach commune, Mouk Kampoul district, Kandal province, promised them proper government positions and they pushed the trio to influence other SRP party members to defect to the CPP with them. The trio added that after they defected to the CPP, they worked to influence numerous other SRP party members and activists to defect to the CPP. They indicated that more than 1,000 SRP party members defected to the CPP.

Sam Rainsy: We still have money, and we face no difficulties

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Following a calm in the defections of local high ranking SRP members, new SRP defections are now starting to take place and claims have been made that the two former SRP members, Meas Marin and Ou Sovann who recently joined the CPP, were former major financial backers of the SRP [KI-Media note: These major financial backers offered $500 and $100 to join the CPP]. Political observers in Cambodia indicated that these defections could affect the SRP financial condition and it could affect the SRP election campaign strategy. However, these concerns were rejected by opposition leader Sam Rainsy who said: “We still have money and we face no difficulties. There are more than 700,000 overseas Cambodians, and a large number of them are SRP supporters, even if (the CPP) could attract 100 persons, there will still be tens of thousands people who will continue to support the SRP.”