7 SRP candidates defect at Sam Rainsy’s return to CambodiaTuesday, May 27, 2008
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy returned back to Cambodia on 26 May while Hun Sen announced a large defection of 7 SRP candidates to the CPP.
During a distribution of diplomas to 2,259 students, in the morning of 26 may 2008, at the University of Human Resources, Hun Sen said that 6 SRP candidates for the 4th legislative mandate and a current SRP MP defected to join the CPP.
The 6 SRP candidates are: Mey Bun Vithya, a member of the steering committee, Chap Rithy, Bean Thul, Heang Soriyeak, Heang Rasmei, and Em Chantha. The 6 are all SRP candidates for the province of Kandal. Nou Sovath, the current SRP MP in Phnom Penh city has also decided to defect the SRP to join the CPP also.
Hun Sen presented his apologies to the SRP for these departures, however, he still claims that he will continue to accept all opposition officials who want to defect to the CPP. Hun Sen said: “I still accept them, if they are still coming, we will still be accepting them. I am certain that there will be more SRP defectors who will come, the CPP will accept them again because they are all Cambodians, we do not discriminate.” Hun Sen said that the issue that must be clarified is why they keep on leaving the SRP, this problem must be resolved.
Hun Sen added that he nominated Nou Sovath to become the chairman of the CPP workgroup in charge of helping Phnom Penh city. At the same time, Hun Sen also announced that Phauk Sovannrith, the Funcinpec secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mine, had also defected the Funcinpec to join the CPP.
Hun Sen’s announce about the defection of the 7 SRP party member coincides with the Sam Rainsy’s return back from Europe where he was visiting as part of his overseas political activities, as well as for the publication of his book “Rooted in the Stone” which depicts his life and struggle for democracy in Cambodia.
In his interview, Sam Rainsy accused: “This is a trick to divert the attention of the population from the real problems they are facing, such as land disputes, deforestation, joblessness, and inflation, etc…” Sam Rainsy said that the government does not resolve these major issues, but instead, it is using a trick to divert the population’s attention by buying such and such politicians.
Even though he is facing with the defection flow of important party officials, Sam Rainsy still believes that these defections would not affect the popularity and the votes for the SRP. He explained that people do not vote for individuals, but they support the STP standing and policy. He added that some people do not even know who the candidates for the election are.
Nevertheless, political commentators said that the defection of SRP candidates is not a minor issue, and it could hassle the SRP election campaign, and this could affect the attraction of supporters.
During a distribution of diplomas to 2,259 students, in the morning of 26 may 2008, at the University of Human Resources, Hun Sen said that 6 SRP candidates for the 4th legislative mandate and a current SRP MP defected to join the CPP.
The 6 SRP candidates are: Mey Bun Vithya, a member of the steering committee, Chap Rithy, Bean Thul, Heang Soriyeak, Heang Rasmei, and Em Chantha. The 6 are all SRP candidates for the province of Kandal. Nou Sovath, the current SRP MP in Phnom Penh city has also decided to defect the SRP to join the CPP also.
Hun Sen presented his apologies to the SRP for these departures, however, he still claims that he will continue to accept all opposition officials who want to defect to the CPP. Hun Sen said: “I still accept them, if they are still coming, we will still be accepting them. I am certain that there will be more SRP defectors who will come, the CPP will accept them again because they are all Cambodians, we do not discriminate.” Hun Sen said that the issue that must be clarified is why they keep on leaving the SRP, this problem must be resolved.
Hun Sen added that he nominated Nou Sovath to become the chairman of the CPP workgroup in charge of helping Phnom Penh city. At the same time, Hun Sen also announced that Phauk Sovannrith, the Funcinpec secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mine, had also defected the Funcinpec to join the CPP.
Hun Sen’s announce about the defection of the 7 SRP party member coincides with the Sam Rainsy’s return back from Europe where he was visiting as part of his overseas political activities, as well as for the publication of his book “Rooted in the Stone” which depicts his life and struggle for democracy in Cambodia.
In his interview, Sam Rainsy accused: “This is a trick to divert the attention of the population from the real problems they are facing, such as land disputes, deforestation, joblessness, and inflation, etc…” Sam Rainsy said that the government does not resolve these major issues, but instead, it is using a trick to divert the population’s attention by buying such and such politicians.
Even though he is facing with the defection flow of important party officials, Sam Rainsy still believes that these defections would not affect the popularity and the votes for the SRP. He explained that people do not vote for individuals, but they support the STP standing and policy. He added that some people do not even know who the candidates for the election are.
Nevertheless, political commentators said that the defection of SRP candidates is not a minor issue, and it could hassle the SRP election campaign, and this could affect the attraction of supporters.
