Liberal International Calls For The Implementation of The 1991 Paris Agreements on Cambodia

20 June 2011

LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

THE 1991 PARIS AGREEMENTS ON CAMBODIA

A SRP delegation composed of elected Members of Parliament Sam Rainsy, Yim Sovann, Son Chhay, Kuoy Bunroeun and Tioulong Saumura, is currently in Manila, The Philippines, to attend the 57th Congress of Liberal International (LI) from 16 to 20 June 2011. http://www.liberal-international.org/

On 18 June, opposition leader Sam Rainsy was received at the Malacanang presidential palace by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for a face to face meeting on the sidelines of a reception in honor of the LI delegates from all over the world.

MPs Sam Rainsy, Son Chhay and Tioulong Saumura took the floor several times during the Congress to speak about the Congress theme “Human Rights and Trade,” but also about the Arab spring, People Power and other topics related to freedom, democracy and development.

On 19 June, saying “the worst regimes in terms of crimes and impunity are those whose autocratic leaders have been in power for the longest period of time,” Sam Rainsy called for the formation of a “Peoples’ alliance for the removal of multi-decade dictators.” He associated Cambodia’s Hun Sen (32 years in power) with Tunisia’s Ben Ali (removed after 24 years in power), Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak (removed after 30 years in power), Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi (to be removed after 42 years in power), Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh (to be removed after 33 years in power) and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad (to be removed after 40 years of dictatorship including his father Hafez al-Assad’s 29-year reign).

In the presidential speech and closing remarks, LI President and Member of the European Parliament Hans van Baalen mentioned the case of Cambodia by saying, “As President of Liberal International, I ask that the international community observes its obligation that derives from the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia of which they are the signatories, in particular in ensuring the safe return to his country of Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy before the 2012 election and the effective implementation of reforms to the election system as recommended by the UN, the European Union and civil society groups.”

SRP Cabinet

On the trail of opposition leader Sam Rainsy

20 April 2007

During the occasion of the Khmer New Year, opposition leader Sam Rainsy took the opportunity to visit several communes where the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) recently won the seats of commune chief during the commune election held on 01 April 2007.

Mr. Sam Rainsy's visits, which took place on April 15 to 19, 2007, took him to 21 communes situated in the provinces of Kandal, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap. In addition to SRP's victory in these provinces, SRP also won 7 other commune chief seats in Phnom Penh (3), Kampong Chhnang (1), Sihanoukville (1), Banteay Meanchey (1) and Ratanakiri (1).

Visit in Samprouch commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province

Visit in Preah Damrey commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province

Since Mr. Sam Rainsy's visits coincide with the celebration of the Khmer New Year, a period of the year where Cambodian people visit their native villages, these occasions provide an opportunity for numerous local villagers to participate in the celebration of SRP's victory in the 21 communes. In each of the communes which Mr. Sam Rainsy visited, large throngs of villagers came out to greet him.

Mr. Sam Rainsy's visit to the Samprouch commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province, gave a unique opportunity for young villagers to play a trick on their elected official: they were able to dust white talc powder on his face, a feat never accomplished before on an elected official. The friendly contact established between Mr. Sam Rainsy and his constituents should set a good example in these communes and signals the accessibility of elected officials to the voters, the rightful owners of the commune destiny.

Sam Rainsy's face is covered with talc powder when he was caught in the hands of young villagers in Samprouch commune

In each of the communes where Mr. Sam Rainsy visited, the newly elected SRP commune chief was brought forth so that they can be presented to the entire community.

Visit in Pongro commune, Baray district, Kampong Thom province

Visit in Tbeng Mean Chey, Preah Vihear province

Visit in Samroang commune, Soutr Nikum district, Siem Reap province

On his visit to Choam commune, Memot district, Kampong Cham province, Mr. Sam Rainsy was surprised to find out about the dilapidated state of the commune office ("sala khum"). He learnt that the previous Choam CPP commune chief preferred working from his home rather than inside this pitiful-looking commune office. Because it is bordering with Vietnam, Choam commune suffered, and still currently suffers the continuous encroachments of its territories by Vietnam. Many Cambodian farmers have lost their rice fields to the Vietnamese encroachments. On this occasion, SRP is also launching an appeal to all Cambodians all over the world to help fund the construction of a new "real" commune office building for Choam commune to help defend the interests of our Compatriots who are living on the forefront of our borders with Vietnam.

Choam commune office

Source: Sam Rainsy Party