Week 519

Saturday, 4.8.2007: Opposition Party Wants to Enter the Government after 2008 Election; Cambodian People’s Party Says It Has Already a Partner

Norbert Klein Leave a comment

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 519

“Phnom Penh: Mr. Sam Rainsy, the president of the Sam Rainsy Party, which has been outside the government for two terms, told Koh Santepheap by phone on 3 August that the Sam Rainsy Party would not refuse to join with the Cambodian People Party [CPP], if such joint action would be in the citizens’ interests. However, a spokesperson of the CPP affirmed that the CPP has already a partner – i.e. Funcinpec, together in the current government, and the government wants that an opposition party exists in Cambodia as an expression of democracy.

“It is known that on the morning of 3 August, Mr. Sam Rainsy met with party leaders at a leader’s house in Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, to discuss the strategy of the party, which includes:

  1. To join with the CPP to create the government after the results of the 2008 election.
  2. To discuss and seek ways to compete for votes from the CPP.
  3. To attract supporters from the Human Rights Party.

“Mr. Sam Rainsy continued that the political situation is changing. Responding to the question, ‘If the Sam Rainsy Party gets fewer supports than 50% + 1, will he decide to join with the CPP?’ Mr. Sam Rainsy said that the CPP also has its realism, and it does everything for the nation and for the Cambodian people.

“Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the spokesperson of the Royal Government and of the CPP, said that the CPP has already its partner – i.e. Funcinpec, with which it is working in the current Royal Government. He went on to say, ‘We want an opposition party, in order to have democracy….’ He affirmed, ‘At present, there are many Funcinpec officials in the Royal Government, and we cannot give them up.’ Nevertheless, a source close to the Sam Rainsy Party recently said that about 64% of the Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarians want Mr. Sam Rainsy to lead the opposition party in such a way as to enter the fourth term government in 2008 after the parliamentary election. It is noticed that the Sam Rainsy Party has been outside the government for two terms.

“It is also noticed that CPP leaders once said that the CPP will continue to cooperate with Funcinpec as a partner, to create the government after 2008 election. However, it is predicted that the CPP will still win the majority, and the Sam Rainsy Party may be second. As for the other two parties – Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party – it is not known clearly which one will be the third.

“Responding to the question, ‘If the Norodom Ranariddh Party gets not much support in the 2008 election, will it join to create the government?’ Mr. Muth Chantha, the spokesperson of the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said, ‘Concerning this issue, I cannot make a comment and it depends on a decision of the leadership of the Norodom Ranariddh Party, especially of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh.’

“Mr. Kem Sokha, the president of the Human Right Party, could not be reached for comment on 3 August. However, Mr. Keo Remy, a vice president of the Human Rights Party, did not make a comment in response to the question, ‘If the party gets not much support, will it join to create the government with another party?’ He said, ‘We are optimistic about being able to get votes because there are also people supporting our party.’

“Mr. Nov Sovathero, the spokesperson of Funcinpec, said to join with each other, or to join to create the government between political parties, is very good for the reconstruction of our nation. He stated, ‘It depends, however, on the party that gets much support or that wins the majority. If the CPP wins, the CPP will select a partner. If the Sam Rainsy Party wins, the Sam Rainsy Party will select a partner. However, Funcinpec was been announced by the CPP as their partner.” Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6109, 4.8.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 4 August 2007

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1409, 4.8.2007

  • Government Prohibits Slaughtering on Buddhist Religious Days
  • Three Young Men Rape [17-year-old] Girl [two of them are arrested and one escapes – Aek Phnom, Battambang]
  • US Provides $80 Million Aid to Palestine [for security reform]
  • Lightnings Kills 141 People in China
  • More Than 100 People Die in Train Crash in Congo


Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6109, 4-5.8.2007

  • Opposition Party Wants to Enter the Government after 2008 Election; Cambodian People’s Party Says It Has Already a Partner

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3228, 4-5.8.2007

  • Monk Tim Sakhan [who has recently been defrocked on accusation of perpetrating an offense against the Buddhist law, because he destroyed the harmony between Vietnam and Cambodia] Jailed by Yuon [Vietnamese] Authorities on Accusation of Crossing Border Illegally [to Cambodia]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4354, 4.8.2007

  • Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community Demands Returning of Mr. Tim Sakhan from Vietnam [to Cambodia]
  • US$20,000 Counterfeit Dollars Seized in Kompong Thom [suspect is arrested]
  • Thai Army and Cambodian Army Cooperate with Each Other to Fight Malaria along Border

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #30104, 4.8.2007

  • World Bank Has a Very Important Role in Eliminating Corruption and Protecting Trees in Cambodia

Go to last week’s editorial

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