<http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/12/kem-sokha-declares-himself-ready-to-se t.html> Kem Sokha declares himself ready to set up an alliance with the Sam Rainsy Party
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_76xUgRgjZYM/SUra6wkkP4I/AAAAAAAAJe0/CTZu6ybvBJs/s 1600-h/Mu+Sochua+-+Kem+Sokha+%28John+Vink%29.jpg> Phnom Penh (Cambodia), 18/12/2008. Mu Sochua, Secretary General of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Kem Sokha, President of the Human Rights Party (HRP) at a press conference held at the HRP headquarters (Photo: John Vink / Magnum) 18-12-2008 By Duong Sokha Ka-set in English Click here to read the article in French Click here to read the article in Khmer The president of the Human Rights Party (HRP) Kem Sokha organised a press conference at the HRP headquarters on December 18th, to call the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) to unite with them and announce that the time had come for the creation of an alliance, mentioned many times after the July 27th legislative elections. The call was indeed heard by the SRP, whose president is currently in Europe. Kem Sokha, who returned yesterday from a trip to the United States and Canada, explained that the conference was meant to give a voice to a wish expressed unanimously by HRP campaigners and other Khmer citizens living in Cambodia and abroad. Kem Sokha pointed out that he and his party gave their full support to the offer of a rapprochement between the two opposition parties. "Why? Because we are worried about the issue of poverty and the never-ending sufferings of Cambodian citizens, and also about violations of Cambodia's territorial sovereignty and integrity since the Thai incursions. Besides, democratic space is shrinking in Cambodia. The role of opposition parties within the National Assembly has been destroyed and there is no equilibrium in the forces... The idea of an alliance would offer a new choice to citizens and would represent new hopes to them, since they would be able to vote for our parties in the next elections!", the HRP president argued, adding that he would like to see both parties on the same election board. Kem Sokha did not hide the fact that the union of their forces would allow the opposition to compete better with Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP in future elections. Kem Sokha insisted on specifying that for the time being the alliance was made "on one side only" by the HRP. His party is still waiting for an official answer from the SRP. But the former president of the Cambodian centre for Human Rights is already thinking ahead, assuring that an agreement will bind both parties and that the statutes of the alliance would be clearly set down on paper. Up until now, as Kem Sokha stressed, both parties had simply "collaborated" since July 2007, when they decided to unite their voices in order to denounce irregularities in the elections and call for a reorganisation of the legislative poll. The request to make the alliance a reality, Kem Sokha added, only comes about now that "the true democrats have been selected" in his party. According to him, the lapse of time allowed the reinforcement of the party structure with a view to avoid potential internal disagreements in the future. Mu Sochua, deputy for the Kampot province and representing the SRP, expressed her views, asserting that she would pass on the HRP proposition to Sam Rainsy and members of the SRP permanent committee. The MP, who has been elected secretary-general of the SRP party since the resignation of Eng Chhay Eang, has been taking part in the working group between HRP and SRP members and pointed out that Sam Rainsy had always argued in favour of "the idea of an impartial alliance between democrats." "Our parties hold together 29 [26+3] seats at the National Assembly, representing the votes of 1.7 million Cambodian people - these figures are not insignificant at all! The HRP and the SRP represent a parliamentary minority but we claim the right to be able to voice our opinion. We have not asked for any positions in the Lower Chamber but the respect of the principles of democracy", Mu Sochua insisted. For his part, Kem Sokha once again emphasised the need to "amend the National Assembly's Internal Rules, which only allow deputies gathered in groups of ten to express themselves - but we only have three MPs!". --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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