Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (2nd R), his wife Bun Rany (R), opposition party leader Sam Rainsy (2nd L), and his wife lawmaker Tioulong Saumura (L) watch a Cambodian New Year's performance in Siem Reap, April 14, 2015. |
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Takes Potshot at Opposition in New Year’s Speech
RFA | 14 April 2017
Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen attacked the opposition party in a speech on Friday
during the country’s New Year's celebrations in Siem Reap in the run-up to
local elections in June which could unseat many of his party’s law
makers.
The
premier used an analogy in his speech to take a shot at leaders from the
Cambodia National Rescue Party, the country’s main opposition party, by
retelling a Cambodian folktale about Indra, king of the gods, who helped a poor
beggar with leprosy become king of the universe.
But
because of his greediness, the man wanted to own Indra’s planet, infuriating
the king who turned him into a poor beggar with leprosy once again.
“When
Indra was annoyed with the man and noted his endless greediness for wanting to
conquer Indra’s planet, he turned him back into the same poor beggar with
leprosy,” Hun Sen said.
“That
story reflects the current reality because there is someone who is like that
beggar,” he said in a tacit reference to former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy. “However,
that’s just a folktale. Somebody shouldn’t feel that he has been picked on. In
any event, try not to be too greedy.”
'He
shouldn't mock others'
Independent
political analyst Lao Mong Hay said he was not surprised by Hun Sen’s speech,
but added that the premier should not use the New Year celebrations,
traditionally a time of unity and harmony, to talk about political divisions
and mock his opponents.
“During a
Khmer New Year's celebration like this, he [Hun Sen] should try to unite
people,” he said. “He shouldn’t mock others for his political gain.”
A few
weeks before the Khmer New Year, Hun Sen sent a message to all politicians to
refrain from attacking each other during the holiday, which runs through
Sunday.
Sam
Rainsy, who has been in exile in France since late 2015, has had numerous
defamation lawsuits filed against him, with many still pending trial.
He
resigned as head of the CRNP in February just as Hun Sen’s government was
planning to introduce a law that would dissolve political parties if their
leaders are convicted of domestic crimes.
On March
30, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Sam Rainsy in absentia to 20
months in prison for incitement and defamation, adding to a previous five-year
term, and ordered him to pay a fine of 10 million riel (U.S. $2,500) to the
state and a symbolic fine of 100 riel (U.S. $0.02) to Hun Sen.
The CNRP
is one of 12 political parties competing for 1,646 commune council seats on the
June 4 ballot that many see as a bellwether for general elections in 2018 that
could unseat Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 32 years.
Observers
believe that the CNRP could give the CPP a run for its money in the June
elections, and the opposition has warned that the ruling party seeks to prevent
it from standing in the elections through a variety of different measures.
Mr. Hun Sen is kind of right. Look at Sam Rainsy now, he has been betrayed by Kem Sokha, lost the president role in CNRP. He is alone now with no party to rule over.
ReplyDeleteHe was already a minority leader with title, perks and pay. But he wanted more. He wanted to become the Prime Minister, taking it over from Mr. Hun Sen.
Now he has a lot less.
5:58 AM
ReplyDeleteYou Yuon have no conscience even
during the Khmer New Year .
You're pathetic !!!
អាចាក់ស្មុក ៥:៥៨ អេអិម
ReplyDeleteចូលទៅដេកក្នុងរន្ធក្តាមវិញទៅ អាកន្ទប!
What's the difference between អាកន្ទប and អាកន្ទឹន? Anybody?
Delete