Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay speaks to the press yesterday at CNRP headquarters in Phnom Penh. Heng Chivoan |
CNRP brass leave Cambodia, but back ‘soon’
Phnom Penh Post | 26 September 2017
Since the widely condemned arrest
of opposition leader Kem Sokha on “treason” charges this month, at
least a dozen Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers have left the
country, though a senior party official yesterday insisted they would
“return soon”.
However, the absence of key figures at a crucial time for the party
prompted observers to wonder whether their departure played into a
strategy by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to weaken the opposition
ahead of next year’s elections.
Among those who left the country for various reasons are CNRP Deputy
President Eng Chhay Eang; lawmakers Ou Chanrith, Ho Vann, and Long Ry;
and spokesmen Yim Sovann and Yem Ponhearith. This leaves the CNRP
without the chairs of its executive, disciplinary and steering
committees.
In a letter dated September 10, a US-based CNRP support group
expressed their concern about lawmakers who had left the country, and
requested them to return to the Kingdom immediately.
At a press conference yesterday morning, CNRP chief whip Son Chhay
insisted the members would return soon. “There doesn’t seem to be any
fear. Some are having missions abroad, some have to fulfil the party’s
tasks abroad,” he said. “But they will return soon to continue [to move]
our work forward.”
However, his colleague, Mao Monyvann, allowed that fear may have
pushed some to leave – though he acknowledged that others had left prior
to Sokha’s arrest, or for health reasons.
“[But some] also left because of political motivations – [they] can
be worried too,” he said, adding that most should come back early
October.
Chanrith, however, said he was “not sure” when he would return to
Cambodia, and declined to comment on his reasons for being abroad. Other
absent lawmakers could not be reached.
Ear Sophal, associate professor of diplomacy at Occidental College in
Los Angeles, in an email raised doubts whether the party could continue
its work with so much of its leadership overseas.
“It’s hard to imagine how it can function at all,” he said. “It’s
like falling dominoes. Tip over the first couple and the rest will fall
down.”
This also had wider implications, he said. “For some it will confirm
that democracy was never there to begin with . . . For others it means
the CNRP is looking more and more zombie-like, a party in name but with
its leadership decapitated. I’m in this camp.”
But the CNRP’s Monyvann said this concern was unfounded. “There are
more than 10 permanent committee members remaining, so there is no
problem [for the party] to proceed. [We are] just a little bit tired,”
he said.
However, Sebastian Strangio, author of Hun Sen’s Cambodia,
echoed Ear’s concerns, adding that this may have been part of the ruling
party’s strategy all along. “[I]t will be very difficult for them to
mount an effective campaign for next year’s election. This is precisely
the CPP’s aim,” he said.
“Democracy has never really existed in Cambodia in a meaningful
sense, but now, with strong backing from Beijing, the government is
abandoning all pretence.”
But Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan vehemently denied the
accusation, maintaining those who suggested a ruling party plot were
“troublemakers” who were “all CNRP supporters”.
“Bring them to jail, or kick them out of the country,” he said. “They’re all B.S. Bulls—!”
Since the widely condemned arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha on “treason” charges this month, at least a dozen Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers have left the country, though a senior party official yesterday insisted they would “return soon”.
ReplyDelete-----------------
One word: COWARDS.
When things get tough, the Cambodian leaders get going. The king, the prime minister, the opposition members, they are all like that, typical khmer behaviors. There are no heroes among khmers, but there are many cowards.
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