A political cartoon by http://sacrava.blogspot.com"If one is escaping from a tiger’s claws into a shark’s jaw, then it is not escaping, is it? This is running into a death trap."
Editorial by Khmerization:-Last time I might have been a little bit too harsh with the defectors by describing them as political prostitutes. This time (read article below) I will be a little bit more understanding with their actions to just call them political opportunists. I do sympathise with their decisions to leave the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP). They left due to the facts that they had lost the support and the confidence of the SRP leadership and hence was not able to secure a position as an MP on the electoral ballot. However, I do not, for one moment, sympathise with the reasons that they are leaving the SRP because the SRP is “dictatorial” and “the party’s leadership was against the democratic principle”. These reasons cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. If one is escaping from a tiger’s claws into a shark’s jaw, then it is not escaping, is it? This is running into a death trap. By the same token, if these defectors think that the SRP is “dictatorial” and anti-democratic then they should know that the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) must be tyrannical and communistic in nature and form. So their reasons are not to be believed. And their reasons for defecting is pure and simple: political opportunism to seek personal fortunes.
If their reasons for defections are to be believed one must ask why are they defecting from one “dictatorial” party to another “dictatorial” party? Why didn’t they defect from a “dictatorial" party to a “democratic” party like the Human Right Party or the Norodom Ranariddh Party or even the Funcinpec Party, if these parties are as democratic as they have claimed? Simple: these parties cannot provide them with any plum jobs.
On the SRP’s side, one has to ask what went wrong. We know the SRP are going through internal reforms to maximise its electoral chances by giving active, competent and popular members an opportunity to move up the political ladder and demoting inactive and incompetent members. As a result of these internal reforms some members are demoted and hence cry foul. In response to this kind of political backlash from demoted members, the SRP leadership must have a mechanism in which it can provide some comforts to dissatisfied demoted members that they are still wanted and will be rewarded later.
I still strongly believe that the SRP is still strong and will be strengthened further, even after such widespread defections. These defections will not weaken and destabilise the SRP leadership. But the continuing defections, if allowed to go on and not addressed, will pose a real threat to the party’s image- bad publicity. With election looming in the corner, the SRP cannot afford to have bad image and bad publicity. Psychology is very important. Presenting a united image of the party to the voters is imperative in attracting supports which can translate into votes.
On the other hand, the CPP knew full well that these defections will not boost their votes nor will they bring more supporters with them. The CPP knew full well that these defections are only symbolic and a psychological warfare only. The CPP’s aims in facilitating the defections are to destabilise and to crack the SRP leadership, like they have done with the Funcinpec Party and the Son Sann Party. But with the SRP, their aims will not succeed. It will only strengthen the party's resolve. I strongly believe so.//END//
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If their reasons for defections are to be believed one must ask why are they defecting from one “dictatorial” party to another “dictatorial” party? Why didn’t they defect from a “dictatorial" party to a “democratic” party like the Human Right Party or the Norodom Ranariddh Party or even the Funcinpec Party, if these parties are as democratic as they have claimed? Simple: these parties cannot provide them with any plum jobs.
On the SRP’s side, one has to ask what went wrong. We know the SRP are going through internal reforms to maximise its electoral chances by giving active, competent and popular members an opportunity to move up the political ladder and demoting inactive and incompetent members. As a result of these internal reforms some members are demoted and hence cry foul. In response to this kind of political backlash from demoted members, the SRP leadership must have a mechanism in which it can provide some comforts to dissatisfied demoted members that they are still wanted and will be rewarded later.
I still strongly believe that the SRP is still strong and will be strengthened further, even after such widespread defections. These defections will not weaken and destabilise the SRP leadership. But the continuing defections, if allowed to go on and not addressed, will pose a real threat to the party’s image- bad publicity. With election looming in the corner, the SRP cannot afford to have bad image and bad publicity. Psychology is very important. Presenting a united image of the party to the voters is imperative in attracting supports which can translate into votes.
On the other hand, the CPP knew full well that these defections will not boost their votes nor will they bring more supporters with them. The CPP knew full well that these defections are only symbolic and a psychological warfare only. The CPP’s aims in facilitating the defections are to destabilise and to crack the SRP leadership, like they have done with the Funcinpec Party and the Son Sann Party. But with the SRP, their aims will not succeed. It will only strengthen the party's resolve. I strongly believe so.//END//
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An article from VOA......
Four more SRP Senior Officials Defect to CPP
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Four more SRP Senior Officials Defect to CPP
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
15 February 2008
Chun Sakada reports in Khmer (997 KB) - Download (MP3) Chun Sakada reports in Khmer (997 KB) - Listen (MP3)
As Cambodian parliamentary election scheduled for July 2008 is drawing near, more and more politicians from the opposition are leaving the party.
Four additional senior officials from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party decided on Friday to defect their party and enter the ruling party CPP, making the total number of defectors so far to more than ten. They are Chao Phally, Ouk Meoung, Leng Thaly, and Hem Kolboth.
One of the defectors, Chao Phally, a former SRP's lawmaker, described the leadership of the Sam Rainsy party as dictatorial.
"The reason I left the party is that the party's leadership was against the democratic principles, disrespected the rules and internal regulations, and decided things according to the president and his groups. It did not make use of the real democracy. That is the reason I left the Sam Rainsy Party", said Chao Phally.
While SRP claims it is still doing fine, observers say the defection could somehow affect the party in the coming election.
"To my observation, it is not that serious. However, it could somehow affect the party as those senior officials are the core strength and the fact that they enter another party means they are still of some value to the party", said Koul Panha, director of COMFREL.
Chun Sakada reports in Khmer (997 KB) - Download (MP3) Chun Sakada reports in Khmer (997 KB) - Listen (MP3)
As Cambodian parliamentary election scheduled for July 2008 is drawing near, more and more politicians from the opposition are leaving the party.
Four additional senior officials from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party decided on Friday to defect their party and enter the ruling party CPP, making the total number of defectors so far to more than ten. They are Chao Phally, Ouk Meoung, Leng Thaly, and Hem Kolboth.
One of the defectors, Chao Phally, a former SRP's lawmaker, described the leadership of the Sam Rainsy party as dictatorial.
"The reason I left the party is that the party's leadership was against the democratic principles, disrespected the rules and internal regulations, and decided things according to the president and his groups. It did not make use of the real democracy. That is the reason I left the Sam Rainsy Party", said Chao Phally.
While SRP claims it is still doing fine, observers say the defection could somehow affect the party in the coming election.
"To my observation, it is not that serious. However, it could somehow affect the party as those senior officials are the core strength and the fact that they enter another party means they are still of some value to the party", said Koul Panha, director of COMFREL.
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