| Written by Sebastian Strangio and Meas Sokchea | |
| Wednesday, 20 August 2008 Courtesy of Phnom Penh Post | |
| Related story: Eng Chhay Eang Resigns The opposition stalwart will step aside for the second time in three years but only after the party’s election complaints have been resolved OPPOSITION lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang plans to resign as secretary general of the Sam Rainsy Party, but only after the party's complaints about the conduct of last month's national election have been resolved, party officials say. "Eng Chhay Eang has not decided to quit his position immediately, but after the resolution of the election complaints he plans to resign," said SRP Senator Thach Setha, speaking on behalf of the secretary general. Mu Sochua, SRP deputy secretary general, said the party had received no official notification of Eng Chhay Eang's impending resignation. "That is his own wish and his own decision," she said Tuesday. She added that the party was currently entirely focused on gathering evidence that the ruling Cambodian People's Party committed electoral fraud through the manipulation of voter lists and the misuse of 10-18 forms during the election period. This will be the second time Eng Chhay Eang has resigned the post of secretary general during his 13-year career with the party. After occupying the post for six years, he resigned in late 2005, citing health issues and a problem with gambling. He was reelected to the position in September 2007, drawing complaints from SRP-affiliated trade unions that his history of gambling would harm the party's image in the run-up to the 2008 elections. "This resignation is not related to gambling," said Thach Setha, adding that Eng Chhay Eang was quitting because the heavy responsibilities of the position were becoming a burden. Koul Panha, executive director of election monitor Comfrel, said he did not know the exact reason for Eng Chhay Eang's resignation. But he said the party was now looking to move forward after an election that saw large gains for the CPP. "I think the SRP intends to establish a coalition and a new strategy for future elections, and they might need new people to work on that," he said. |
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Eng Chhay Eang to give up position as SRP secretary general
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5 comments:
Eng Chhay Eang to resign from Party Secretary might be a good thing for SRP after all.
There is said members of the SRP are having a lot of problems and unhappy with him.
For 2 consecutive election, Battambang where Eng Chaay Eang is representing, could not get more than 2 seats. My personal opinion, Eng Chhay Eang has no match for CPP member Sar Kheng who is the native people there. Strategically, SRP need to find someone with charisma and talent if to win 2013 election. Other area that SRP might need to concentrate is Phnom Penh - represent by Dam Sith the journalist, Kandal - need someone of the opposit sex to contest with PM [Mrs. Mua could be the right candidate there instead of Kampot], Takeo - need some one could contest with Sok An [SR's spouse may be the contender there].
Agreed. Very fair and rational comments. Eng Chhay Eang is very smart but he made too many tough and unpopular decisions which caused a lot of unhappiness in the party. Many people who defected to the CPP claimed that they defected because they are unhappy with Eng Chhay Eng's leadership in the party. But, frankly, I believe that as long as the election is still run and organised by the CPP, the CPP will win forever and the oppositions, doesn't matter what they do, will lose forever. This is what I believe.
Khmerization;
Election in 2013 would be another tough one for SRP, my personal opinion.
If direct foreign investments start flowing as predict, if oil and gas are to tapped and its revenue would be used to up-lift standard of living and alleviate poverty, if good governance would pick up, and even if the election law and NEC is to amendment and reform, which will of course beneift to all sides of equation, SRP is still don't have enough talent and samrt manpower to put them in prime position, but CPP would be always a step ahead due to grass-root people who are actually short sighted - seeing a small improvement and development in their areas is all good and would warrant theirs vote.
SRP tends to target and foucs on intellectuals rather the big screen. The relationship between SRP and Unionists would be drastically change if government is to make them happy with slight increase in wages for 300,000 plus garment workers - as seen before this election.
SRP might need drastically change their tactic both inside and outside the parliment.
Now that CPP are the majoirty SRP might have to work even harder by engaging in all debates on any proposed law to be amended and put forwards any laws to be amended by themselves. Boycotting the parliament session in any circumstances as did in the past would not bring any change to the law. SRP is not have enough numbers to block a draft law but surely can get the right terminology in it as to protect people from all walk of life.
Totally agreed with the first and second paragraphs. Economic improvements, including the discovery of oil and increase in foreign investments, would be a vote-winning for the CPP in 2013. Pay increases would draw the workers toward the CPP.
The SRP did try hard to attract the grassroots support at the village level, but with village police, village chiefs or even group chiefs are members of the CPP, it is very hard for SRP to penetrate the grassroots level.
I have reservations on your rationale regarding the SRP to influence any law amendments in the parliament. With 26 MPs and with the CPP's lack of political will to bring about changes it would be hard, if not impossible, for the SRP to change or approve any laws without the CPP's liking. Any law amendments or approvals must be on the CPP's term. So this coming new parliament is a CPP's political tool, the CPP will do whatever it wants. This is what I believe.
Khmerization;
Reply below refers to your 2nd paragraph.
I do agree with your comment but I would rather look at the wide screen picture.
1] The so-called Volunteer Contribution towards the election campaign [financial able person has rights to choose the consituency where warrant votes and command to be elected, while poor financial able have to go elsewhere] is unrealistic and a non strategic manoeuvre for the party as whole.
For instance, if the journalist who turned politic was able to boot out John Howard on last election from Bennelong where he hold for decade then some of SRP member is certainly can do that, how ever it was not the case because thet can't provided volunteer contribution as in the case of Battambang where Eng Chhay Eang last standing [he may abuse his power as secretary of the party combined with his finance status to push it thriugh - 2 seats for 2 consecutive election is really poor result].
2] This [volunteer contribution] is tearing up the senior members of SRP who are talent, smart and suitable for a particular province they should represent, but because of their finance status they just shut up and hope for the best.
3] SRP has activists in all 24 provinces [from my extensive travelled in Cambodia during my 7 years stay] and they are proud to be associated with SRP. But they had hard time due to the fact that they could hardly see the person who represent them - visit them during election campaign but not when they were in crisis which one of the factor [imagine that they have to come all the way to Phnom Penh on their own expenses to discuss the problem], financial support is another.
4] Unless SRP is going to drastically on issue of volunteer contribution and put people base on their talent, charisma and credential then SRP would never have any more support of grassroot people than what they have had now, or may see more unhappy members among themselves which led to mass defection before the election - SRP really can't afford to let that happen again.
Write alot early but when post comment, there seemed technical problem with google. Will com back for more comment in due course.
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