Opposition party merger considered
Tuesday, 05 August 2008
Written by Meas Sokchea
Courtesy of Mediawatch-Newstopia
Click here for original and full story Combined parties could compete with dominant CPP
As election results look increasingly likely to confirm a landslide victory for the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), civil society groups have begun suggesting that the Kingdom’s main opposition parties merge in a bid to better complete with the ruling party.
If the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), Human Rights Party (HRP) and Norodom Nanariddh Party (NRP) enter into a coalition, they could pool their political power. - they are a good-looking competitor with the CPP because they have equivalent force,” Thun Saray said.
“We could merge into one big vote in parliament, but we have not yet talked about one big party. But we have much optimism to merge,” Mu Sochua said.
Chea Vannath, an independent analyst and former director of the enter for Social Development, said the parties should join to help develop the country
Chan Sophal, president of the Cambodian Economic Association, also said merging is an important point for the three parties because it would make them stronger -that a merger would make it easier on voters, explaining that instead of dividing the electorate, it could make for an easier decision to cast a ballot for a single party.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha are not stranger to each other, in fact, they were once belonged to the powerful political party - Funcipec who won the majority of vote during the 1993 election, before going separated way.
I would like to be optimistic that three gentlemen mentioned could come to a mutual and fruitful conclusion - merging as the "Strong Force" and the "Prominence Political Party"; however, I cannot to stop thinking that it could be realized within the near future.
Powerful Vs Weaker
With just three election under its bell, the SRP's popularity as the main Opposition Party has surely and steadily gained its ground and momentum [supports among the working class and youths] despite the mass defection just before the election.
HRP may be a new kid on the block but its President Kem Sokha is not a stranger to his followers and the current supports as the voice of Democracy.
NRP was established not too long ago before the election, after being booted out from Funcipec with votes of no confident and allegation regarding the sale and pocketing money. Surely, the supporters of Prince Norodom Ranarridh did not forget or give him up.
The Risks
From my personal level and point of view, whether or not the three political parties would finally emerge as a stronger political party to contest in any future election, there would inevitablely be certain risk[s].
1] Two out of three parties are under the personal name and banner while HRP is unique in its own way [Human Rights in which people wished and dreamed that one day Cambodia will finally have and deserve to its fullest], therefore the name of the potential future created new party would be a sticky point.
Are all sides of the equation well-prepared and willing to scrap its party name for this particular cause?
2]Should the leader of each individual party fail to consult with its members and to table any fine prints of the draft agreement [particularly power-sharing and quota] prior to the merging, would warrant the stirs of emotions and movements across the floor within the individual party; in particular the SRP - senior members who are there with the party in good and bad times.
3] For fact, many SRP members and supporters [youths in particular] are not happy with Prince Norodom Ranarriddh's behavior towards the alliance they have twice witnessed during the 1998 and 2003 post election.
4] A coup within the party would be a possibility and within reach if a fair and opened democratic challenge to the leadership role would not be allowed under the agreement.
Conclusion
Among the three parties, SRP and Mr. Rainsy himself would have a hard task ahead of him in convincing, not only his members but all the supporters nation wide and abroad particular the youths [from all walks of life] who are the main core of his success so far.
Just put fingers cross that my naive way of thinking prove me wrong but this is a serious juggling - "Balance between unity for a cause with uncertainty future and the high risk to pay for the possibility of losing both physical and financial supporters inside and outside the country".
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