Cambodian PM Terminates Power Sharing to Coalition Partner at Public Function Positions

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) said Wednesday that he had decided to terminate power sharing to his coalition partner Royalist FUNCINPEC party, at the public function level.

The premier said the move will help improve the efficiency of the government's functioning in the form of neutralization of civil servants.

He said since after the 1993-U.N. sponsored general elections, Cambodia has adapted a multi-parties system with power sharing in the form of quota shared by or with other political parties ranging from the government's cabinet members to public function positions or civil servants.

"We want to have a neutralization of the armed forces, police and civil servants in public positions," he told graduate students at the Royal School of Administration in Phnom Penh .

He noted that the civil servants who are working for the government shall be independent and are not subject to be appointed by any political party but rather through examinations with their qualifications.

Hun Sen characterized those who are given titles as undersecretary of state up to prime minister are the members of the government, while those are given titles lower than director generals are considered as civil servants.

The premier said he had made the decision on the matter beginning May 29, a move that he said a part of administration reform.

FUNCINPEC party is the only coalition partner with Hun Sen of the ruling Cambodian People's Party after the CPP had won landslide victory over the general election in 2008.