Cambodia's opposition leader in exile, Sam Rainsy, says conditions are ripe in Cambodia, to make Prime Minister Hun Sen implement democratic reforms. Speaking to Radio Australia from Paris, Mr Sam Rainsy, who heads the party that's named after him, said the democratic changes sweeping the Arab world will be felt in Cambodia. Opposition parliamentarians in Cambodia have asked King Norodom Sihamoni to pardon Mr Rainsy, after he exhausted all appeals against a two-year jail sentence, following a trial which his supporters said was politically-driven. But Sam Rainsy says change is in the air.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: Sam Rainsy, Cambodian Opposition leader in exile; leader of the Sam Rainsy Party
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RAINSY: As a matter of principle, we have to go through all the legal channels, which is why we have called upon the King. But as you have pointed out, Mr Hun Sen is determined, to preven the King from giving any amnesty to me. So this is a political problem that requires a political solution. A political solution can come anytime when the political situation in Cambodia changes. As in the past, there has political compromise. When the ruling party and the prime minister Mr Hun Sen is under pressure, then the prime minister will back off. And he would allow the King to pardon his political opponents. i think the political situation will change in the near future. You can see that the whole world is changing. Dictators who have been in place, for ten, thirty years, like Mr Hun Sen must fear now, that the population, their own people want democratic change, want justice. So, after Ben Ali in Tunisia, after Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, and soon, after Moamar Gaddafi in Libya, I think there will be pressure on Mr Hun Sen to step down. Then, the political situation in Cambodia will definitely change.
LAM: Do you see signs of that pressure building in Cambodia, do you see signs of a peaceful Jasmine Revolution, if you like, taking place in Cambodia?
RAINSY: Yes! There are many indications, many similarities between the situation in North Africa and the situation in Cambodia. All the ingredients for a change, a deep change, are there in Cambodia. The Cambodian people have lived under oppression for some thirty years. It's a long time, it's not very different from Gaddafi. it's not very different from Mubarak. There are a lot of social injustices in Cambodia, operation, corruption, lack of freedom.
LAM: You say the signs are there, but the prime minister Hun Sen just recently said that he wanted to rule for the next forty years.
RAINSY: I think Mr Mubarak neither, did not want to step down. And Gaddafi now doesn't want to step down. Therefore, it does not depend on the dictator. It depends on the people. Nobody can deprive a member of parliament who has been elected by the people, of his parliamentary seat. I, Sam Rainsy have been elected by the people. Therefore, only the people can dismiss me from parliament, from the National Assembly. The ruling party cannot chase the leader of the opposition from parliament. This is totally undemocratic. This is the sign - the obvious sign of dictatorship that the Cambodian people will get rid of, in the near future.
LAM: What sorts of conditions are you looking for? What factors will prompt you to return to Phnom Penh?
RAINSY: I am looking for the rule of law. The Cambodian government, the ruling party does not even respect our own law, especially our constitution, the Supreme Law of the Nation.
2 comments:
Recent sacking of convicted criminal Sam Rainsy from national Parliament has raised many eyebrows among SRP supporters who until now advocated insulting and appeal for uprising against Cambodian government to resolve the so called national political and social issues. The sacking which is according to Cambodian laws, but opposition seen as unjust and political motivated, and who care about Arab countries are bracing for widespread people rebellions.
Not so long ago PM Hun Sen publicly stated that he wants opposition not just weakened but dead. It is really clear he intends to achieve his wish, and he even has the means to carry it out. However, one thing we are all clear about is no matter what the opposition crying out for help, the government will never care about it. The Prime Minister is making a right decision which regards Sam Rainsy is no longer has any value in Cambodian politics.
What PM Hun Sen should worry is not about the absence of Sam Rainsy from politics, but is about rebuild the country. Most political analysts or observers would agree that Sam Rainsy's leadership and approach over the years have been very personal, too personal indeed. Many his extremely supporters would prefer to see him adopt a more aggressive stand toward the government, which includes the establishment of a government in exile or underground movement for armed confrontation.
Barring Sam Rainsy from politics is not difficult to predict and good for the country. There is no doubt that Sam Rainsy already faded away from his current role, a new generation of young leaders will definitely emerge to replace him. Any young leader at the helm of the opposition is likely more keen to take more liberal approach and pursue a more dialogue path.
PM Hun Sen is well aware that his government has managed to maintain the current level of stability in the country mainly because his party got more than 2/3 of votes in the last general election and up to now his government makes enormous progress in society, but opposition has never seen it. All they want to see is the social unrest and chaos.
Despite opposition invented that lack of transparency on the Eastern border demarcation, the ongoing land grabbing and forced eviction, and the mistreatment of the opposition leader...etc won't hurt anything to the government but at the same time, it will put themselves enormous pressure to existing in the next election and beyond.
The current social uprising in the Arab countries definitely creates a good excuse for the opposition to lie the people in the coming weeks and months, but the government will have a lot of key options to evaluate and crash down of any protester. As for the opposition, it would be wise and prudent to revisit their decision, and don't ever dream about the reinstatement of Sam Rainsy's parliamentary status, let alone come back to Cambodia. In the present situation, the Royal Palace is the best venue for neutral and out of politics. The opposition should not use the Royal Palace to clean up its political mess.
Khmer in Sydney CBD
don't be extremist
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