Kem Sokha (L) shakes hand with Sam Rainsy during the signing of the Democratic Movement of Change alliance Kem Sokha's Human Rights Party and the Sam Rainsy Party on 15th January, 2009.Reference ID: 06PHNOMPENH586
Created: 2006-03-27 11:30
Released: 2011-07-11 00:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Origin: Embassy Phnom Penh
VZCZCXRO2593
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #0586/01 0861130
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 271130Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6359
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1365C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM CB
SUBJECT: TENSIONS AMONG PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES ON THE RISE
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Margaret McKean; Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
leader Kem Sokha and opposition party leader Sam Rainsy are
undergoing a period of tension that has the potential to
undermine Cambodian democratic consolidation. Kem Sokha
claims that Sam Rainsy is unnecessarily worried over Kem
Sokha's political aspirations and is seeking to damage CCHR's
work. Rainsy's party has withdrawn from future participation
in CCHR's public fora and has reportedly urged SRP followers
throughout the country to end support for Kem Sokha. The
bickering between potential rivals must be music to PM Hun
Sen's ears. End Summary.
Kem Sokha-Sam Rainsy Falling Out
--------------------------------
¶2. (SBU) On March 23, CCHR leader Kem Sokha visited the
Embassy to discuss continued speculation regarding his
political aspirations, as well as the Sam Rainsy Party's
(SRP) decision to withdraw participation from CCHR public
fora. Kem Sokha said that senior SRP official Son Chhay had
contacted him regarding a letter that party leader Sam Rainsy
had asked him to send to the CCHR leader. The letter
contained two points; first, SRP claimed that CCHR was not
behaving as a real NGO but was criticizing all the political
parties, including the SRP; and second, that the public fora
do not provide adequate time to SRP representatives. Kem
Sokha asked that Son Chhay not send the letter, and that he
(Kem Sokha) and Sam Rainsy should meet and discuss these
issues before a formal letter of complaint is sent.
Unfortunately, the CCHR continued, Son Chhay said that Rainsy
wanted the letter to go out, which was copied to IRI and
USAID. SRP members in the provinces reportedly were also
receiving it, added Kem Sokha. The CCHR leader noted that in
the past, this was the sort of criticism they would receive
from the CPP -- but not the SRP.
¶3. (SBU) Kem Sokha defended his public fora and said he
treated all parties fairly. The ten-minute limit for
speakers is to ensure that everyone gets a chance; otherwise,
people use their time to campaign on their party's behalf.
He noted that even he is subject to the ten-minute rule. On
the issue of establishing a political party, Kem Sokha said
that he had no intention of returning to politics before
2008, but did not rule out the possibility following the 2008
elections. He suspects that Rainsy is unhappy with him
because CCHR refused to participate in the Rainsy-proposed
Land Authority to resolve land disputes, in which Rainsy
wanted NGO representation. Kem Sokha said that the NGOs
should be independent of the body and have agreed to form a
working group and make recommendations. DCM advised Kem
Sokha not to engage in tit-for-tat struggles with the
opposition leader who has his own reasons for wanting to make
the Land Authority a success.
¶4. (U) The press on March 27 announced the differences
between the two pro-democracy leaders and the SRP's decision
to withdraw from the public fora. One paper quoted acting
SRP Secretary General Meng Rita accusing Kem Sokha of
hoarding funds in order to launch a political party, and of
using the organization's public forums to create a
personality cult. CCHR spokesperson Ou Virak considered the
accusations as groundless, noting that everyone is subject to
the ten minute limit at the public fora.
Comment
-------
¶5. (C) Kem Sokha used the first 40 minutes of the meeting
to try and convince us that he did not want to start of
political party, and the second 40 minutes explaining how he was the best person to lead Cambodia in the future, criticizing Rainsy as too confrontational and controversial a figure. But it is unlikely Kem Sokha will try to form a
political party before 2008. There is inadequate time to
develop a party structure and the CCHR leader recognizes that
he would splinter the democratic vote, rather than act as a
unifying factor. But it's also clear that he and Rainsy are
seeing one another as competitors and are not eager to help
one another. Kem Sokha appears to be banking on Rainsy failing to deliver on the issues (land grabbing, corruption, institution-building) most germane to the pro-democracy reform agenda, which could open the door to Kem Sokha's re-entry into politics post-2008. Either way, the bickering
between the two prominent former critics of the government
must be music to PM Hun Sen's ears. We will continue to urge
Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy to avoid undermining one another and
focus instead on supporting the democratic process. End
PHNOM PENH 00000586 002 OF 002
Comment.
Mussomeli
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