Mr. Tok Van Chan, who, along with Senator Van Sivoeun and other 4 senior officials, has been expelled from the Sam Rainsy Party on Friday 7th October, gave interview to Soy Sopheap of the reason why he was expelled. He said he had done nothing wrong, but suspected that he was expelled because he had stood up to defend other party members against unfairness and injustice in the party. Listen to the interview here.
2 comments:
Party purge or cleansing of a party of perceived undesirables was well known and famous under Stalin Communist regime. Pol Pot used it to get rid of perceived enemies, oftentimes those who were not willing to agree with dictatorial penchants of Angkar. Now SRP is practicing it as well. It is unbelievable for a party deemed democratic!
I was once a believer in the SRP and a staunch and active member. I now had retired from all politics, but still support the SRP ideals. However, with this kind of dictatorial expulsions, or some may say purges, I believe that the SRP has lost a lot of credibility as a democratic party in the eyes of voters or would-be members. many people who wanted to join it or give financial supports will think twice. Its grassroots supporters might also become disillusioned with the SRP internal fighting that has plagued the SRP to the point that it might totally break up like the Son Sann Party and Funcinpec and resign and walk away from the party in drove. I would advise the SRP to be a little more democratic and not autocratic or dictatorial in its rule and the way it deals with members who dare to question the leadership or direction of the party.
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