Monday, 31 October 2011
Meas Sokchea
Phnom Penh Post
Self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy (pictured) has claimed an invitation from King Father Norodom Sihanouk to attend his birthday today is proof the royal family are at odds with the government over his criminal convictions.
The leader of the eponymous Sam Rainsy Party who lives in France said he received the invitation on Saturday to attend the annual celebration of Cambodia’s former leader, contradicting convictions against him in relation to disputed territory with Vietnam.
“[That] the King [Father] has the feeling to allow the Royal palace to send a letter to me means that the King [Father] regards me the same as other parliamentarians . . . without problems, as the government has accused,” he said yesterday.
Last year, Sam Rainsy was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison in two separate cases. One set of charges – destroying public property, racial incitement, disinformation and falsifying public documents – followed a protest in which he uprooted a post demarcating Cambodia’s border with Vietnam and produced maps alleging territorial encroachment by the Kingdom’s eastern neighbour.
He was also found guilty of defaming Foreign Minister Hor Namhong for alleging he ran a prison under the Khmer Rouge.
Cheam Yeap, a Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker, said the King Father was within his rights to invite Sam Rainsy to the party, but added that the opposition leader would be arrested it he returned.
“It is the Prince’s royal rights. As the festival owner, who he invites is up to him – no problem,” Cheam Yeap said.
Last week, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, of which Cambodia is a member, issued a statement reaffirming its position that Sam Rainsy’s conviction for pulling out the border post was a political ruling that should be overturned in the interests of Cambodia’s democratic processes.
Cheam Yeap said, however, that although Cambodia was a member of the IPU, it had no authority over the Kingdom’s legal system.
There were only two ways Sam Rainsy could return to Cambodia: through a royal pardon requested by the prime minister or a parliamentary pardon, he added.
3 comments:
Sam Rainsy needed to close his mouth and seek the king to pardon him so that he can return home for the birthday and possibly began his work to help the poor. Each time he opened his mouth without thinking, it will only hurt his chance to return home. The king tried to help him but he always find himself shot in the foot. Don't gives yourself too much credit.. Think first before you talk. I want to see you return home so that more work can be done to help the poor. If you continue to bare yourself and provoke hostil feelings with Hun Sen, you will get nowhere. You can't help anybody if you are abroad and not having a chance to win the election.
Tuk Tuk Driver
By guaranteeing the survival of the monarchy, the PPC appropriates this powerful symbol, still very important with regard to the Khmer population. All the opposition parties of Cambodia have to be careful not to play how much skilful of the PPC by attacking the monarchy, king Sihamoni and especially the mighty former monarch, Norodom Sihanouk. By attacking him in his lifetime as KI-Media often did is to garanteeing to PPC the status of the only royalist party, while in fact they are not
If the invitation of Sam Rainsy to attend the Ex- King birthday is true. It is a political move from the royalist party in the upcoming elections of 2012 and especially 2013 legislative to attempt to capture the voters of the Sam Rainsy Party. It is not sure this is proof that the royal family are at odds with the government over his criminal convictions as sam rainsy thought.
Everyone knows that Sam Rainsy Party is disintegrating right now.
Sam Rainsy is less useful to the royalist party. But voters and supporters of the Sam Rainsy Party interest to royalist party and other parties.
The royalist party found an opportunity here to make
a political gesture in the direction of the Sam Rainsy Party voters for upcoming elections.
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