Cambodge Soir 23-07-2008
In order to free any individuals who were forced to take an oath, the HRP directors organized on Tuesday July 22, a religious ceremony. It also aimed at improving the HRP members’ bonds.
The Ceremony was held ay the Party headquarter in Phnom Penh, attended by the HRP’s most prominent candidates Pen Sovan, Kéo Remy, Son Soubert and Keat Sokun, its president, Kem Sokha, and all the party candidates for the parliamentary elections. Numerous militants also attended, as did ordinary citizens concerned with forced oath issues.
This ceremony was divided into two parts. The First was to free any Cambodian citizens from any oath they would have to take under constraint to vote for any indicated party. “Such an oath is difficult to renege for the one who took it, that’s the reason why I insisted in organizing this ceremony, to free those people with the help of the sacred spiritual objects’ force” explained Kem Sokha while joining his hands. During the event HRP members did not mention the political party abusing these practices.
The second part of the ceremony was solely dedicated to HRP members. The candidates were to publicly take an oath of fidelity so that in case of victory they would not defect to more powerful political parties. The candidates and their president then took the oath in front of monks, claiming fidelity to their party and if elected promised to faithfully serve the interests of their fellow citizens.
According to Mao Veasna, head of HRP youth, these oath practices are part of Cambodian culture: “ 95% of Cambodians are Buddhist and put values in these oaths, even when they are taken with Brahmanic rituals.”
“ This ceremony is for all the country’s citizens and free all of those who had to act against their will. This ceremony remains powerful until July 26, the day before the election in case some individuals could again be forced” added Kem Sokha.
Finally the HRP president appealed to two other opposition parties, the Sam Rainsy party and the Norodom Ranariddh Party to establish co-operation between the election observers. Kem Sokha feels that it is important to co-ordinate the activities of the opposition parties’ observers to better monitor the counting of the vote proceedings once the vote is over on July 27. Kem Sokha added that he will submit an official request in writing to the leaders of those two parties before July 25.
No comments:
Post a Comment