Hun Sen generous with Funcinpec

Cambodge Soir
06-08-2008

On Monday morning at the airport, the Prime Minister revealed that five main leaders of the royalist party will be given important positions in the next government, probably at the level of Deputy Prime Minister or Secretary of State.

Hun Sen certainly became very talkative as he walked along the airstrip, last Friday, while accompanying the King Father, the Queen Mother and the King as they were ready to fly out to Beijing. The Government leader openly criticised Sam Rainsy, asking him not to boycott the first session of the National Assembly, with the risk of facing reprisals. On Monday morning Hun Sen stood at the same place, this time to bid farewell to the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah after his official visit to the Kingdom. In other words, a new intervention from Cambodia’s strongman, but within a much more serene context.

The Prime Minister talked with the President of Funcinpec, Kéo Puth Rasmey, and promised him to allocate five “superior positions” to members of the royalist party. This involves Kol Pheng, current Minister of Education, Veng Sereyvuth, current Minister of Culture, Sun Chanthol, current Minister for Public Transport, Nuth Sokhom, current Minister of Health and Nhiek Buncchay, General Secretary of Funcinpec and current Deputy Prime Minister. They might obtain the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State and of Minister.

Other Funcinpec leaders might also be given government positions, although less prestigious ones. The General Secretary has to draw a list of suitors and submit it to Hun Sen. Contacted by Cambodge Soir Hebdo, Nhiek Buncchay didn’t wish to comment on the subject. The Minister of Information, Khieu Kanharith, was more eloquent: “We’ve been collaborating with Funcinpec for a long time. Even if the party has merely obtained two seats within the government, it can lay claim to several positions within the government”. It would be like a bowl of fresh air for the royalist party in perdition since the 27th of July if these nominations were to be confirmed.