Should I (we) stay or should I (we) go?

Cambodge Soir

12-09-2008

While in Paris, on tour, the Presidents of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human rights Party (HRP) gave an interview to the Cambodian department of RFI (radio France International) , on their mission to alert the world to the several “rigging cases” alleged to have occurred during the last election.

It might be the distance, but certain discrepancies emerged between HRP officials. On September 9 in Phnom Penh--the day the King sent the official convocations for the swearing- in ceremony of the New National Assembly on September 24--Yem Ponhearith, the General Secretary of the HRP declared to Cambodge Soir Hebdo that “we are in line with the King”.

But on Wednesday September 10 on RFI, Kem Sokha, the HRP president disagreed. He does not want to swear in at the same time as the lawmakers of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP): “the three HRP elected MPs will not go to the National Assembly on September 24” he insisted.

As for Sam Rainsy, his new fellow traveller, he is sticking to his guns. “We do not recognise the election outcome, we will not take part in the first session” vowed the SRP president.

Asked if this would not display a lack of respect to the King, Sam Rainsy cleverly replied: “This is not the matter as the King does not have any power. The King agrees to what the CPP decides. And if the CPP forbids something, the King does not dare challenge it. Thus, Ranariddh’s pardon can only be granted once the CPP agrees to it. Therefore it has nothing to do with respect for the King but is rather an ethical issue, and the latter forbids us to attend the National Assembly of thieves, ghosts and Yuons [editor’s note: Vietnamese]”.

Both leaders argued that they are still waiting for an answer from the King to a letter where they expressed their "will to swear in separately from the CPP's MPs". Building the suspense, Kem Sokha indicated that “without any reply from the King, we have not yet decided to attend the first session”.