Hun Sen predicts hasty demise of new opposition alliance

www.chinaview.cn

2009-01-22

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned that the recent alliance of two main opposition parties will not last, national media reported on Thursday.

The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP), which are two main opposition parties in the Cambodian National Assembly (NA), agreed last week in principle to establish a political alliance called the Democratic Movement of Change (DMC) for the upcoming elections.

"When I want (the alliance) to separate, they will be separated," English-language newspaper the Phnom Penh Post quoted the premier as saying on Tuesday in Oddar Meanchey province.

"I would like to tell you that now one-third of their members have defected to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP)," he said.

Hun Sen belongs to CPP, which is the major ruling party.

"I am never scared of these mergers. Do not say that an alliance will cause CPP to fall," he added.

The DMC is a new political force to lead and advance the country to have prosperity, according to the joint statement issued by both parties.

The upcoming elections include the 2012 commune councils election and the 2013 general election.

"Our candidates will be registered to represent only one party in polling constituency," SRP president Sam Rainsy and HRP president Kem Sokha told reporters at a press conference.

"We will walk on the non-violent and legal strategies for political actions," Sam Rainsy said, adding that the movement does not oppose any individual or parties.

Meanwhile, Khem Sokha appealed to intellectuals and democratic supporters to join the DMC for upcoming elections.

In last year's general election, CPP won some 90 seats, SRP 26 and HRP 3 in all the 123 seats in NA.

Editor: Lu Yanan