Friday, 16.3.2007: Samdech Hun Sen States The Position Of The CPP: It Is Not Necessary To Request The Prime Minister Candidates To Debate Face To Face On Television

Posted on 17 March 2007. Filed under: Week 499 |

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 499

“Prey Veng: The news about a request for a debate between candidates for the position of prime minister, which was broadcast on Radio Free Asia, prompted Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen to react by stating his explanation, because Samdech is also a candidate who will again stand as prime minister candidate for the fourth mandate in the upcoming 2008 elections.

“Concerning this issue, Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen replied that it is not necessary for a prime minister who is holding power to debate on television. He also will be the future prime minister, in case the Cambodian People’s Party [CPP] wins in the elections. Additionally, the CPP does not have multiple candidates. In 1998, the CPP Central Committee agreed to nominate Hun Sen as candidate. Again, in 2003, the CPP Central Committee still agreed to nominate Hun Sen as candidate. For the year 2008 elections, the CPP has already decided to nominate Hun Sen as candidate prior to the elections, through the Central Committee, since 2005.

“Samdech Hun Sen stated this when he participated in and presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of a section of National Road 8, which was held in Svay Antor, Prey Veng, in the morning of 15 March 2007. Samdech said that the CPP is not so inconsiderate that the CPP members fight with each other for the position of prime minister. Firstly, Hun Sen is a member of the CPP which has appropriate political guidelines, which have led the country for 28 years. Therefore, the prime minister is a person who does not do anything just according to his own subjective points of view, even if they are not far away from the political guidelines that the CPP decided by vote. Secondly, the Cambodian people clearly recognize Mr. Hun Sen as the prime minister candidate, the current prime minister, and as the future prime minister for the next mandate. What is and has been happening in Cambodia is part of Mr. Hun Sen, who has led the country in both national and international politics.

“Samdech Hun Sen asked, ‘What is the policy of the CPP?’ and he also said that he has led the country since 1985.

“He asked, ‘If another person were prime minister, would the situation of Cambodia be like it is today? This is the question to ask: The farmers farm the land from which the state does not levy taxes. If there were a change to a new person to come to power, would this person continue the same policy of not levying tax as the CPP? If other parties promise to do the same as the CPP, it will not be necessary to follow them – those parties should just vote for the CPP, because it is the same.’ Samdech Hun Sen stated that the CPP said, before the Paris Agreements [1991], that it will not levy land taxes for the next 10 to 15 years. Now, he still continues to say that it will not levy land taxes for the next 10 to 15 years, if the CPP wins the elections. If any party promises to do the same as the CPP, it is not necessary to vote for that party, because it makes the same promise as the CPP.

“Samdech said that he allocated to the people fishing lots covering 56% of the total or an area equal to more than half a million of hectares. If any party promises to do the same as Hun Sen, then vote for Hun Sen.

“As for the foreign politics, Samdech Hun Sen stated that the CPP has been developing its politics with its neighboring countries, using peaceful ways to seek solutions, and not to use force to solve border and other issues. He said that he brought Cambodia into ASEAN membership, to join the Asia-Europe Meeting, and to enter the World Trade Organization and many other organizations.

“He added that Cambodia supports the One-China Policy. Some other party leaders want to be prime minister – how could China trust them if they do not state their positions on the One-China Policy? He also spoke about a text he knows since 1982, saying ‘I can not hold your hands when you hold my hands, but then you come and step on my feet.’ Samdech Hun Sen said that the CPP is like a football team. Samdech Chea Sim is the coach, Samdech Heng Samrin is the goalkeeper, Hun Sen is the defender, and Sar Kheng and others are strikers. He said, ‘We have our own ways. I never declare myself as the prime ministerial candidate all on my own. Some people hold the views that, ‘If you are there, then I will not be there, and if I will be there, you cannot be there.’

“Samdech Hun Sen added that the CPP claims it can be with anyone, which is a major point to be taken into consideration. Those who do politics and do not have any position, please stop raising the issue about whether or not members of the royal family should stay out of politics.

“Samdech Hun Sen stated that the policy of the CPP and of Hun Sen towards the monarchy and towards the throne has been shown clearly many times. Firstly, in 1993, the monarchy was revived. There were a total of four parities which participated. If the CPP would not have participated, the constitution could not have been adopted until today, because it needed two thirds of the vote, while no party had more than 50 percent. He also said, ‘Everyone has to understand this clearly, don’t try to take political advantages.’ He added, ‘I took the initiative. If there would not have been the efforts of the CPP, of Samdech Heng Samrin, of Hun Sen, there would be no monarchy today. Don’t be confused. Furthermore, the former King Norodom Sihanouk swore in 1955 to abdicate, which was actually enough to prevent that a new monarchy would be formed, and that a monarchy would take power over the country.

“Secondly, during the crisis of the throne in 2004, if the CPP did not want the monarchy to be revived, if it did not adopt the laws, and if it did not care about the laws to be created during this week, there would be no king any more. He said, ‘Don’t be confused about this, some of those who are not persons involved in adopting the law, please don’t speak any more on this subject. In the same royal family, we see that an elder brother supports one party, and their younger brothers support another party – they do not get along well with each other; what is the point of speaking of their unity?.’” Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5992, 16.3.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 16 March 2007

Areyathor, Vol.13, #1222, 16-17.3.2007

[Phnom Penh Lawmaker from Sam Rainsy Party] Son Chhay Invites Hun Sen To Answer About Land Grabbing

Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5992, 16.3.2007

Samdech Hun Sen States The Positions Of The Cambodian People’s Party; Wanting Prime Minister Candidates To Debate Face To Face On Television Is Not Necessary

Khmer Mekong, Vol.5, #248, 15-16.3.2007

Three Private Companies In Stung Treng Are Deforesting, But Authorities Are Completely Quiet [one of the three companies is from China]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4237, 16.3.2007

Police In Banteay Meanchey Arrested Drug Dealer In A Casino
Fires In A Row In Boeng Salang Area; Bad Luck For Sangkat Chief [since a Sangkat chief from the Sam Rainsy Party was elected, many incidents similar to this happened]
Prime Minister: Chakrapong’s Properties Might Be Confiscated; There Will Be No Pardon For Krom Preah [Prince Ranariddh]
Being Charged Riel 1 Million [approx US$260] To Join Police Force Has Been Known [119 people were recruited to work in police force without salary in Kompong Thom]
Livelihood Of Phnom Penh Residents Is Changing While Economy Is Growing [better security and infrastructure]
2007 Report Of The World Bank On Development and Future Generation [about 70% of the population is under the age of 30; the Minister of Education said that the educational system is still weak]
Workers At United Garment Factory Intensify Their Demonstration [requesting for regular salary payments, and asking that 75 workers and 3 workers’ representatives be allowed to resume work]

Reach Seima, Vol.2, #162, 16.3.2007

[Prison and Chains] Threatening Royal Family Members Out Of Political Battlefield
Sam Rainsy Party Announces Its Position On The One China Policy [Secretary-General Mu Sochua said the party knows clearly that Taiwan belongs to China. To handle problems of Cambodians working in Taiwan, a committee should be established, either within the government or through NGOs]
Chakrapong Hurriedly Fled To Thailand, Having No Money To Pay Off The Debts Owed To The Government
Khmer Youth Association Director Said Only One of Ten Youth Has Employment

Snadai Khmeng Wat, Vol.6, #125, 16.3.2007

Somphann Narith Construction Company Builds Another Dirt Road As A Donation Of Samdech Hun Sen [Kompong Cham]
Eng Sok Gek Still Pumps Out Sand [for sale] Along Siem Reap River, Which It Is Against The Order Of Samdech Hun Sen

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