Khmer Time/Taing Vida
Friday, 11 November 2016
Using the presidential election result in the United States as an example, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Sam Rainsy has again claimed the Cambodian government is a dictatorship ruled by a leader who refuses to quit after many terms in office, contrary to democratic principles.
Shortly after Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the US, many countries’ leaders, including Cambodia, sent congratulatory messages and said they hoped diplomatic relations with the US would improve in the future.
In an interview with Radio Free Asia on Wednesday night, Mr. Rainsy – who previously said Mr. Trump had the attitude of a dictator but later congratulated him on his victory in a Facebook post – claimed that the US election results showed true democracy and real change.
He added that the current Cambodian leader, referring to Prime Minister Hun Sen, should follow the example of the US.
“No one would like to allow any dignitary or president to hold power over two terms,” he said.
“So, in Cambodia, if he [Mr. Hun Sen] claims to respect democracy in the United States, he should take the term sample which is no more than two terms, unlike in Cambodia, the prime minister who has held six to seven terms is called a dictator.”
Mr. Rainsy also said he appreciated the US system where state institutions had full independence without depending on an individual leader.
“It’s not like in Cambodia. The Cambodian assembly is a scarecrow, puppet court which created an authoritarian leader. You [Mr. Hun Sen] admire Donald Trump, but you yourself have done differently than the principles of democracy in the United States,” he said.
Mr. Hun Sen has served as prime minister for more than 30 years despite the opposition and others criticizing him for clinging on to power.
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman Sok Eysan called Mr. Rainsy a dubious and tricky person after he called Mr. Trump a dictator.
“Before the election, he [Mr. Rainsy] claimed that Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Hun Sen were dictators,” he said.
“His demands seem to have overlooked the constitution. The presidency and a parliamentary regime are different.
“There is no article that determines the number of terms a prime minister can hold. I think Mr. Sam Rainsy himself should consider quitting his position as leader and let someone else take the post because he has lost five elections already.”
While many Americans are celebrating Mr. Trump’s victory, the election results have also sparked protests in cities throughout the United States including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington and several others.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia, said the protests by some US citizens were not about the election process, but were over concerns about Mr. Trump’s policies as well as his stance and opinions towards immigrants, women and people of color in general.
“It is a good sign of the democratic process that puts pressure against the majority opinion within reason to find a solution for the minority who are vulnerable,” he said.
“Although Mr. Trump is elite and wasn’t [previously] involved in politics, Mr. Trump is considered the leader of the revolution against the current political system which has been accused of corruption and ineffectiveness.”
As for the Cambodian government, Mr. Panha supported a reduction in the number of terms available to the prime minister.
“Political leadership stability [among parties] creates opportunities to challenge much different effective leadership, reduce the risk of long authoritarian leadership and bad governance,” he said.
However, Mr. Rainsy and Mr. Hun Sen both hope cooperation and relations between Cambodia and the United States remain strong in all sectors and will continue to push to ensure democracy in Cambodia as well.
Despite unresolved political tensions in Cambodia, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said through Radio Free Asia on Wednesday that acting party president Kem Sokha was contacting the top leaders of the CPP to return to the negotiating table in hopes of returning to political normalcy.
Mr. Rainsy said: “If negotiations just let them bully, arrest and imprison whoever they [CPP] want, I completely do not agree. CNRP leaders do not sell their ideals. Their purpose is to break the CNRP.”