PM Hun Sen Comments on Partnership with FUNCINPEC and Other Parties

PM Hun Sen Comments on Partnership with FUNCINPEC and Other Parties
Sakada Chun
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
20/02/2006


Prime Minister Hun Sen announces on Monday that the Cambodian People's
Party (CPP) will not abandon the royalist FUNCINPEC, its partner in the
coalition government for the past three terms, after the constitution
amendment to open way for the formation of the government by adopting
the 50% plus one formula.

Mr. Hun Sen's allegation happens after different comments were made and
which led to the confusion that the CPP will abandon the FUNCINPEC
party, and embrace the opposion Sam Rainsy party (SRP) instead.

There are also strong criticisms about the FUNCINPEC party led by
Prince

Norodom Ranaridh, on the appointment of unqualified ministers for
government's positions which makes the ruling CPP weak, and the
disapproval of the FUNCINPEC's appointment of ministers for
government's positions, and the warning to the cabinet which does not
work hard.

Mr. Hun Sen makes the comments at the ground breaking ceremony for the
information center of the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siemreap
that, the ministers, the governors and deputy governors of the CPP and
the FUNCINPEC party will work together, but the constitutional
amendment from adopting 2/3 majority to 50% plus one vote formula for
the next terms is to avoid political deadlock after the elections.

Mr. Hun Sen says that the alliance will not change, and he will gather
force to consolidate, for national construction.

SRP legislator Keo Remy supports the idea of changing inactive
ministers, but there should not be any political reason behind it. He
says that the political aspect should not change, and that a minister
who does not bow to the CPP should not be removed by using this idea of
change, which will not work.

Human Rights's organization Licadho's director Pung Chhiv Kek says that
the civil societies want to see the presence of an opposition party to
monitor the government's activities.

She says that if all the political parties agree to work together, the
civil societies will not oppose that, but they do not want them to have
conflict like in the past, but they do wish to have an opposition party
that can talk with the government.

Mr. Hun Sen will invite Sam Rainsy party and ask many parties to form
the government if the CPP wins the election in 2008.

Prince Norodom Ranaridh asks Mr. Hun Sen to scrutinize the SRP before
asking it to join the coalition government, suggesting that Mr. Sam
Rainsy, leader of the opposition party, wants to work alone because he
wants to win the election.

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