Re: Cambodian opposition leader eyes possibility of forming future government with former foe
- From: rectravel@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: 24 Mar 2006 09:57:57 -0800
http://www.phnompenhpost.com
Troubled Funcinpec on the ropes
By Vong Sokheng and Charles McDermid
Relationships of convenience being what they are - stormy,
opportunistic and based on mutual benefit alone - it is perhaps
noteworthy that the crumbling political marriage between Hun Sen's CPP
and Prince Norodom Ranariddh's Funcinpec has lasted as long as it has.
After all, when the coalition Royal Government was formed November 23,
1998, to break a post-election impasse, it had been just over a year
since the new "partners" had clashed in armed combat. As former
Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Tony Kevin said at the time "the
Cambodian political elites went from wounding mutual abuse to a
coalition in less than a week."
Even then observers were calling a "two-headed government," between
royalists and former communists, unworkable because of "strong class
overtones." The Post reported in 1998 that "Funcinpec lacked the human
resources and network of party allies to carry out administrative tasks
effectively."
But today - a little more than seven years later - the coalition
partnership is still governing the country. And only in the light of
recent moves by Hun Sen have officials and analysts been forced to
decide whether such critical comments were premature or prescient.
A series of sackings and verbal attacks against Funcinpec and its Royal
leaders has left the junior coalition partner in disarray and has
opposition leader Sam Rainsy bullish about his party's future.
"In 2008 there will be only two major parties competing against each
other - the CPP and SRP - and I put in them in that order out of
politeness," Rainsy told the Post on March 23.
"I think that not only has Funcinpec been getting weaker and weaker,
now they are split into several groups in the party leadership. Now the
royals are grouping to protest against their elimination by the
commoners - and it is strange that in a royalist party the royals are
being sidelined."
Ranariddh, who said he resigned on March 3 as President of National
Assembly to be closer to party followers, left for France on March 14.
His departure came in the wake of harsh criticisms of Funcinpec
officials by Hun Sen on the issues of nepotism, extramarital affairs,
incompetence and lavish spending on sporting events.
"I think Prince Ranarddh should have resigned a long time ago," Rainsy
said. "His party went from 58 MPs in 1993, to 43 in 1998, to 26 MPs in
2003. He shouldn't have waited for people to ask him to leave. I am
sure that Hun Sen does not respect Prince Ranariddh."
Prince Norodom Sirivudh, fired on March 3 from his position as
Co-Minister of Interior Minster by Hun Sen was removed as Funcinpec
party secretary-general on March 5, by Ranariddh.
On March 21 the National Assembly, while ratifying Sirivudh's removal
as a co-minister, also took away his Deputy Prime Ministership when he
received only 17 of 111 MPs' votes for the job.
The move prompted one Funcinpec official to question the actions of
some party members.
"I think that besides criticism by Prime Minister Hun Sen, there were
several members of Funcinpec who pressed for the removal of my brother
[Sirivudh], and it was not fair for him," said Princess Norodom
Vacheara. "It was not necessary to remove my brother to reform the
party. All political strategy is decided by the President of the party
and other Funcinpec top officials."
Vacheara told the Post on March 23 that a reshuffle of Funcinpec will
break unity inside the party and the ruling CPP will try to lure
several key members away from Funcinpec.
"I worry about Funcinpec now," Vacheara said. "It is not the real
Royalist party established by King Father Norodom Sihanouk and should
be changed to another name."
Ranariddh on March 5 named Prince Norodom Chakrapong as
secretary-general of Funcinpec, causing tumult within the party ranks.
Ranariddh changed his mind and on March 18 gave the job instead to
Nhiek Bun Chhay, who had been fired by Hun Sen as Co-Minister of
Defense on March 3 but was re-elected to his Deputy Prime Minister post
by the National Assembly.
Senior Funcinpec member Serei Kosal said he agreed with some of Hun
Sen's criticisms of Funcinpec leaders' behavior. He called on Bun Chhay
to be committed to reform of the party in order to gain support from
members and voters and to appoint a qualified person to work with the
CPP in the coalition government.
"I hesitate to say that Prince Sirivudh was fired because of nepotism
or corruption, but you can see the result of the votes [in the National
Assembly]," Kosal said. "However, I praise him because he has stepped
down from the job in the interests of the party. I think that at this
moment, Bun Chhay is the right person to work as partners in the
current coalition government."
On March 21, the National Assembly elected CPP member and former prime
minister Heng Samrin as its president, the CPP's Ngoun Nhel as first
vice president, and Funcinpec's You Hokry second vice president.
Kosal said Funcinpec was declining because of the corruption and
nepotism within the party. He urged Funcinpec leaders to appoint
officials into government position who are sensitive to the
power-sharing system between the CPP and Funcinpec.
He criticized some high-ranking Funcinpec officials in the government
for being inactive.
"I think that the new secretary-general must carefuly look into these
issues and fire some members in order to get qualified human resources
and honesty back for the party," said Kosal. "But to do so, there is
need to have a green light from Samdech Hun Sen."
Ly Thuch, Funcinpec parliamentarian, said that he expected the newly
appointed party secretary-general to work well at political cooperation
with the CPP and would help rebuild Funcinpec strength ahead of the
upcoming commune elections in 2007 and national election in 2008.
Ok Serei Sopheak, a veteran political analyst said on March 22 that
Funcinpec is the only political party that hands power entirely to the
President with the Steering Committee playing only an advisory role.
"I think contentious issues are the jobs that party leaders promise for
Funcinpec supporters at the commune and village levels," said Sopheak.
"The party also needs to reassure voters about the criticism from Hun
Sen. Funcinpec supporters are very confused."
He said Funcinpec has only 11 months to strengthen its infrastructure
from the top to bottom before the commune elections.
But Rainsy said the behavior of Funcinpec's Royal members and the
subsequent public backlash may detract from the lasting legacy of the
monarchy.
"I think Funcinpec is jeopardizing the future of the monarchy by
tarnishing the image of the Royals," Rainsy said. "Those who love the
monarchy and who want to preserve it as an institution, should
encourage Royals who are involved in politics to withdraw. When they
are involved in politics, they are just as naughty as other
politicians."
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 15 / 06, March 24 - April 6, 2006
© Michael Hayes, 2006. All rights revert to authors and artists on
publication.
For permission to publish any part of this publication, contact Michael
Hayes, Editor-in-Chief
http://www.PhnomPenhPost.com - Any comments on the website to Webmaster
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