Sam Rainsy shakes hands with Hun Sen after finalizing a deal to end the country’s nearly yearlong political deadlock a year ago. KT Photo: Chor Sokunthea
Khmer Times/Pav Suy and Chea Takihiro
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
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PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – One year since a political accord marked the end of the opposition’s boycott of the National Assembly – following a disputed election and a violent crackdown on demonstrations by the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)– questions remain about whether the CNRP made the right move.
Even the lead up to the one-year anniversary of the accord was sour. This week, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) said it would file a complaint against CNRP lawmaker Um Sam An, while 11 CNRP activists were sent to prison on charges of insurrection.
CPP lawmaker Chheang Vun threatened to strip Mr. Sam An of his parliamentary immunity on Tuesday for criticizing National Assembly President Heng Samrin. Mr. Sam An was angry that the Assembly president had refused to forward his July 6 letter asking the prime minister to halt the border demarcation process.
On the same day, the Municipal Court sentenced three CNRP activists, including Meach Sovannara, to 20 years imprisonment and eight others to seven years behind bars for their role in the violent confrontation between security forces and opposition activists last year.
Both parties are now accusing each other of failing to respect the July 22 political accord.
Singling Out Sam Rainsy
CPP spokesman Chhim Phal Virun questions the opposition’s compliance with the political accord and says only its president, Sam Rainsy, is complying with it. “Only the party president can comply with it. From the vice president to lower officials, they don’t have the full ability and honesty to comply with it. However, it does not affect the culture of dialogue,” Mr. Phal Virun said.
“For Sam Rainsy, his effort to promote [the culture of dialogue] is fine, but we don’t know to what extent Sam Rainsy educates his juniors and it is the responsibility of Sam Rainsy to do so,” he continued.
According to Article 1 of the accord, both parties agreed to work together to resolve political disputes within the Assembly and to solve all national problems in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law.
While things are looking somewhat bleak for the culture of dialogue, Mr. Phal Virun did point out that there were positive developments.
“In this one year, there have been some big achievements. First, it ended the chaos after the election. Second, the election law and National Election Committee have been reformed and it also paved the way for the culture of dialogue,” he said.
“Arrests Violate Accord”
CNRP vice president Kem Sokha told local media yesterday that the jailing of the activists violated the July 22 accord.
Mr. Sam An agreed. “The CPP does not seem to fully respect the culture of dialogue, like in the case of sending all 11 CNRP activists back to prison and threatening to strip me of my immunity due to the border dispute and a boycott of LANGO,” he said, referring to the Law on Associations and NGOs.
National Benefits
Mr. Sam An, however, remains optimistic about the detente. “From the accord, we can see the Cambodian people uniting, solving problems without dependence on foreigners, protection of the border leading to the Prime Minister’s intervention to the UN and most importantly, ending the violence,” he said.
Long Kimkhorn, president of Khmer Youth Congress, still doubts the accord. “I agree with the achievements mentioned by the two parties, but they still lack confidence in each other,” he said.
Mr. Rainsy remains optimistic, despite the events of this week. “Despite the occasional storm, the Cambodian National Rescue Party keeps trying to strengthen the ‘culture of dialogue’ stemming from the political accord,” he wrote on his popular Facebook page.
“Moreover, this culture of dialogue strengthens national solidarity for all Cambodian people and all political backgrounds to work hand in hand to protect Cambodian territory,” he added.
Both Parties Still Playing Politics?
Kem Ley, founder of the Khmer for Khmer movement, says neither party has fully complied with the accord and that both are seeking to use it for their own benefit.
“The immediate result is the agreement to discuss and adopt some laws and the discovery of the border encroachment, while medium and long-term results have not been seen yet,” Mr. Ley said. “Constitutionally, Cambodia is a democracy, but the roles of the National Assembly, court and government are still not independent and the balance of power is absent,” he added.
“Election reform is worse than before, especially in the new NEC laws. We can see the political case reviving as evidenced in the arrest of the 11 CNRP activists and making a threat to lawmakers and the border dispute is not yet solved,” he added.
“Compliance with the accord is almost nonexistent because the agreement is vague and it is one page long without principles, mechanism and rules, systems and human resources organized for solving political crises,” Mr. Ley said.
Opposition Shocked but Persistent
The opposition said yesterday it was shocked that the municipal court sentenced 11 CNRP activists to jail on Tuesday. The move revives political tensions and violates the spirit of the accord signed one year ago, it said in a statement yesterday.
Still, the opposition – which has seen its seats in the National Assembly rise during every election – said it will continue to follow the culture of dialogue to end political tension. It will cooperate with the CPP to free the 11 CNRP activists jailed on the eve of political accord’s one year anniversary.
CNRP leader Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen taking selfies at their family dinner. Photo: Facebook
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