CNRP set to ‘reshuffle lawmakers’: officials

[geovalin]

Taing Vida

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party is about to undergo a significant reshuffle of elected members, according to party sources.

But a CNRP lawmaker said talk of a reshuffle was little more than a rumour.

According to a senior party official, who asked not to be named, several elected lawmakers will change jobs, leaving their constituents without the representatives who campaigned for their votes.

The move has caused friction in the party with several CNRP members unhappy with the decision, the source said.

Takeo province MP Pol Ham would move to a seat in Kampong Thom; Banteay Meanchey lawmaker Long Ry would switch to Kampong Cham province; while Ky Vannara will move from his seat in Kampong Chhnang to take Ry’s place. CNRP public affairs chief Mu Sochua would move from Battambang to fill Vannara’s vacated seat.

In Siem Reap province, Keo Sovannarath will move to Kampong Speu province, while Chulong Somura will leave her Phnom Penh constituency for Ham’s current position in Takeo. Real Camerin, who headed the party in Svay Rieng province, will be replaced by Ou Chanrith and no longer hold a seat in parliament.

Ham confirmed that a reshuffle would take place, adding that as it was not yet official policy, he could not comment on the specific changes planned.

But Sochua said the media coverage was based on “rumours” and that no decision had been made yet.

Real Camerin said that while he had not received official notification, he had “only been told by the party leader”.

Sok Touch, an independent political analyst, criticised the proposed changes. The reshuffle “is not based on a democratic path, because the changes were not voted on, they will be appointments”, he said.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cnrp-set-reshuffle-lawmakers-officials

[geovalin]

Renewing vows: Sokha sticks to pay pledge after speech

Fri, 9 January 2015

May Titthara

Opposition deputy leader Kem Sokha used his arrival back in the Kingdom yesterday to claim that if the CNRP comes to power in the next election, it would use money gained from the fight against corruption to fund pensions and increase the salaries of civil servants.

Sokha claimed that between $300 million and $500 million is lost each year to corruption, and that by “preventing a little corruption, salaries could be increased”.

On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen mocked CNRP pledges to raise the civil servant minimum wage to $250 per month and said the party’s promise of $10 pensions to those over 65 was unrealistic.

Not so, said Sokha. “If the [CNRP] leads the government, the elderly will be paid $10 instantly and . . . [civil servants] can get $250 per month.”

In his speech, Hun Sen had told civil servants earning less than $250 to ask for the extra money from the opposition. Government spokesman Phay Siphan called Sokha’s comments “deceptive”.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/renewing-vows-sokha-sticks-pay-pledge-after-speech