Cambodia’s Hun Sen Says Opposition Figure Planned to Topple His Government

[geovalin]

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday alleged that vice president of the opposition party and vice president of parliament Kem Sokha was the mastermind of a plot to topple his government following disputed national elections in 2013.

Hun Sen openly announced during a televised speech from Banteay Meanchey province in northwest Cambodia that Kem Sokha, the second-in-command of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was a “leader of second and third hands,” a reference to a group of people who he said want to overthrow the government of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

He said Kem Sokha had unveiled plans to overthrow the government during a speech on March 13 in Long Beach, California, where he met with his supporters and said the CNRP wanted to lead the government, but could not because of the CPP’s stronghold.

“Now he confessed that he tried to topple the government and the CPP,” Hun Sen said. “He apologized to the people for his failure. What should we do according to the law?” Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen urged all people who had lost their businesses in the aftermath of the national elections in July 2013 to seek financial compensation from Kem Sokha.

He also said the court should revisit a pending case against Kem Sokha over the protest that followed the disputed elections in which the National Election Commission (NEC), an independent agency that supervises the country’s national elections, declared the CCP victorious, prompting opposition lawmakers to boycott parliament for 10 months.

A violent clash erupted during an antigovernment protest on July 15, 2014, when CNRP supporters clashed with security guards at Freedom Park in the capital Phnom Penh. At least 40 people were injured, and several CNRP lawmakers were arrested on “insurrection” charges for their role in the protest.

CNRP lawmakers returned to parliament following a July 22 deal with the CCP, which included electoral reforms. Under the deal, the new NEC was to consist of nine members—four from each party and one neutral member to serve as tiebreaker.

But last Week, Kem Sokha said the political settlement between the CPP and CNRP would unravel unless opposition party activists arrested last year for their alleged involvement in a protest that turned violent were released next month.

“We must take legal action, [because] there is a pending case against him [Kem Sokha],” the prime minister said, adding that “judges are stupid” and must record Kem Sokha’s confession.

CPP lawmakers are standing by to strip Kem Sokha of his immunity as a parliamentarian to allow the court to investigate the case, Hun Sen said.

He also repeated an earlier assertion that he would not intervene to release CNRP activists, who had been arrested for participating in the Freedom Park riots, from prison. He said the activists must remain in jail.

Approval of legislation

During the speech, Hun Sen urged all lawmakers to attend a parliamentary session on Friday to approve two controversial pieces of draft legislation on the NEC and the election of members of the National Assembly (parliament).

He praised CNRP leader Sam Rainsy for his support of the two draft laws and said he would continue to work with the opposition lawmaker after the legislation had been approved to set up a new NEC by April 13.

The prime minister also warned nongovernmental organizations to stay out of National Assembly politics and said they must respect parliament’s decisions, which represent the voters.

Never said ‘topple’

Speaking from Tennessee, Kem Sokha denied that he had made any statements about overthrowing the government.

“Hun Sen must be confused about the information,” he told RFA’s Khmer Service in an interview. “I never used the word ‘topple,’ and in my heart I never want to use violence. I’m always opposed to any violent actions.”

Kem Sokha said he told his supporters that the CNRP could not hold any violent demonstrations.

“We can’t afford to have any violent protests,” he said. “Our CNRP’s principle is nonviolence. I confessed that we couldn’t reform the election by 100 percent.”

Kem Sokha said that he supported the draft laws according to the party’s stand, and that he and Sam Rainsy made joint decisions.

He said Hun Sen’s allegation was meant to split him and Sam Rainsy from leading the opposition party and that the prime minister had been trying to accomplish this for a long time.

“This is not a new thing,” Kem Sokha said. “They [the CPP] want to split me from Sam Rainsy. The CNRP would not accept any attempt to split the party if they want to work with us.”

Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hun-sen-accuses-kem-sokha-of-wanting-to-topple-government-03182015172447.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[geovalin]

PM goads court to charge Kem Sokha

Thu, 19 March 2015

Meas Sokchea

Days after firebrand deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha used a trip to the US to finally air his longstanding grievances with last July’s political deal, Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on the courts to take legal action against him for trying to overthrow the government.

The dramatics occurred as both parties, who have been collaborating under a new and much-touted “culture of dialogue”, are expected today to pass two controversial election-related laws that they have been drafting over several months.

In a speech to supporters in Long Beach, California, late last week, Sokha had recounted the Cambodia National Rescue Party’s failed attempts to get Hun Sen to stand down following the disputed 2013 election.

At the time, the party lobbied the international community for an electoral inquiry and held massive street protests calling for change.

“We wanted to change quickly, we wanted to have a positive change quickly and completely.… [but] I can say that I am sorry to all of you that I could not lead this change [and achieve] 100 per cent at once,” Sokha said while explaining why the CNRP eventually entered talks with the CPP.

In response, Hun Sen, speaking yesterday at a road inauguration in Banteay Meanchey province, called on the courts to take legal action against Sokha for having allegedly confessed he tried to “topple” the government.

“Now, the leader of [the group] that tried to quickly topple the royal government has showed his face and confessed,” he said.

“So legal measures for taking action [against him] must be created and added to [his] existing cases. I hope that the court is not stupid and will note these words.”

Sokha has been summonsed to court in connection with a litany of cases in recent years, ranging from an alleged mistress demanding child support, a defamation suit from an S-21 prison survivor and an opposition-led protest that turned violent last July.

Hun Sen claimed that it would be easy for the National Assembly to strip Sokha of his parliamentary immunity, despite the fact that his party does not hold the majority required for that to be done.

He also called on people who suffered property damage as a result of post-election demonstrations to demand compensation from Sokha.

“Catch him, bring him back and demand money. This is right; there would be nothing wrong with that,” Hun Sen said.

The opposition party yesterday defended Sokha’s speech in the US, saying he had never claimed the party had tried to topple the government.

CNRP spokesman Yem Ponharith argued that Hun Sen was misinterpreting Sokha’s words.

“He did not mean like that. As a principle of the [CNRP], Mr Sam Rainsy and Mr Kem Sokha wanted to have a change [in Cambodia] … by peaceful means, by a free and fair election,” he said.

Despite asking the judiciary to take action against Sokha, the premier yesterday insisted that he could do nothing to free jailed opposition official and fierce government critic Meach Sovannara.

Hun Sen did not name Sovannara, who is facing charges of leading an insurrection and has been denied bail numerous times, but implied that any requests from the CNRP for him to use his executive power to intervene in the case would not work because the courts are independent.

“Why do you ask Hun Sen [to help]?” he said.

In February, Hun Sen called on the Ministry of Justice to investigate alleged bribe-taking at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after the parents of fugitive tycoon Thong Sarah were mysteriously released on bail.

Within hours, court president Ang Maltey was removed from his position by the Supreme Council of Magistracy.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national