PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A prominent human rights activist once jailed for criticizing Cambodia's prime minister moved directly into the political arena Sunday by launching his own party.
Kem Sokha, 54, unveiled his Human Rights Party at a well-attended congress, making it the latest political force trying to challenge the iron grip on power of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People's Party at the next general election scheduled for July 2008.
The Sam Rainsy Party is the only opposition force in Parliament against Hun Sen, while the royalist Funcinpec party, which once was a significant rival, is a partner in Hun Sen's government and has been significantly weakened by its own internal disputes.
One of the goals of the Human Rights Party is "to raise the living standard of the people and change Cambodia into a society that offers equal choices and opportunities for every citizen in seeking their future," Kem Sokha said in an opening speech at his party congress, which organizers claimed was attended by some 10,000 supporters.
Kem Sokha has a long-standing reputation for advocating social justice and fighting against corruption and human rights abuses.
He used to be a lawmaker of the now-defunct Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, one of the challengers to Hun Sen's party in the 1990s. After his party was dissolved, Kem Sokha joined the royalist Funcinpec party and became one of its senators before resigning the post to create the Cambodian Center for Human Rights in late 2002.
Some other well-known political figures joining Kem Sokha's party include Pen Sovann, former prime minister of a communist Cambodian government in the early 1980s; Keo Remy, former lawmaker of the Sam Rainsy Party; and Son Soubert, the son of former Cambodian statesman Son Sann, who founded the defunct Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party in the early 1990s.
Early last year, Kem Sokha was jailed for several weeks along with two other human rights workers, a union leader and a journalist on criminal charges of defaming the prime minister.
Hun Sen ordered their release following strong international condemnation of his government's repressive action.
The new party's first order of business Sunday was to discussing its platform and structure, and it was also expected to formally elect Kem Sokha as its president, organizers said.
Sarith's quote:
For best of Cambodia, Mr. Kem Sokha should join Sam Rainsy Party in the election 2008. If he does not do so, It like he is splitting Sam Rainsy Votes and make CPP party win the election 2008 again. The reason, I ask him to do so, because Mr. Kem Sokha does not have any seat in National Assembly yet. We know, right now only Sam Rainsy Party is holding the second largest support from Cambodian People that make CPP Party afraid of losing their vote in 2008. If Kem Sokha, Norodom Rannaridth, and Funcinpec do not join with Sam Rainsy Party in election 2008, the funcinpec party will have no seat in National Assembly any more. The Norodom Rannaridth will receive about 2 or 3 seat in National Assembly. The Kem Sokha will split 50% of Sam Rainsy seat, so the CPP will have a majority seat in National Assembly. Then the CPP will be going on rampage of making law to limit Human right, limit of speech, limit right of religeous, limit right of travel, etc.
If Kem Sokha and Norodom Rannaridth do not join with Sam Rainsy, I would ask people to stop support them, because they are not doing for interest of Cambodian people. They are doing for themselves and for CPP Party.
Date: 07/31/2007
Url:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20 ....
Author: Yahoo news
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