Selected Comments of Samdech Techo HUN SEN. on Facebook: “Why do we call on the CNRP Commune/Sangkat Councilors to join the CPP?” [Unofficial Translation]

Selected Comments of Samdech Techo HUN SEN. on Facebook: “Why do we call on the CNRP Commune/Sangkat Councilors to join the CPP?” [Unofficial Translation]

CNV: 04/11/2024

Dear brothers and sisters!

Today I would like to comment a bit on the latest situation that some leaders of the CNRP, and (which) last night at 3:57am, Mr. Long Mota sent an email to the CNRP party leadership regarding what they have tried to prevent the leaving trend from the CNRP, which is close to dissolution […] by reaffirming that this party is not going to be dissolved. Traitor Sam Rainsy has said that Hun Sen would declare his surrender, while the (CNRP) insiders also raised the issue that if the party is going to be dissolved, why does Hun Sen call for commune councilors to unite with the Cambodian People’s Party.

Let me clarify these points. This is a really good intention that I want you who are working hard to get support from the people and who do not know the filth of the traitor to the nation, who leads the party, to involve these people, who do not commit any of the wrongs. I am asking you to understand that I have no need to do as they say – “Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party are threatening”. However, you have to understand that if the CNRP is not dissolved, then what do I need to call on you (to join with us)? This is in fact relating to your future in serving the people. If the CNRP is not dissolved, would it be necessary for me to call for you to continue to serve the people or not? […]

It is based on the assumption that the people at the bottom do not know and do not understand the treason of some leaders who lead the party to cause destruction to the nation, and the people, that I want to give those of you who have been elected as members of the Commune/Sangkat Councils or as the Commune/Sangkat Chiefs or as members of the District Councils, members of the Provincial Councils the opportunity to leave the Party before the Party is dissolved. It is no doubt that by participating in the commune elections or running for provincial or district council, you all wanted to serve the people. Now the CPP, of which I am the chairman and (when I was) the Prime Minister, I have been giving you the opportunity to leave the CNRP before it is dissolved.

The dissolution date set by the Supreme Court is on 16 November (2024)

After the dissolution of the CNRP, the ballots will be re-organized and redistributed to the political parties that stand in the same commune, and in a number of communes there stand only two parties. Therefore, in the case of only two parties, the CPP will take all the seats in the two-party commune/sangkat, while in the commune/sangkat with three, four or more parties, the candidates will be divided accordingly. However, even if one party, two parties, three parties, four parties standing together (name), the CPP still has the better chance of winning the overwhelming majority of seats […]

Such a situation will provide an opportunity to prepare those who have left the CNRP to join the CPP and to reorganize the list of seats (of) those who are commune/Sangkat chiefs or deputy chiefs or members of commune/Sangkat councils […] they would be the commune chiefs coming from the framework of the CPP, and not from the CNRP, which will be dissolved when the date set by the Supreme Court trial – November 16 (2024), from which there are only 12 days left, arrives […]

Some CNRP lawmakers will be deprived of political rights

I want to give you an opportunity but some people (have tried to) prevent it by showing that the CPP, the Supreme Court or the government of Hun Sen, would not dare (to enact) it. I would like to emphasize that I do not control the judiciary, but who is the Ministry of Interior? The Ministry of Interior is an institution of the Royal Government. It would not be the case that when the Minister of Interior filed a lawsuit, and the Prime Minister did not know. I would like to confirm this. It is not just about dissolving a party. More than a hundred people will be barred from political rights for five years, of which I should say, what demanded by Interior Ministry lawyers is a political ban on the Standing Committee and the Board of Directors.

Therefore, almost all MPs on the board of directors will be deprived of political rights for five years […] you may want to listen to this clearly. Deputies have already come to the CPP, even though the CPP announced its readiness and that it will not accept all 55 CNRP seats. Then FUNCINPEC or any other party will get seats. However, as far as I know, there are (two) parties that do not accept seats. If the two parties do not accept the abandoned seats, then the CPP will accept the seats that the two parties abandoned. Therefore, the CNRP MPs with seats (in the National Assembly) who came to cohabitate with the CPP can return to the House of Representatives and accept those seats, only this time not within the framework of being a member of the CNRP, but CPP members […]

Those who joined (the CPP) would also be untouched by the five-year political ban and would be able to retain their seats in the National Assembly and continue serving the people. What you have to remember clearly is that the CPP or myself, who have spent their whole lives to serve the people and put into practice the win-win politics, would not want to see those of you who do not know the depths of the above leaders, and their deep division (are being misled). In the course of their divisions, they have been serious enough to accuse their ranks and files like Mao Monyvann and even Pol Horm, as being Hun Sen’s people and wanting to carry out a party coup. Furthermore, they have warned people not to come to the meeting in Chak Angrae for fear of being called a party coup people.

I do not want you to suffer because of the bad deeds of the leaders, and I want you who are striving for the position of commune chiefs, deputy commune chiefs, deputy councilors to have the opportunity to serve the people. This is my wish. However, if you continue to believe in those party leaders, you may as well continue to do so. I did not forbid it. I just remind you […] to ponder how serious the situation is when there was this action to arrest and handcuff the party leader at 12 o’clock at night?

Rebels split into two groups

City rebels are not pardoned and unforgiving. They have made a color revolution. They have done it many, many times, but they have not succeeded. They keep going on. Therefore, we do not give the city rebels a chance to escape. These city rebels are currently splitting into two groups – one group is fleeing abroad and is attacking the city rebels in the country […] I have carried out two works within the framework of the rebels – dissolving the political organization by the Khmer Rouge military and prosecuting the Khmer Rouge leaders. As for the commanders of the army, the fighters and the other divisions at the lower ranks were not convicted at all. They have also worked with the CPP and the government so far.

Now, the city rebels have come out and their bosses have been taken into custody awaiting trial. I would confirm that it is not a case of prosecuting the party president Kem Sokha that it is necessary to dissolve the party. The party must be dissolved first, according to a date already set by the Supreme Court. I would like to confirm that (their) message last night is still being shared, but despites all that sharing, it is not going to happen […] I would like to confirm that the people are now having fun in the capital for the celebration of the Water Festival, and the floating lanterns ceremony. Only the city rebels suffered. It is not just the urban rebels in politics such as the leaders of the CNRP, but the urban rebels as in drugs, armed robberies and other atrocities are in fear. For the people, however, there is no fear at all. They are happy with the big royal ceremony.

A confusion that the CNRP will not be dissolved

I would like to reiterate that you should not be confused (to think) that the CNRP is not going to be dissolved because if it does why Mr. Hun Sen call for the departure to join the CPP? This is a question that you have misrepresented about my true intentions. It is because the party is to be dissolved that I wish to send a message to urge those who want to continue within the framework of commune chiefs, commune deputy chiefs, commune councils, district councils, and provincial councils to continue to serve the people and leave (that party) and then return (to the jobs at hands) with their inclusion to the Cambodian People’s Party. It is because of the confusion from one step to another that led to the misery of the party, and to the trial. It is not for one person, but for many people to do this work systematically.

I do not want to take too long to say (this). Ladies and gentlemen, whoever wants to come can come. It is also up to you not to come […] or to hear or join any other political party […] I just want to confirm that I want to provide real opportunities to include you to continue working as commune leaders, leaders in the district or provincial councils, or can be members of the National Assembly or the senators. However, this is not to mention about the CNRP senators. However, I can say that you are grabbing the crab shell on the issue of preparing the list of candidates for the Senate […] it seems that you are accusing Mao Monivann of betrayal, Kem Sokha of not respecting the agreement that requires consensus. I should say (on this) that it was just (fighting over) a crab shell. You have no right to vote for the CNRP because there is no more CNRP.

Therefore, the shelter for the future work of commune councils, provincial councilors, district councils, up to MPs and up to senators can only be in the CPP, if you so want to continue to serve the people. This is your desire to reform at the grassroots and in state institutions. Your chance (to make that happen will be open) only will on the 16th. Of course, I will also give more opportunities, but that time it will not be as wide as it is now. (If) you (wait) until you hit the deadlock to leave the (dissolved) party, that will not be a good choice.

We will provide an opportunity for those who have left first, and that is a good opportunity. Otherwise, we will have to wait another five years, (and you never know) which party to stand on, because the CNRP can be revived. The Supreme Court verdict is a dismissal with prejudice to the appeal. I would like to clarify (that) the Prime Minister would not be unaware when the Ministry of Interior is suing. We already know about the fact that the lawyers are demanding the denial of political rights for the nearly 30 members of the Standing Committee and the nearly 90 members of the Board of Directors – a total of about 112 members […] the people who post messages are those on the list of political rights denial, and this is not just a story in Cambodia. So many countries have done it […]

Let me affirm one incident when (the political leaders in the opposition) requested for the United States to fire missiles into my house, the army to turn their weapons against the government and other activities under foreign command, are in the turning point and in the context, which political parties are dissolved through the law, and this law is a continuation of the previous law. We have just added some paragraphs to put together (to deal with) the wrong-doing political party. Previously, they only fined individuals. There were also points related to dissolving the party and disorganizing the party or deleting the party’s name. Now the situation has come to its end. It is not just one person, but many ore and the number of people who will lose political rights will be more.

Once again, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to emphasize that you must leave immediately and do not believe in what is claimed that “Mr. Hun Sen does not dare.” If Mr. Hun Sen did not dare, Mr. Hun Sen would have asked the Minister of Interior to withdraw the complaint from the court. But (as you know) we are still in the process of filing a complaint (as dated) by the Supreme Court on November 16 (2024). Our lawyers are ready to make the necessary demands regarding the dissolution of political parties and the denial of political rights of the Standing Committee and the Board of Directors, including those names in the Board of Directors that will lose political rights for five years. I would reiterate that I do not want commune councilors, districts, Khans, capitals, provincial councilors to be affected by the mistakes of the above-ranking leaders. I want to give everyone the opportunity to continue to contribute to building the country with the CPP to serve the people at the commune, district and provincial levels.

Thank you and wish our compatriots the best ritual ceremony on the occasion of the Royal Water Festival, Ok Ambok, and floating lanterns ritual ceremony./.