The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 554
“A survey on candidates for the position of prime minister indicates that Mr. Sam Rainsy is in the first rank, before Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is currently holding the position as the prime minister of Cambodia.
“According to a website seen by Khmer Machas Srok, there are only four candidates for the position of prime minister mentioned who receive supports as participants competing in the 2008 national elections. The four candidates are Mr. Sam Rainsy from the Sam Rainsy Party [SRP], Mr. Hun Sen from the Cambodian People’s Party [CPP], Prince Norodom Ranariddh from the Norodom Ranariddh Party, and Mr. Kem Sokha from the Human Rights Party.
“The internationally accessible website www.buzzdash.com, where the public can express its opinion on almost all possible sectors, ranging from trade, sports, and politics, indicates a variety of opinions related to competitors on the market, as well as the support ranges for each [of the many different] candidacies. It shows the clear figure of supporters [who have left their opinion on this website]. On this opinion poll during the last two months, 44% of the visitors supported Mr. Sam Rainsy; 36% supported Mr. Hun Sen; 13% supported Prince Norodom Ranariddh; and 5% supported Mr. Kem Sokha.
[Actually, the Internet address www.buzzdash.com does not point to a public opinion polling institution – it is a program where every Internet user on the World Wide Web can, free of charge, in less than 5 minutes, create any opinion polling site – writing a question of not more that 70 letters, and providing 2 to 5 answers for the visitors to click on, indicating their preference]
“The CPP of Prime Minister Hun Sen is concerned, because the people who gave their opinion for the party have suffered from suppression and threats of grabbing their lands by powerful and rich, who are relatives and officials of the prime minister.
“Corruption is a root problem which the CPP established. The national and international public blamed the Hun Sen-led government, a so-called ‘hole-in-the-basket’ government [metaphor for not being able to maintain or preserve their assets], for not protecting the properties and interests of the Cambodian people, who are demanding that an anti-corruption law be created soon.
“Currently, the price of gasoline and of goods of all kinds is constantly increasing. This is a serious failure of the Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency of the government led by Mr. Hun Sen. Therefore, the majority of the people have turned to support the SRP, which is the only big and well-known opposition party in Cambodia.
“To conclude, even though the CPP has ‘conscripted’ people and attracted them by giving them government positions, for example providing positions to those who defected the SRP to join the CPP, it would be impossible for them to win, because the communist party [misnomer, pointing at the CPP] will come to an end of its political life during the coming 2008 parliamentary election.
“It should be noted that lawmakers from the SRP proposed to the National Assembly to create a law to provide Cambodian people living abroad to have the right to vote in the same way as Cambodian people living in Cambodia during the 2008 national election. This is a practice that other countries in different parts of the world follow. For the rest of the world, citizens living anywhere around the world [depending on the home country] may still vote to select the leaders for their home country. However, a similar proposal was rejected by Cambodian government officials.
“According to a report on a similar survey made by the NGO Pulroth Vichea [no details identified] led by Dr. Chhim Phal Virun, concerning various provinces which have up to four parliamentary seats, the SRP is competing with the CPP. The report indicated that the CPP might receive more than 60 seats, and the Sam Rainsy Party might received more than 40 seats. More than 20 seats might go to any of the other parties. There are many people who did not participate in the 2007 Commune Council elections. If young people who have just reached the voting age, and people who did not go to cast their votes in 2007, will go to vote for the SRP this year, Mr. Sam Rainy will become prime minister to lead Cambodia, just like what the opinion poll predicted.” Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #130, 4-5.3.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 4 April 2008
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2768, 4.4.2008
- World Bank Predicts that Cambodian Economy Continues Growing
Chuoy Khmer, Vol.2, #78, 4.4.2008
- [Human Rights Party vice-president] Keo Remy Criticizes Preparation for Closed Elections of Provincial and Town [and District] Council Leaders [the elected village councilors will elect the leaders of provinces, towns, and districts – there will be no general elections for these positions, until now filled by appointments by the Ministry of Interior]
- Samdech Euv [former King] and Samdech Mae [former Queen] Will Return from China on 6 April
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1610, 4.4.2008
- There Is Hope Again for Khmer Rouge Tribunal Funds
- Cambodian Leader [Hun Sen] Calls for Changing the Attitude, and not Use Generalized Words Which Attack All Muslim Citizens [saying “terrorist attack by Muslims” implies wrongly that more than 1 billion Muslims are all enemies]
- Municipality Prohibits Construction of Houses on Dangerous River Embankments
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #130, 4-5.4.2008
- Poll Says Mr. Sam Rainsy Will Become Prime Minister in 2008
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6314, 4.4.2008
- Asian Development Bank Provides US$20 Million [aid] for Development of Tonle Sap Lake Areas of Cambodia
- More Than 300 Hectares of Dry Season Rice Destroyed by Insects in Kompong Thom
- [South] Korean Company Plans to Invest in Banks, Electricity, and Special Economic Zones [in Kompong Speu and Sihanoukville]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #34, 4.4.2008
- [Three] Yuon [Vietnamese] Companies Cut Trees on Concession Land of More Than 2,000 Hectares in Mondolkiri for Rubber Plantation
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4558, 4.4.2008
- Municipal Governor Explains to Students Not to Attend Demonstration [organized by opposition party] on 6 April
Cambodia Asks Australia to Help with Training in Oil Exploration
Have a look at last week’s editorial: “using an iron fist to administer justice”
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