Ruling CPP party no longer to accept Funcinpec’s members

Posted by Cambodian News

May 31, 2008

Phnom Penh: Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday at a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education that before the national election 2008, his ruling CPP would no longer accept all members of Funcinpec who defect to the CPP because the defections could make problem with the National Election Committee’s candidate list.

He called for Funcinpec’s members not to defect because there will be the hope of coalition partnership in the next mandate.

“If you defect, I will tell you to return,” he said.

Speaking at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) on Wednesday, he warned that the Funcinpec officials who joined the CPP were not assured of their positions, but he added that Minister of Women’s Affair, Ing Kantha Phavi, who jumped ship to the CPP in January, would keep her position after election 2008. He added that he just only guarantees his members.

He said, he never pushed or encouraged Funcinpec officials to join the CPP.

“The prime minister’s decision to not accept further defection would help stabilize his party,” Funcinpec Second Deputy President Prine Sisowath Sirirath was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying.

The premier used to warn that if his ruling party wins 100 percent, he would not share the position with position party and Funcinpec. If the position wins, they take 100 percent of positions in the National Assembly.

During his speech at the Council for the Development of Cambodia, he said also warned outgoing Funcinpec officials not to remove items from their offices that belong to the state such as tables, sofa, and car.