Rainsy slammed for ejecting questioner at US public forum
SENIOR government officials and analysts have slammed Sam Rainsy for not a llow ing uncomfortable questions at a recent public forum in t he US, considering it a gross v iolation of democratic policy and freedom of expression, and labelling Rainsy a dictator.
Meanwhile, some US supporters of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Part y (CNRP), and former part y officia ls expressed disappointment with Rainsy, the part y’s “acting president”, say ing his conduct is contrar y to CNRP policy.
The criticism came af ter Rainsy ordered his subordinates to remove Chum Socheat – a CNRP team leader in San Jose, California – from the public forum on Februar y 3, accusing him of ask ing pointless and mocking questions and wasting ever yone’s time.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Rainsy and his group do not respect t he will of t he people and are dictators who cannot stand critica l comments.
“The government never valued them. He is not an indiv idua l who loves and respects democracy. We never see them respecting t he will of t he public who voted for them for many mandates.
“They are a group of selfish people and dictators who never respect t he will of ot hers,” he said.
‘Fake democrat’
On Monday, the director-genera l of t he Institute of Internationa l Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, Kin Phea, said Rainsy is a “fa ke democrat” because he does not a llow people to ask sensitive questions or express criticism – and that is t he opposite of a person who believes i n democracy and freedom of expression.
“He [Rainsy] does not welcome v iews which are opposed to him. He welcomes ideas which are the same as his – so he is not a democrat, but a dictator who wants other people to follow him,” Phea said.
Former CNRP cabinet chief Muth Chantha said Rainsy and his team need to accept and respect t he basic rights and freedom of people to hold different ideas, and t hey need to practice politica l tolerance in both words and action.
“The foundation of democracy is acceptance and respect of other people. Democracy embraces the right to opposite ideas . . . [It] respects multifaceted opinions and the v irtue of dia log ue to resolve conflict.
“Polit ica l intolerance t hreatens democracy because it discriminates, opposes and looks to silence t he voice of a portion of societ y. [It] creates a ‘culture of appropriation’ and a ‘closed societ y’ which narrows people’s politica l v iews and limits t heir behav iour,” he said.
A CNRP-US statement issued on Friday said Rainsy and his group have acted unreasonably by banning Socheat from ask ing questions and expressing his ideas at t he public forum.
“The CNRP supporters in the US call for the group, who have conducted a part y coup, led by Sam Rainsy, to stop immediately the biased actions which affect the reputation of the CNRP. We ca ll for supporters and a ll members to promote and protect freedoms and rights,” t he statement said.
Rainsy could not be reached comment.
Former CNRP deputy president Eng Chhay Eang wrote on his Facebook page on Friday t hat the “old man – namely Chum Socheat – is good at asking mocking questions”.
He said Socheat had asked similar questions at a prev ious San Jose forum Chhay Eang attended.
“So, CNRP supporters stopped Chum Socheat ask ing questions to Sam Rainsy at the event on Februar y 3 in San Jose because they know the questions he asks are useless and mocking,” he said.
The Grassroots Democratic Part y (GDP) on Monday criticised Rainsy say ing he is good at telling lies to grab public attention, but t he lies would be useless.
“He [Rainsy] is good at making people interested and believe in him. A proverb states t hat t he more you lie, t he more you lose,” a GDP Facebook post said.
GDP deputy director Yang Saing Koma and general secretar y and spokesman Sam Inn declined to comment. for