Prime Minister Warned Opposition of Autocracy

On Wednesday 5 August, 2009 Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen harshly reacted to some opposition members, who had criticized his present administration as autocracy or dictatorship. Stated at Build Bright University during his presidency participation in a graduation ceremony, Hun Sen warned that those critics might face legal action if they repeatedly called the country a “dictatorial regime”. “Be careful with the language of dictatorship. Be careful, one day legal action will be used,” he added by saying that, “Don’t tease me like that everyday. I listened to the radio; even though I do not talk about them, they still continue to criticize me.” “When I speak out against them they say that I am pressuring their freedom I say that they have thick faces, even if we chop them a hundred times with a cleaver they won’t be hurt.”

He added, “Please be careful with such language of a dictatorial regime, one day people will the court. I would like to clarify that I am in charge of a government that is a constitutional monarchy regime…. If this regime is a dictatorial regime, we must evaporate the constitutional monarchy regime to create another one.”

The premier also mentioned that he would stay in power and lead the country until the end of his life if Cambodian people still voted for him.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan demonstrated that the prime minister wanted to clarity to the public that he had achieved his position through the votes of the public and the Parliament, and not come from the military force.

He added that many have wrongly linked Mr. Hun Sen’s long tenure as prime minister – a position he first rose to in 1985 – as evidence that he was somehow an absolute ruler.

“This is not a fair argument that he is a dictator because he has been staying for a long time in the position,” he said, noting that there is no term limit for the prime minister post in Cambodia.

Committee for Free and Fair Elections Director Koul Panha said that in general Cambodia is in a state of transitional democracy and reforms are needed to bring bout true participatory democracy.

In relation to the warning by Hun Sen, Yim Sovann, a lawmaker and spokesperson for the SRP, said that the prime minister’s comments amounted to anther threat against members of the SPR and its parliamentarians. Then both the members of parliamentary and Cambodia people do not dare to expression their opinions any more.

Mr. Yim Sovann raised citing examples of forced evictions that the government had used military armed forces to evict and suppress peaceful demonstrators. This did not reflect the democratic regime of the country. He added that he had not accused Hun Sen [of dictator], he [the premier] would clearly realize the regime of the country, whether autocracy or democracy.

The SRP lawmaker recommended pointing out the neighboring country Thailand whose people could express their opinions throughout peaceful demonstration without being intimidated and suppressed.

However, it is seen that Hun Sen’s statement about the Country regime is only the name, but not what ways democratic country should implement at all. Hun Sen mentioned the country was the constitutional monarchy regime and the principle of liberal democracy and pluralism, then is it truly democratic? He did not point out a country as democratic regime, people could freely express their opinions and hold peaceful demonstrations without being intimidated and sometimes killed; and suppressed.

For instance, two SPR lawmakers’ immunity was stripped- Mrs. Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann. They were also charged for defamation. Khmer Machas Publisher Srok Hang Chakra was sentenced to two years in prison for defamation, disinformation and incitement. Khmer Civilization Foundation Meoung Sonn was sued for defamation and disinformation. Kong Sam On, Mu Sochua’s lawyer and Dam Sith, Moneak Sekar Publisher were separately charged for defamation and disinformation.