KPP Pushes for Coalition of Small Parties

Khmer Times/Ros Chanveasna

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

From left to right: Mam Sonando, president of Beehive Social Democratic Party, Sourn Serey Rath, President of Khmer People Party, Yeng Virak, president of Grassroots Democratic Party. Photo: Facebook

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – The newly formed opposition Khmer People’s Party (KPP) yesterday called for a coalition with two other new and minor parties in a bid to join forces against the government and the main opposition group.

The KPP was formed by self-exiled dissident Sourn Serey Ratha and registered by the Interior Ministry only in July. It was to form an alliance with the recently formed Beehive Social Democratic Party (BSDP) and the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) ahead of the 2018 general election.

None of the three parties hold any seats in the National Assembly, but they do include some prominent figures.

Mr. Ratha wants a meeting of the leadership of the three parties to discuss joint strategies and complementary policies on October 2.

But the initial response from BSDP leader Mam Sonando and GDP leader Yeng Virak was negative. Both have so far said they are too busy to attend. “That’s ok,” Mr. Serey Ratha said. “Anyway there are many excuses. I will keep calling on them – at least three more times.”

Mr. Serey Ratha warned on his Facebook page: “I will organize a massive seminar and public forum throughout the country to show up their real attitude.

“If they will not join the meeting, they are not real politicians and they do not care about the national interest,” Mr. Serey Ratha told Khmer Times from Bangkok yesterday. 

But Mr. Sonando said he was not interested.

“I will not work together or form a coalition with him and now I don’t need to form any coalition other parties, because, I have different ideas including policies,” he said.

“However, that doesn’t mean I am making an enemy or hostile either.

“He can call, but he is not my boss to order me to do whatever that he want.” 

Sam Inn, spokesman for GDP, told Khmer Times: “Following his request we have conducted a meeting with the executive committee. The result was we decided not to attend. Because we just newly formed our political party.

“Additionally, we need time to focus only on strengthening and promoting our policies to local leaders and supporters throughout the country. Thus, now is not the time to pay attention to forming a coalition thing with him.”

Mr. Serey Ratha hopes to return to Cambodia on October 1 after many years abroad. He is returning after King Sihanomi, at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen last July, granted him royal pardon.