Opposition MPs reject medals awarded to them

SRP MP Son Chhay

25 Dec 2010
By Kim Poeuv
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy

On 24 Dec 2010, the National Assembly organized a ceremony to award medals for the first time to MPs from the 4th mandate, however, MPs from 2 opposition parties did not attend the ceremony to accept their medals.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who is currently living in self-exile in France and who was recently sentenced to more than 10 years of jail time, was awarded the Knight medal during this 4th mandate.

Opposition MP Son Chhay said that no opposition officials showed up to accept their medals even though the opposition leader was awarded this medal. He said that this confirms that [the National Assembly] recognized the effort put by Sam Rainsy during this 4th mandate.

Son Chhay added: “As can be seen, what Lok Prathean Sam Rainsy accomplished provided great results also, maybe that is why what he was accused of is not right, therefore, I say that there should be arrangement made for him to return back to the country.”

The first medal award for the 4th mandate was granted to 116 MPs among the 123 MPs, and the award ceremony was organized on 24 December under the presence of Heng Xamrin at the National Assembly.

CPP MP Chheang Vun indicated that the medals are awarded to all MPs twice each mandate for their service to the people as their representatives.

He said that the medal award for Sam Rainsy and the problem faced by the latter are two different issues because Mr. Sam Rainsy is not considered as a prisoner yet: “When it is not definitive yet, he is not a prisoner yet, let them not be confused. The fact that he fled Cambodia, that’s his problem, it’s not a major problem.”

All 24 SRP MPs, including Mrs. Mu Sochua who was sued by Hun Xen for defamation, as well as all HRP MPs received a medal, but none of them showed up to receive their award.

The opposition MPs indicated that they don’t pay attention to this medal because they are used to seeing rich and high-ranking government officials receiving such medals, but those who came out to demand for social justice and those who fought a lot for the nation so as to provide a better living to the people, they did not receive any honor yet.

Son Chhay indicated: “The work accomplished by our [party] members should receive some award also, [especially] our active members, but we want to see what these medals are awarded for?”

Kandal SRP MP Chan Cheng said: “Yes, the service rendered to the people is not quite 100% yet, then if we accept [the medals], it does not look right if the people are still calling for their MPs to help them, such as in their land dispute problem in Boeung Kak Lake. So it’s difficult to accept [these awards].”

Expressing the same feeling as the SRP MPs, Kem Sokha, HRP President, said that he does not pay much attention to these medal awards either. “We are still poor, and all that we think of is wearing many medals. I believe that we should put more effort into it still. I accept it, but we must put more effort in to be on par to what the king gave us. The medals should also be awarded to Cambodians who dare sacrifice for the nation, they should be given to organizations and union members who sacrifice and work for the nation, more so than the MPs.”

CPP Chheang Vun declared that it was not just the opposition MPs who were absent, in fact, there are several CPP MPs absent as well because they are busy with their work.

In 2000, SRP MPs returned their medals back to the National Assembly, claiming that they are not worth receiving these medals yet.