Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PHNOMPENH442
2006-03-06 11:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Phnom Penh
Cable title:  

CAMBODIAN OPPOSITION ON STATUS OF TALKS WITH

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL CB 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0020
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPF #0442 0651139
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061139Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6194
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1334
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 3907
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 2807
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1336
C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 000442 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USAID/ANE
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIAN OPPOSITION ON STATUS OF TALKS WITH
RULING PARTY


Classified By: CHARGE MARK C. STORELLA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 000442

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USAID/ANE
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIAN OPPOSITION ON STATUS OF TALKS WITH
RULING PARTY


Classified By: CHARGE MARK C. STORELLA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) MP (and Sam Rainsy spouse)
Saumura Tioulong -- please protect -- told us March 6 that PM
Hun Sen recently offered to take opposition leader Sam Rainsy
into the government as a deputy prime minister, possibly with
broad authority over various ministries. Rainsy reportedly
declined, telling the PM that such a move would be "political
suicide" for an opposition leader. Instead, he suggested
that Hun Sen appoint him to lead the anti-corruption
commission that is to be established under new pending
legislation. She believes that the position would be a
winner for the opposition as it would further burnish
opposition anti-corruption credentials and would also have
the effect of associating the party with attracting much
needed foreign investment. The two parties are already
engaged in detailed negotiations on the proposal.


2. (C) When asked why Hun Sen was proffering important
posts to the SRP, Saumura said she believes the PM wants to
pursue real reform and has difficulty leading it himself. She
added that part of Hun Sen's motivation was likely that the
CPP sees improved relations with the opposition as a means of
improving relations with the U.S. She said that the SRP has
been playing on this and has even begun to filter back to Hun
Sen that the SRP would actively work to promote a visit by
the PM to Washington as early as next year if the PM followed
through on his reform ideas. (Note: we pointed out to her
that the SRP should be careful about making any such
promises.)


3. (C) On the recent decision of FUNCINPEC leader Prince
Ranariddh to resign as president of the National Assembly,
Saumura said that the FUNCINPEC party had been in decline
since its original election victory in 1993. Nevertheless,
she said that the ruling CPP party had an interest in
maintaining the shell of a FUNCINPEC structure in order to
avoid a political crisis. She said that the SRP expects the
SRP to be the main beneficiary of former FUNCINPEC votes at
the 2007 local and 2008 national elections.


4. (C) Comment: Political events in Phnom Penh continue to
develop in a rapid and positive direction. The prospect of
an opposition-led anti-corruption commission was unthinkable
only a few weeks ago. While we have cautioned SRP about
promising any visits to Washington, if concrete progress were
made on important democratic reforms, at some point such a
proposal could be used to further the political reform
process along. End Comment.
Storella