Punished At the Polls, Cambodia’s Long-Serving PM Is Smiling Again
His party is reeling from its worst-ever election result. His political opponents have grown bold and vocal. His people are protesting on the streets. So why is Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen smiling? The long-ruling autocrat emerged beaming from lengthy closed-door meetings this week with his old political foe, Sam Rainsy, who says Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) cheated its way to a narrow victory in a July 28 general election. He has reason to be cheerful. Although lawmakers from Sam Rainsy’s Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) are threatening to boycott the new session of parliament, due to begin on Monday, until an independent inquiry is held into electoral fraud, the recent political violence has left Hun Sen mostly unscathed. … His smiling photo-ops, however, could also hint at changes ahead for Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier who has stamped his authority on every walk of life in Cambodia. After millions of Cambodian voters deserted the CPP in an election widely regarded as tainted, Hun Sen appears intent on softening his remote and fearsome image. … His party officially won the election with 68 seats to the CNRP’s 55, a greatly reduced majority that signaled widespread disenchantment with Hun Sen’s iron-fisted rule despite rapid economic growth of more than 7 percent a year. “Hun Sen and his party must change drastically and fast to be able to remain a relevant political force,” said Lao Mong Hay, a prominent Cambodian academic. “They need to work as servants of the people, not their masters.” China quickly offered its congratulations to Hun Sen on his election “victory”, but the United States and European Union have withheld theirs. Strong economic and political ties with Beijing have allowed Hun Sen to largely ignore criticism from the West and enjoy waves of Chinese investment. … That he is talking to the opposition at all suggests Hun Sen is changing too, said social analyst Kem Ley. “He has been quiet, which means he is listening more now,” he said. “And he is smiling— that’s already a positive sign.” …
The Irrawaddy News Staff
http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/44319
