(17 Jul 1997) Eng/Khmer/Nat
Cambodia's coup leader Hun Sen defended his choice Thursday to replace his deposed co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
The US has rejected his bid to replace Ranariddh with the foreign minister, Ung Huot, as his partner in a coalition government.
It's believed that Hun Sen is trying to gain international legitimacy by maintaining the power sharing government established as a result of the 1993 UN organised elections.
Cambodian strongman Hun Sen on Thursday shrugged off US criticism of his attempts to replace his rival, deposed co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
Foreign Minister Ung Huot - a member of Ranariddh's loyalist Funcinpec party - agreed Wednesday to replace the prince as co-premier.
The move has encountered criticism from Washington and the overseas Cambodian community - who believe that Hun Sen is trying to lend his military take-over some legitimacy.
Hun Sen's July 5th's coup has also received criticism from Cambodia's neighbours, notably the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
ASEAN decided to delay Cambodia's entry to the regional trade group following the crisis.
Hun Sen had reacted angrily to ASEAN's decision, but on Thursday he appealed to the organisation to reconsider their move.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"Because we also inform ASEAN ministers...any delay would make the situation in Cambodia more complicated. (Pause for English translation of first soundbite.) The delay could constitute (a) disturbance to the group reconciliation, the group co- ordination, to which we are now achieving and waiting to be voted."
SUPER CAPTION: Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister of Cambodia
Hun Sen also dismissed the US rejection of his bid to replace Prince Norodom Ranariddh with Ung Huot, foreign minister and a member of the prince's party.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"So it's just a question of whether you have to please the Americans or please the Cambodian People."
SUPER CAPTION: Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister of Cambodia
A two-thirds majority of the National Assembly vote is needed to endorse Ung Huot.
Approval from the Hun Sen-controlled Assembly is expected.
Ung Huot similarly rejected any international criticism of his appointment as co-premier.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"If two-thirds of the members of Parliament - which are the representative of the people of Cambodia - decide to appoint me, I think that it should be constitutional enough.
Q: Are you worried about it not being recognised by, perhaps, Washington?
A: No, I am worried about not being recognised by Cambodians.
Q: Inside the country?
A: Yes."
SUPER CAPTION: Ung Huot, Foreign Minister of Cambodia
Hun Sen has pledged to hold elections on schedule May 23, 1998, the fifth anniversary of the UN organised vote that created the government his bloody take-over shattered.
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20 июл 2015
