“I was elected by the Constitution, so I would only step down by
Constitution. Other countries authorize the prime minister to dissolve
parliament. But, in Cambodia, under Article 78 of the Constitution, it says
that the legislative term of the Assembly shall be five years, and the Assembly
shall not be dissolved before the end of its term except when the Royal
Government is twice deposed within a period of 12 months.”
“But one more thing: Calling for me to step down—what have I
done wrong?”
CPP
prime minister Hun Sen, 20 December, 2013
Of course, Hun Sen cannot
go for now, even if he wants to. The Constitution he refers to does not make
the judgment call. Clause 78 of the Constitution may allow him to stay, but it
cannot stop him or any prime minister from going. Political expediency has seen
the Constitution in the past twenty years being disregarded and butchered so
often that there is question whether it is still worth the paper it is written
on. Another disregard of it now will make no difference.
However, his rhetorical
question, “what have I done wrong?” after refusing to resign seems to indicate
Hun Sen thinks he has done an excellent job, or at least good enough to stay.
But the final say does not
rest with him. His question will be answered by his patron Vietnam that put him
in power at the first place. He has just been invited, or summoned, to Hanoi
for a two-day visit from 26 to 28 December 2013. It may be just a holiday
escape from the pressure of the ever growing local demonstrations, but it looks
terribly similar to the one he took just before the 1997 bloody clash with
Funcinpec troops. It would be most interesting, however, if he refused the Hanoi
invite. Would Hanoi accept a rejection and not retaliate?
Anyway, if he is assessed
to still have potential and skill to quell the oppositions and to continue with
the good work, he will return from Vietnam with a vengeance. Otherwise, he will
be replaced, just like the then prime minister Pen Sovann in the early 80s
after his persistent quest to protect the Cambodian territory was rudely
interrupted by his long standing patron who was his power base all along.
There is usually no mercy
in any patron and servant relationship – only satisfactory returns to the
patron, which determine how long the relationship will last.
Ung Bun Ang
23xii13
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