Analysis: Does Sam Rainsy dare to give up his French citizenship to show patriotism as he once claimed?
Phnom Penh: "The door is closed forever for people to have two nationalities and are trying to hold this top position, especially the position of Prime Minister," the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, posted on October 6, 2021.
He wrote this afternoon that he had ordered the Minister of Justice, Mr. Keut Rith, to make a law to amend the Constitution, which requires those who hold the position of national leaders, such as the President of the Senate, the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and the President of the Constitutional Council to have "Unique Khmer nationality" to show loyalty to the nation and avoid foreign interference.
In general, we often hear the word "Khmer patriots" from the mouths of opposition groups abroad, often used on themselves, especially Sam Rainsy. In addition, Mr. Sam Rainsy himself formerly announced that he was willing to sacrifice everything for the motherland of Cambodia to show loyalty to the nation.
Now his "Patriotism" test case has been issued after the Council of Ministers approved a draft amended constitution that will be passed by parliament in the near future.
Mr. Sam Rainsy always dreamed of sitting on the Prime Minister of Cambodia chair, he even announced himself as the Prime Minister of the people of Cambodia on Facebook. Now, because the country's constitutional law stipulates a single nationality limit for Cambodia's prime minister. It raises the question: Does Sam Rainsy dare to give up his French citizenship to show patriotism, as he once claimed?
Mr. Sam Rainsy was born in 1949, now age72, in Kampong Cham province, the son of Mr. Sam Sary and Mrs. In Eam. In 1965 he went to school and lived in France. Currently, Sam Rainsy has two nationalities, both Khmer and French, for most of his life, he has spent more time in France than in Cambodia, fleeing Cambodia for France when Cambodia was suffering. Sam Rainsy used to proudly carry a French passport to travel, even though he had to travel to his home country of Cambodia.
The President of the Institute of International Relations of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, Dr. Kin Phea, told EAC News that he did not believe that Sam Rainsy would dare to give up his French citizenship because people like Sam Rainsy always break promises and are more selfish.
He Said: "Because in Sam Rainsy's political habits when he has problems in the country, he always runs away because he has French nationality."
Secretary of State for the Ministry of Rural Development Sourn Serey Ratha, who was familiar with Sam Rainsy's character and his party, believes that Sam Rainsy will not give up his French citizenship because a person like Sam Rainsy has never been proud of being a Cambodian.
He Said: "I dare say this because I know for sure that this person, and some other of his people, have multiple nationalities whilst working as high-ranking officials and members of the National Assembly in the government since 1993. Although they have a diplomatic passport, which is a high-level passport for travel, they never use that passport. They still keep foreign passports as the main gateway for deportation, so they do not have the courage to give up foreign citizenship."
Mr. Sourn Serey Ratha added that the patriotic language of Sam Rainsy and his party was just a language to deceive supporters.
He added “We see that when he announced his arrival on November 9 in 2019, which his supporters were waiting for, he bragged that he had a French passport to come to Cambodia and that the French government was his protector. So, all of them are proud to hold a foreign passport rather than a Cambodian passport as a Cambodian citizen. The language of patriots, it is just a language to deceive his supporters, in fact, he does politics in Cambodia just for his own benefit, his party and his family! There is no national interest”
Sam Rainsy always runs away from the country, runs away from his supporters, making his followers even more miserable and willing to destroy his own country without thinking. It can be said that Rainsy has not sacrificed anything for the nation.
Dr. Kin Phea said "I understand that it is not necessary to try Sam Rainsy's patriotic or non-patriotic spirit. If he is patriotic and loves the people, he should not campaign with the international community to put pressure on, suppress or cut off aid or other favorable conditions for Cambodia. Asked if he did that, what is the benefit? What are the benefits for the motherland or not?”
Dr. Kin Phea believes that Sam Rainsy should remove the word "Khmer patriot" if he does not dare to sacrifice even his nationality for Cambodia.
Dr. Kin Phea says: “He (Sam Rainsy) often leaves the back door open for himself. When he has a problem, he runs away, which means leaving hardships for those who follow his political line."
There is a reason for the appointment of the top leaders to have only one Khmer nationality.
On October 5, Sam Rainsy wrote a letter calling on citizens and the armed forces to revolt against the legitimate government led by prime minister Hun Sen. Accusing Hun Sen of buying Cypriot citizenship in order to leave Cambodia.
The son of Prime Minister Hun Sen and a member of the National Assembly, Mr. Hun Many, said that Hun Sen has a high understanding of Cambodian political figures, regardless of party or trends, who have been exiled abroad for whatever reason to return in the development of the nation without deciding on the conditions of nationality, but because the political current has pushed the prime minister to make this decision.
Addressing the Council of Ministers on the morning of October 8, Prime Minister Hun Sen said: "You are waiting for the next life you still cannot find two-thirds of national assembly, so we need to make it smooth. Be clear about who has one nationality, who has dual nationality. The problem is there, but it is for Cambodia's long-term interest to avoid foreign interference and to show loyalty to the people."
PHOTO: CEN