Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh were among a gathering of senior CPP and Funcinpec officials in Phnom Penh Tuesday to announce the creation of nationwide problem-solving committees, government officials said.
The joint CPP-Funcinpec committees will be set up at provincial and district levels throughout Cambodia and are focused on building greater cooperation between the one-time rivals, officials from both parties said.
Comprising an equal number of representatives from both the CPP and Funcinpec, the committees will meet monthly to resolve problems that arise, Siem Reap Governor Chab Nhalyvuth (Fun) said after the meeting at Hotel Inter-Continental.
According to Chab Nhalyvuth, district level committees have one week to resolve problems, before forwarding the issue to the provincial-level committee.
Failing a resolution at the provincial level after one week, the issue is then to be sent to a central committee in Phnom Penh for a final decision.
“If in the future we have a problem then we can make a report to the central committee and they will take care of the problem,” said Chab Nhalyvuth.
Deputy Prime Ministers Sar Kheng (CPP) and Tol Lah (Fun) will head the central committee, said Puth Chandarith, second deputy governor of Sihanoukville (Fun).
“It’s not because of problems that we have set up this committee, but we are trying to prevent and organize before the problems occur,” said Puth Chandarith.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, which was closed to reporters, CPP president and Senate President Chea Sim said the CPP-Funcinpec committees will build closer relations between the coalition partners.
“This cooperation is the most significant basis for political stability that cannot be weakened,” said Chea Sim, according to a copy of his speech.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh called on members of both parties to “build love and forgiveness…for national reconciliation,” according to a copy of his speech.
