The president of the Beehive Social Democratic Party (BSDP) and former outspoken government critic Mam Sonando has lauded the effectiveness of the government’s Supreme Consultative Council (SCC) three years after it was established to promote multi-party liberal democracy.

BSDP is one among 16 political parties which are members of the SCC out of the 20 parties that took part in the 2018 National Election. The council was first initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP), Our Motherland Party (OMP), the League for Democracy Party (LDP) and the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party (KAPP) were not included in the Council as they refused to join.

In a recent interview, Sonando said he volunteered to join the SCC along with other parties to contribute to developing the nation.

“Samdech [Mr Hun Sen] invited me to join the SCC and I decided to join because I understood that there was nothing to lose,” he said. “My participation is not because he ordered me to do so, but I follow the Royal Decree, which clearly states the work of the SCC and advices members to monitor the legal implementation by the government.”

The SCC is designated to advise the government outside the National Assembly framework in order to improve the efficiency of public services to benefit the people and advance social development.

It is tasked with submitting petitions to the Senate over the draft laws passed by the National Assembly and providing comments to the Prime Minister on any injustice or abuses by officials.

Some political parties and members of the civil society organisations have criticised the council as being “not independent”, saying it is under the strong and direct influence of the government.

They said the SCC should not be under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Council of Ministers, but the National Assembly to avoid pressure from the government.

But Sonando, the owner of a radio station who has been imprisoned three times on charges related to his reporting, said event in recent years have changed his negative perspective about the government. He said that after joining the SCC he learned a lot about the government’s policy to deal with the major issues.

“I have learned more about the problems of the people, and what is of great benefit is the understanding of national affairs, policies, as well as how to solve national problems,” he added.

Despite the activities of some SCC members in the past being controversial, resulting in some of them being fired or facing legal action, Sonando said the SCC plays a crucial role.

He also labelled former opposition leader Sam Rainsy as a tricky person, saying he now regretted having previously joined the court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Sonando had joined the opposition demonstration led by CNRP co-founders Rainsy and Kem Sokha after a dispute over the 2013 National Election when the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won 68 national assembly seats while the ex-CNRP received 55 seats.

“I joined the 2013 demonstration, bringing 150,000 along … But then I realised that he (Rainsy) was not truly a democrat and was manipulative,” he said. “I love democracy, so at that time I thought that Sam Rainsy was a democrat who made me trust and support him, but this should not be confused that I love Sam Rainsy,” he said.

• Tags: BSDP, Mam Sonando, SCC