Sam Rainsy waving Cambodia and party flags during the SRP-led anti-inflation demonstration (Photo: Chauk Chey, Koh Santepheap)Rights Party Decries Opposition Rally
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 April 2008
The Human Rights Party rebuked authorities for allowing an opposition inflation demonstration Sunday, claiming the government had been unfair in denying permission to hold a gathering on fuel prices in February.
The Sam Rainsy Party, the only opposition party with seats in parliament, gathered several hundred demonstrators in Phnom Penh Sunday to protest high inflation rates.
The Human Rights Party said it had been denied a similar demonstration in February. The statement was a further separation of the two parties ahead of elections.
The Human Rights Party was formed by former rights advocate and politician Kem Sokha, following commune elections last year.
"HRP cannot accept the discrimination, bias and inequality of rights and freedoms made by the government for political parties," Keo Remy, vice president of the Human Rights Party, said Monday. "Because this opposes the principals of the law and democracy."
The party members "condemn the government for violating the law," he said. "The Human Rights Party asked the authorities for a public forum to find a way to reduce the price of fuel, but the government and authorities denied this. But why, if Sam Rainsy asks for a demonstration, does the government allow the Sam Rainsy Party to do it? We question what's behind the permission."
Cambodian law provides for the freedom of assembly, but the government is often criticized for preventing marches and demonstrations.
The city "had no secrecy behind the Sam Rainsy permission to hold a demonstration," Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong said Monday.
"The Sam Rainsy Party proposal for public expression was clear, but the HRP proposal for a public forum we didn't understand clearly their purpose," he said.
Ny Chakriya, an investigator for the rights group Adhoc, said the government had violated the law by not allowing the HRP gathering in February.
Sam Rainsy said Monday his demonstration Sunday had been allowed thanks to pressure from US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli.
Armed forces prevented some from joining the rally, he added.
"The Sam Rainsy Party will hold the next demonstration without asking permission from the authorities, by walking into the public street," he said.
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said Monday the ambassador had called on "all interested parties" to work together for the right of "peaceful assembly," but had not "pressured" the government.
The Sam Rainsy Party, the only opposition party with seats in parliament, gathered several hundred demonstrators in Phnom Penh Sunday to protest high inflation rates.
The Human Rights Party said it had been denied a similar demonstration in February. The statement was a further separation of the two parties ahead of elections.
The Human Rights Party was formed by former rights advocate and politician Kem Sokha, following commune elections last year.
"HRP cannot accept the discrimination, bias and inequality of rights and freedoms made by the government for political parties," Keo Remy, vice president of the Human Rights Party, said Monday. "Because this opposes the principals of the law and democracy."
The party members "condemn the government for violating the law," he said. "The Human Rights Party asked the authorities for a public forum to find a way to reduce the price of fuel, but the government and authorities denied this. But why, if Sam Rainsy asks for a demonstration, does the government allow the Sam Rainsy Party to do it? We question what's behind the permission."
Cambodian law provides for the freedom of assembly, but the government is often criticized for preventing marches and demonstrations.
The city "had no secrecy behind the Sam Rainsy permission to hold a demonstration," Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong said Monday.
"The Sam Rainsy Party proposal for public expression was clear, but the HRP proposal for a public forum we didn't understand clearly their purpose," he said.
Ny Chakriya, an investigator for the rights group Adhoc, said the government had violated the law by not allowing the HRP gathering in February.
Sam Rainsy said Monday his demonstration Sunday had been allowed thanks to pressure from US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli.
Armed forces prevented some from joining the rally, he added.
"The Sam Rainsy Party will hold the next demonstration without asking permission from the authorities, by walking into the public street," he said.
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said Monday the ambassador had called on "all interested parties" to work together for the right of "peaceful assembly," but had not "pressured" the government.
14 comments:
With the two oppositions opposing each other, the CPP is smiling all the way to victory... for 100 years.
SS
Sam Rainsy said Monday his demonstration Sunday had been allowed thanks to pressure from US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said Monday the ambassador had called on "all interested parties" to work together for the right of "peaceful assembly," but had not "pressured" the government
Who is telling the truth? Is it SR or Jeff?
For a better look at Sam Rainsy's demonstration visit
www.about-cambodia.blogspot.com
HRP leaders should know by now....the Hun Sen government knows who can be pushed around and who is not. Hun Sen knows that Sam Rainsy can not be intimidated easily while others he can just say a few words and they go back into their hole. HRP is only critically vocal and strong with other democratic forces but with the brutal Hun Sen CPP the HRP is more silent.......
Liberal free thinker who? the one that thinks khmer is racist when he debut his blog awhile back? Hmmm...must have wanted free publicity huh? no way KJE(?)
ah Doo Ma Viet mother slut not here yet.....ok when you are here....here you go...Doo Ma Doo Ma Doo Ma Doo Ma Doo Ma.....
Good work, 5:29! That is what I called "fair and balance"
Was it not the classic "divide and rule" strategy? Favouring one party and not the others thereby creating jealousy and creating discord between them.
More matured, Buddhist people would express sympathetic joy (mudita)in others' furtune instead of jealousy.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
CPP Youth Leadership!
Yes, you heard me ... "CPP Youth Leadership!"
Yeah..you know what CPP stands for?
COMMUNIST PIMP and PREDATOR!
CPP = Caring People Party.
Nope.
CPP = COMMUNIST PIMP and PREDATOR!
CPP = Cunt and Pussy Party
CPP rules!
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