Inspired by Thailand, Cambodia protests intensify

Asia-Pacific, Dec. 19, 2013

As anti-government protests continue in Thailand, where demonstrators are gearing up for a mass rally on Sunday, another opposition movement is pushing forward in neighboring Cambodia with equal steam, albeit against a more daunting adversary in Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 28 years.

On Wednesday, Cambodia’s largest opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), warned that it would stage its “biggest [anti-government] protest ever” in January and provoke the closure of national highways. The threat comes amid lingering tensions following July 28 parliamentary elections, which saw the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) win by a narrow margin. Since, the CNRP – buoyed by the return of its once-exiled leader Sam Rainsy — has been crying foul, and demanding an independent probe into the election. Read more click here