Kampuchea Thmei newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The SRP and the HRP expressed their disappointments on the government about demonstrations demanding the lowering of the price of goods and commensurate salary raise.
SRP MPs Eng Chhai Eang and Chea Poch accused the government of preventing people from participating in the demonstration held on Sunday 06 April.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said during the demonstration that because of the closing the roads into the city by the authority and the large presence of the joint police force, demonstrators were intimated and this is the reason why only a small group of people came to join the demonstration organized by his party. On the other hand, Pa Socheatvong, the deputy city governor, denied that there was any prevention made by the city of Phnom Penh.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP Deputy Secretary-general, indicated that, even the party could not attract 5,000 participants for the demonstration because of restrictions imposed by the authority, the SRP had distributed 30,000 leaflets in the city of Phnom Penh already.
On another issue, Kem Sokha’s HRP also issued a statement accusing the government of discriminating against his party regarding the holding of demonstration, based on Article 4 of the political party law.
The HRP statement indicated that the Phnom Penh authority and the government authorized the SRP to hold its demonstration, but, to the contrary, the government discriminates against the HRP which asked to hold a public forum in Phnom Penh on many occasions, to find a solution to lower the price of gasoline, however, the city of Phnom Penh rebuffed the HRP’s request twice already. The HRP asked whether there is any secret between the SRP and the government for the government to authorize the SRP to hold this demonstration.
Regarding the complaint made by the HRP, an official from the city hall indicated that the city hall never prevented the HRP from holding its public forum, but that it asks that this forum is done at a gathering venue, or at the HRP party headquarters so that it can guarantee security and order.
SRP MPs Eng Chhai Eang and Chea Poch accused the government of preventing people from participating in the demonstration held on Sunday 06 April.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said during the demonstration that because of the closing the roads into the city by the authority and the large presence of the joint police force, demonstrators were intimated and this is the reason why only a small group of people came to join the demonstration organized by his party. On the other hand, Pa Socheatvong, the deputy city governor, denied that there was any prevention made by the city of Phnom Penh.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP Deputy Secretary-general, indicated that, even the party could not attract 5,000 participants for the demonstration because of restrictions imposed by the authority, the SRP had distributed 30,000 leaflets in the city of Phnom Penh already.
On another issue, Kem Sokha’s HRP also issued a statement accusing the government of discriminating against his party regarding the holding of demonstration, based on Article 4 of the political party law.
The HRP statement indicated that the Phnom Penh authority and the government authorized the SRP to hold its demonstration, but, to the contrary, the government discriminates against the HRP which asked to hold a public forum in Phnom Penh on many occasions, to find a solution to lower the price of gasoline, however, the city of Phnom Penh rebuffed the HRP’s request twice already. The HRP asked whether there is any secret between the SRP and the government for the government to authorize the SRP to hold this demonstration.
Regarding the complaint made by the HRP, an official from the city hall indicated that the city hall never prevented the HRP from holding its public forum, but that it asks that this forum is done at a gathering venue, or at the HRP party headquarters so that it can guarantee security and order.
