Opposition Asks King To Enter National Affairs [-CPP is still in denial]

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
28 October 2009

[Cheam Yiep] rejected criticism of human rights abuses and said no border violations have occurred

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other parliamentarians requested the intervention of King Norodom Sihamoni to improve the lives of the people and resolve longstanding border disputes with Thailand and Vietnam.

Eighteen opposition members met with the king on Tuesday, who “has concerns and pays attention to these issues,” Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer.

Sam Rainsy pointed to job losses in the wake of the economic crisis, loss of property in land grabs, abuse of the courts and encroachment along the border as issues facing the country and requiring royal intervention.

Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yiep said Sam Rainsy had the right to raise the issues, but he should ensure the allegations are true. He rejected criticism of human rights abuses and said no border violations have occurred.

Photos showing land lost due to Vietnamese encroachments in Kampong Cham province

This picture shows a student standing next to a newly cut-down palm tree in Dounroth village, Dounroth commune, Memot district, Kampong Cham province. This area was encroached by Vietnam in 2005. Following the encroachment, the Vietnamese authority immediately cut down all the palm trees to destroy the evidence of Cambodian identity. Unlike Cambodia, Vietnam does not plant palm trees, therefore in all its encroached lands, palm trees were ordered to be immediately cut down. (Photo: Students’ Movement for Democracy, Courtesy of Pang Sokhoeun)
This photo shows from the inside of Wat Dounroth pagoda, in the distance, one can see the crematorium and the cemetery of Dounroth village. Currently, that location has been encroached by Vietnam which brought in bulldozers to clear up all the rice fields. (Photo: Students’ Movement for Democracy, Courtesy of Pang Sokhoeun)
This photo shows a stream which is now used as the border demarcation between Cambodia and Vietnam. Native villagers from Dounrot village claimed that, in the past, this stream is located about 3 km from the actual border between the two countries. (Photo: Students’ Movement for Democracy, Courtesy of Pang Sokhoeun)