HRP prevented from raising party sign

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A plan to raise a HRP sign near the Lou Teuk Sa’oy (sewer line) Boeng Salang bridge, Phnom Penh city, was prohibited by the authority which claimed that the HRP did not have the authorization from the city hall. Ky Lay Seab, the permanent vice-chairman of the HRP Phnom Penh city executive committee, told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper that, on 10 March, at about 09:30 AM, the Tuol Kok police force came to tear down the HRP sign and hauled it away when the party activists were about to raise it up near the Lou Teuk Sa’oy Boeng Salang bridge. Ky Lay Seab said that the raising of the sign was done with proper authorization from the commune chief because he handed to the latter a request on 06 March. However, whether the commune chief agrees with it or not, Ky Lay Seab said that he did not known, but that, according to the law, if after 3-day, there is no reply back, then he has the right to erect the sign at that location. Sum Rithy, the deputy Tuol Kok district governor, told the Kampuchea Thmei that the prevention to raise this sign was made because there was not authorization issued by the Phnom Penh city governor who informed the public in the past that the raising of party signs must receive the authorization from the city first.

HRP party signs taken down by the authority

07 September 2007
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Thursday 06 September, the HRP issued a statement indicating that it regrets that the authority of Chamcar Mon district, Phnom Penh city, brought in a joint police force to take down its party signs.

HRP activists accused that the interruption of Kem Sokha’s led-HRP activities in Boeng Keng Kang 3 commune, not too far from the Beehive radio station, is an unfair political discrimination.

Ky Lay Sieb, a representative of the HRP working group in Phnom Penh, told RFA that the raising of the party signs received the official authorizations from the ministry (of Interior) and from the city hall.

Ky Lay Sieb said: “The district and the commune authorities all came, there were many of them. I informed them (about the sign raising) since yesterday, based on the authorization letters from the ministry of interior and the city governor, allowing the raising of the signs, as well as the conduct of other activities in public places, at the homes of activists, however, they still prevented it. I asked them why the other 2 parties were allowed to set up their signs? Funcinpec and the NRP were authorized to raise their signs nearby, but they discriminate my party, they did not allow us to raise (the signs). I asked the authorities to put into application the national law, in particular, the law pertaining to political parties, and the election law, there must not be any discrimination. Please take a look, HRP raises its signs is not a violation of the law, please do not discriminate (against us).”