Raise of Kem Sokha’s party sign encounters altercations

Friday, July 13, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

An altercation took place on Thursday between Kem Sokha’s HRP officials and local commune police officers when the HRP officials raised the party signs at 2 locations in Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh city. Keo Remy, the temporary HRP vice-president, told the Koh Santepheap newspaper that verbal altercations took place between HRP officials and local police officers during the raise of the party signs. The authority claims that HRP did not ask the authorization, and the local authority did not know about this event and it prevents the raising of the party sign to take place. However, Keo Remy said that his party asked for the authorization from the city authority to raise party signs in all districts in Phnom Penh city already and that it also has the authorization letter from the Ministry of Interior. Among the two signs the HRP already raised are: (1) near the Chrauy Changvar Bridge where no problem took place, and (2) in front of the gasoline depot in Russei Keo where the incident took place. The party was able to raise its signs there later after personal intervention from the city governor.

HRP raises its signs in the provinces before Phnom Penh

Monday, July 02, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The HRP belonging to Kem Sokha, the former CCHR president, started to raise the party signs in a number of provinces before raising them in Phnom Penh city. Nhiek Vannara, HRP spokesman, told the Koh Santepheap newspaper on Sunday that HRP is starting to raise party signs in Prey Veng province, and other signs will be raised in other provinces and municipalities one after another. Nhiek Vannara said that the inauguration of the party sign raising was participated by party representatives from the USA, Canada, and by 200 local people coming from all districts in the [Prey Veng] province. Nhiek Vannara said that besides the raising of party signs in Prey Veng province, HRP also plans to raise their signs in Kompong Cham, Takeo, and Kandal provinces, as well as in other provinces in the country, but that the party does not raise its signs in Phnom Penh city yet. Nhiek Vannara said that HRP will raise its signs in Phnom Penh last.