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New party could weaken opposition force in Cambodia |
The Human Rights Party (HRP) of some 10,000 supporters was launched
here on Sunday, possibly with an eye to weaken the kingdom's
opposition force, local media said on Monday.
Kem Sokha, 54, who was unanimously appointed the president of the
party, said that HRP was formed in response to the needs of both
local and overseas nationalists and democrats who want a political
party which prioritizes the interests of the nation, not
individuals, reported major Cambodian-language daily newspaper the
Koh Santepheap.
"It is time for Cambodia to have a real fully democratic political
party which has emerged from the people," Sokha said, adding that
HRP's door is still open for those who have real willingness to
improve the nation under the umbrella of true democracy.
Sokha told the crowd that the HRP has also been established to
upgrade the living standards of the people and turn Cambodia into a
society which offers equal choices and opportunities for every
citizen in seeking their future.
The party elected former Prime Minister Pen Sovann, who in 1980
headed the People's Republic of Kampuchea, as one of its deputy
presidents, along with Keo Remy, a former Sam Rainsy Party (SRP)
lawmaker and Keat Sokun, former financial officer of the now
defunct Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party.
English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily on Monday quoted
National Assembly First Vice President Nguon Nhel as saying that
HRP can benefit the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) by
weakening the opposition vote.
After the latest local election held on April 1, the opposition SRP
surpassed the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and became the second
largest party of the kingdom. The augmentation of SRP is widely
thought to constitute a kind of menace to CPP, although it is now
dominant in the government and the legislative bodies.
Source: Xinhua (next) --
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