Ruling Party Denies Role in Protest Against Rainsy

The Cambodia Daily | 9 October 2015

The CPP issued a statement Thursday denying any role in a protest against CNRP President Sam Rainsy during his visit to Oddar Meanchey province on Wednesday.

The letter, dated Wednesday and signed by CPP spokesman Suos Yara, said accusations leveled by an unnamed CNRP spokesman that the ruling party had staged the demonstration against Mr. Rainsy were untrue, adding that the protesters were disgruntled former CNRP supporters.

More than 300 demonstrators, some holding banners attacking Mr. Rainsy, greeted the opposition leader’s convoy as it entered Samraong City during a trip to meet supporters there.

“The spokesman of the Cambodian People’s Party is entitled to defend [the party] in compliance with the laws if there is an unfounded accusation like today’s event,” the letter said, adding that the CNRP should settle internal disputes on its own instead of leveling accusations at the CPP.

The leader of the protest, however, was Kem Kosal, the same man who claimed to spearhead the defection of 564 opposition members to the ruling party in August.