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Cambodian PM blasts opposition leaders for critical remarks

Xinhua, January 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday lashed out at opposition leaders for their critical remarks toward him and his government and urged the court to expedite the trial for seven opposition lawmakers who were accused of leading an insurrection movement in July last year.

"They try to take political gain wherever they meet with people, " he said during a graduation ceremony of over 1,000 students at the Svay Rieng University in Svay Rieng province. "They hold street forums to attack me, so I have to hit them back through forums to defend myself and the ruling Cambodian People's Party ( CPP)."

His remarks came after Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and his deputy Kem Sokha held several public forums in different provinces last week to criticize him and his government on issues including corruption and illegal immigrants.

At the latest forum in Phnom Penh on Sunday, Kem Sokha, who is also the first vice president of the National Assembly, assured his supporters that the opposition party is still working to oust the prime minister from power, according to a report of The Cambodia Daily.

"Our goal is the same -- to change today's leaders," the newspaper quoted Sokha as saying.

"His remarks are very rude," Hun Sen said Monday, urging the opposition leaders to end the culture of gathering on streets to attack him and his government since they have the National Assembly to debate on all issues.

The National Assembly comprises 123 lawmakers -- 68 from Hun Sen's ruling CPP and 55 from the opposition CNRP.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen called on the court to expedite the process of trial for seven opposition lawmakers who were charged with leading an insurrection movement in a violent clash last July that resulted in the injuries of more than 40 people. If convicted, they could face up to 30 years in prison.

The seven lawmakers are now freed on bail.

"I'd like to appeal to the court to try them soon," Hun Sen said.

He said the seven lawmakers will need a three-fourths majority vote of the parliament's 123 lawmakers to stop the court's action against them, or they will be stripped of their immunity and arrested.

The premier said he and all CPP lawmakers will not vote in favor of the seven lawmakers. Endi