Cambodia PM says manipulated political foe’s ascendance

By Lauren Crothers

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AA) - The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Tuesday denied claims made by Prime Minister Hun Sen that he was the puppet master in the ascendance of the party’s former deputy to the leadership position.

The Cambodia Daily reported that Hun Sen was taking credit for last week’s appointment of Kem Sokha to the role of CNRP president -- one that was left vacant after former president Sam Rainsy, in exile since late 2015, stepped down.

It quoted Hun Sen as having said that Sokha’s rise to party president “was orchestrated” by him.

His remarks came after a conversation between the two last year was leaked over the weekend, in which Hun Sen -- who has been in power for over 30 years -- said it would be easier to work alongside Sokha than Rainsy.

In February, Rainsy stepped down from the role to save the party from dissolution threatened by amendments to the law on political parties, which prohibit those with criminal convictions from leading a party.

Sokha was formally voted in as CNRP leader last week.

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann on Tuesday told Anadolu Agency that party members weren’t paying any attention to the leaks.

When asked if Sokha had indeed negotiated with Hun Sen, Sovann said: “No… I don’t know.”

He underlined that the party does not need to pay attention to the leaks.

“We are busy nominating candidates for the commune election, developing a political message and planning activities,” he said.

The commune elections, when party representatives are elected at a local commune level, are to be held in a few months.

On Tuesday, CNRP public affairs director Kem Monovithya announced that Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party had threatened the CNRP with legal action unless it removes the word “change” from its campaign slogans.

At present, the slogan calls on people to “Change the commune chief who serves the party with commune chief who serves the people.”

The latest leaks related to Sokha come a year after recordings of a telephone conversation between him and a mistress were posted online, which resulted in both becoming swept up in a “prostitution” case.

Sokha spent five months in hiding to avoid being hauled before the court in that case, emerging in October and returning to the National Assembly after receiving a Royal Pardon.

The latest leaked recording was allegedly made before that pardon was issued.