Cambodian opposition MPs maintain boycott of parliament

By Lauren Crothers

PHNOM PENH (AA) - Parliamentarians from Cambodia’s opposition party maintained a boycott of the National Assembly as it reopened Friday, claiming that a link to protests against the premier's son left their security in jeopardy.

The move by the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) came despite apparent promises made the day before that lawmakers would consider retaking their seats.

“CNRP did not return to parliament because we got security threats linking us to anti-Hun Manet protests in [Australia], [and] no sign of talks from [the] CPP [the ruling Cambodian People's Party],” the CNRP’s deputy director-general of public affairs, Kem Monovithya, wrote on Twitter.

Hun Manet is Prime Minister Hun Sen’s son and is set to arrive in Australia today, where the Phnom Penh Post said he would be met with protests organized by the Cambodian-Australian Federation over his father’s rule.

The 55 lawmakers, who were elected in a tightly contested vote in 2013, began their boycott in May, when police attempted to arrest CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha.

Sokha has been in hiding at party headquarters ever since, save for a unique foray into the outside world on Wednesday to register in the electoral roll.

Since then, troops from Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit have occasionally been deployed around the offices.

The boycott comes after both the CNRP and ruling CPP referenced a so-called ceasefire over the recent Pchum Ben religious festival.

Several calls by Anadolu Agency to CNRP officials were unsuccessful Friday.