By Chun Sakada,
VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 February 2008
The Human Rights Party assailed commune authorities nationwide Monday for allowing the destruction of party signs in the provinces.
Forty HRP signs have been destroyed across Cambodia since the founding of the party in July 2007, party officials said.
"The destruction is political discrimination against the Human Rights Party and violates the Cambodian constitution and violates the people's rights and political rights," said Keo Remy, vice president of the party.
"Those destroying the party signs are the commune councils from various parties, not only the ruling party," he said. "They are worried about the party's increasing popularity."
The destruction of signs is one form of intimidation that appears prior to most elections. A party statement requested the Ministry of Interior to take "strong action" to condemn the authorities or anyone else who destroys political signs and to end discrimination against the Human Rights Party.
"We permit the Human Rights Party to set up party signs all over the country, but the party must make a good relation and cooperation with the local authorities, for protection of each sign," Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak said.
Sometimes parties set up signs on the private land of people who don't want them, he said.
"We aren't going to allow broken party signs to become a big problem," he said.
VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 February 2008
The Human Rights Party assailed commune authorities nationwide Monday for allowing the destruction of party signs in the provinces.
Forty HRP signs have been destroyed across Cambodia since the founding of the party in July 2007, party officials said.
"The destruction is political discrimination against the Human Rights Party and violates the Cambodian constitution and violates the people's rights and political rights," said Keo Remy, vice president of the party.
"Those destroying the party signs are the commune councils from various parties, not only the ruling party," he said. "They are worried about the party's increasing popularity."
The destruction of signs is one form of intimidation that appears prior to most elections. A party statement requested the Ministry of Interior to take "strong action" to condemn the authorities or anyone else who destroys political signs and to end discrimination against the Human Rights Party.
"We permit the Human Rights Party to set up party signs all over the country, but the party must make a good relation and cooperation with the local authorities, for protection of each sign," Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak said.
Sometimes parties set up signs on the private land of people who don't want them, he said.
"We aren't going to allow broken party signs to become a big problem," he said.
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