By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer Phnom Penh
24 April 2008
Khmer audio aired April 24 (891KB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired April 24 (891KB) - Listen (MP3)
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party blasted statements made by Prime Minister Hun Sen Thursday, calling his remarks to a public gathering in Kratie province earlier this week “a threat to voters.”
Hun Sen told a public gathering that if the people voted for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party “there is no war” and they “do not need to run to the trenches.”
The prime minister made similar remarks to a group of private investors in Phnom Penh this week.
“SRP considers the prime minister’s statement a threat to voters,” the party said in a statement, calling on the authorities to ensure a peaceful election period ahead of July’s general polls.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith denied Hun Sen’s statements were a threat.
“Sam Rainsy has said he will review all concession contracts [and] redistribute land, and he accuses young people who support the CPP of being Vietnamese, so he will not be a prime minister for national unity,” Khieu Kanharith said.
In recent weeks, political parties have begun to increase their political rhetoric, hoping to sway voters on Election Day.
Im Francois, who is responsible for election issues at the Center for Social Development, said these were only words by Hun Sen.
However, he said, according to the law, people must go to vote peacefully.
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