On the fifth anniversary of the formation of Cambodia’s leading opposition party, its leader, Sam Rainsy, called on the government to bring a swift trial of the Khmer Rouge and stick to its commitment to hold commune elections in 2001.
“We are demanding these two issues happen in Cambodia because they are important to us,” he told about 500 supporters gathered Thursday to celebrate the anniversary at Bopha Tip restaurant in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district.
Without a trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders, ordinary Cambodians will remain oppressed by a culture of impunity, which is enjoyed by the current government, the parliamentarian said.
“For me, we want peace and justice,” Sam Rainsy said, naming justice for the more than 1 million Cambodians killed during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime as the government’s first priority.
“Peace would be useless if there is no justice.”
He also vowed his party would make a strong showing in the communal elections.
He repeated accusations the government cheated the Sam Rainsy Party out of winning seats in the 1998 national elections by rigging votes and announcing the poll just two months before it was held—charges the government has consistently denied.
The party holds 15 of the 122 seats in the National Assembly.
“I have learned a lot of lessons from the past election,” Sam Rainsy said. “We will organize a stronger force to win out over the communist CPP at the grass-roots level.”
