Nearly 400 Khmer Krom civilians and monks were welcomed into the ruling CPP at a ceremony held at the party’s headquarters in Phnom Penh on Friday, officials said.
The inductees, all members of the umbrella organization Khmer Kampuchea Krom Coordination Committee, had announced their intention to join the CPP in October. At that time, other unaffiliated Khmer Krom groups condemned the move, saying it would compromise the integrity of around 10 NGOs included in the committee.
KKKCC Executive Director Kim Van Chheng said that the roughly 370 Khmer Krom laity and 20 monks have sought CPP membership in order to better protect the Khmer Krom community.
“Khmer Kampuchea Krom will participate with the government, so any tensions in the future will be relieved,” he said.
Ministry of Interior spokesman Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak said the CPP has an open policy to accept new members.
“When someone wants to join the CPP, we must accept them…. The recruitment is for the election,” he said.
Thach Setha, executive director of NGO Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community and a founding member of the SRP, said that he could not understand why KKKCC members would want to become a part of the very party that was limiting their human rights.
“Please consider which party supports the Khmer Kampuchea Krom and which party pressures the Khmer Kampuchea Krom,” he said, adding that he strives to keep his political affiliation separate from Khmer Krom interests.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the politically independent NGO Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization, said that Khmer Krom people have the right to join whichever political party they want, but that he thinks the committee’s choice of the CPP will ultimately mean they are less able to speak their minds.
“It does not benefit the Khmer Kampuchea Krom people in general,” he said.
