Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday withdrew his appeal for parties other than the CPP to help those affected by the current drought, saying it was clear only his party cared.
“I dare not appeal for any political party to help because I have not seen any political parties come out to do anything since we first called for them to join,” he said at the inauguration of a Buddhist temple in Kompong Cham province.
“Therefore, I have the right only to call for the ruling party—the CPP—that often stays with the people and solves problems for the people, without waiting until the election campaign to seek votes.”
The opposition CNRP had responded to Mr. Hun Sen’s previous appeal by saying it was the national government’s job to help those in need—and not an issue of party politics.
The CPP government has routinely politicized natural disaster aid. Mr. Hun Sen’s wife, Bun Rany, used her position as head of the Cambodian Red Cross to tell flood relief recipients during the 2013 political crisis that only the CPP cared.
