An internal CPP document urges the party to unite against a resolution by US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher demanding Second Prime Minister Hun Sen be investigated for crimes against humanity.
The memo, obtained by The Cambodia Daily last week, asked CPP supporters to prepare for a mass demonstration if necessary against “American extremists.”
The letter from the party’s Secretary-General Say Chhum was dated Oct 8 and addressed to all senior party members. It expressed dismay at Rohrabacher’s successful US House of Representatives resolution condemning Hun Sen and asking the US to collect evidence for a possible indictment and international trial.
The resolution reflects an opinion only and has no force of law.
“Dana Rohrabacher has interfered in…the independence and sovereignty of Cambodia,” Say Chhum wrote. The distortion of Hun Sen’s record and the scorn toward him “is a hostile act which cannot be tolerated.”
The senior CPP official, however, stressed the US government did not share the view expressed in the resolution. “The official view of the US government does not support the wrong act of that man,” Say Chhum wrote.
The US State Department recently issued a statement saying the resolution does not reflect the US government’s position.
CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith confirmed Sunday the letter was a CPP circular, written to inform the party on the Rohrabacher resolution. “The idea is to instruct the CPP’s members so that they would not misunderstand and would not have bad feelings towards Americans here,” Khieu Kanharith said.
The letter told CPP members to continue to lobby appropriately against Rohrabacher. “Continue to keep a modest attitude when carrying out diplomatic policy in order to keep support,” the letter said, while urging members to take “diplomatic and legal measures” to censure Rohrabacher.
Say Chhum advocated writing letters or petitions to US leaders, and he also warned local cadre to prepare for a mass demonstration if the party deemed it necessary.
CPP offices in the US should organize demonstrations against the resolution, he added.
(Reporting by Ham Samnang and Pin Sisovann)
