A Norodom Ranariddh Party activist was seriously injured in an attack in Kompong Cham province last week that NRP officials allege was politically motivated.
NRP Kompong Siem district deputy committee director Seak Limhorn was struck in the head by unidentified assailants August 27 at 9 pm while walking in Ampil commune, according to NRP deputy inspector and deputy provincial working group director Thav Kimhor.
Thav Kimhor claimed Sunday that the attack happened after Funcinpec officials were unable to convince Seak Limhorn to defect to their party. “It was a political, revenge attack,” Thav Kimhor alleged. “They attempted to kill him.”
Thav Kimhor added that the CPP was clearly not behind the attack because CPP officials had helped Seak Limhor get to the district hospital, where he is still being treated.
District deputy police chief Touch Kimhorn denied that the attack was politically motivated. Seak Limhorn was attacked because he allegedly blocked a small pathway that villagers had used to walk across his property, Touch Kimhorn said.
He added that the suspect attacked Seak Limhorn because he was angry about the blocked pathway, and that the victim’s son had already offered to settle the case with the suspect, who remains at large.
Touch Kimhorn said he could not recall the suspect’s name and did not know his political affiliation.
NRP party spokesman Muth Channtha said that he was waiting for the results of the police investigation before declaring whether or not the attack on Seak Limhorn was politically motivated.
Muth Channtha confirmed, however, that Funcinpec officials had unsuccessfully tried to convince Seak Limhorn to defect to their party.
Seak Limhorn could not be reached for comment, and Funcinpec party spokesman Nouv Sovathero declined to discuss the case.
