Cambodian opposition leader steps down for 'sake of the party'

Cambodian opposition leader steps down for 'sake of the party'


PHNOM PENH, Feb 11, 2017 (AFP) - The self-exiled leader of Cambodia's opposition party said Saturday he would step down from his post, the latest blow to a movement struggling to unseat the country's authoritarian premier.

Sam Rainsy, who led the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) since its inception in 2012 but has spent over a year in France to avoid several lawsuits, announced his resignation from the party on Twitter and Facebook.

The sudden move throws doubt over a party that poses the only viable challenge to strongman Hun Sen's 32-year rule in a general poll scheduled for 2018.

"I resign as CNRP leader for the sake of the party. In all circumstances I cherish and uphold the CNRP's ideals in my heart," wrote the 67-year-old, who has been a major force in Cambodian politics for decades.

His resignation comes shortly after Hun Sen proposed amending political party laws to bar convicts from leadership positions -- a clear threat to Rainsy, who has long been his top foe and the target of his political machinations.

The opposition leader has not stepped foot in Cambodia since 2015, when he fled to France to avoid a two-year jail term for defamation, which his supporters say was politically-motivated.

In December a Phnom Penh court handed him a fresh five-year prison sentence over a post on his Facebook page -- a conviction that made any imminent return from exile even more unlikely.

Hun Sen also lodged a new one-million-dollar defamation lawsuit against Rainsy last month and threatened to seize the CNRP's headquarters if he wins the case.

The party's spokesman Yim Sovann told AFP he had no other information about Rainsy's decision to step down on Saturday, saying only that it was motivated by "personal reasons".

His deputy Kem Sokha, who has been serving as acting leader in Rainsy's absence, is expected to guide the party as it prepares for local commune elections in June.

Although nominally a democracy, Cambodia has been ruled for more than three decades by Hun Sen, a shrewd political operator who has amassed extensive control over the government, armed forces and economy.

Ever since he nearly lost his office to the CNRP in 2013, rights groups say Hun Sen has been bent on dismantling the opposition, using pliant courts to target his rivals and other critics.

Hun Sen claims to have brought much needed peace and stability to an impoverished nation ravaged by decades of civil war and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.

But opposition groups have drawn growing support in recent years amid disillusionment with the endemic corruption and rights abuses that have flourished under his watch.

Rainsy's party made huge gains in the 2013 elections and say they only lost because the vote was rigged -- a claim Hun Sen has vigorously rejected.

PM says struggle is on for securing rights of minority communities

PM says struggle is on for securing rights of minority communities


Kathmandu, Feb 11: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said he is in a relentless struggle for securing the identity and rights of the minority communities.

     Addressing the Nepal-India poetry symposium at Jingahawa of Rautahat district today, he said, "I am in favour of all the ethnic communities, languages and cultures, and their identity and rights. I am also steadfastly support national unity comprising the mountainous, hilly and the Madhes."

     Noting that the People's War and the struggle for the rights of the oppressed were waged under his leadership, PM Dahal said the new constitution has institutionalised the identity and rights of the oppressed and marginalised communities, paving the way for securing the remaining rights through amendment to the constitution.

     The Prime Minister said the poetry symposium has a special significance in terms of strengthening the Nepal-India relations and that he would always be effortful towards establishing the identity and rights of the Muslim community.  He added that the rights of the Muslim community have been institutionalised in the new constitution by means of provisions as constitution of a Muslim Commission as a constitutional body.

     Thirty six Muslim Sayars (lyricists) from Nepal and India participated in the poetry symposium which saw the recitation of poems related to the language, art, culture, history, identity and rights of the Muslim community.

Directive to carry out works giving sense of change

     Meanwhile, PM Dahal has directed the chiefs of the Rautahat district-based government offices to deliver public services so that the people would get a feel of change.

     Addressing a gathering of office chiefs in Rautahat district headquarters after attending the Muslim poetry symposium, he also instructed the government employees to manage environment for election in the district as the government would soon announce the election date.

     "The constitution amendment proposal has been registered in the parliament and the government has already swung into action for holding the local level elections," the PM stated. He also gave directives to the office chiefs to prioritise development works to increase the capital expenditure.

     Addressing another programme in Rautahat today, the Prime Minister said that the constitution amendment proposal already tabled in parliament would be passed by putting it to a vote.

     Maoist Centre leaders Prabhu Saha and Matrika Yadav said that the election would be possible only after the amendment to the constitution.

     On the occasion, PM Dahal distributed bicycles to 1500 girl students of various schools in Sonarniya and Katariya VDCs in Rautahat district. The bicycles have been provided to the girl students at the initiatives of leader Saha and aimed at easing their travel to and from school.

     At the programme, 31 people announced their dissociation from various political parties and joined the CPN (Maoist Centre). RSS

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