Kem Sokha: Real supports for the CPP is about 30%

Mr. Kem Sokha addressed 500 supporters in Phnom Penh on Sunday, May 6th.
Mr. Kem Sokha, president of Human Rights Party, said real supports for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen is at about 30%.





Mr. Kem Sokha's comments came after Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed on 5th May that more than 60% of the people supported him.

Speaking to about 500 supporters in Phnom Penh on Sunday 6th May, Mr. Kem Sokha said real supports for the CPP stand at 30% and the other 20-30% are not real supporters, but those who said they voted for the CPP because the party used state money to buy their votes, used intimidation and threats and also created fears by telling the people that if the CPP did not win the election, there will be war. "The situations where the government was used to serve the CPP is like he used his position as prime minister and state TVs to serve his party, used government forums to serve his party and criticised opposition parties and used government officials (employees) to serve his party etc", said Mr. Kem Sokha.

Mr. Kem Sokha's comments came after Prime Minister Hun Sen made comments on election during an inauguration of a groundbreaking of a road and bridge construction in Stung Treng province on Saturday, May 5th, in which he said: "I have set my goals. If the people's confidence in me is below 60%, I will leave and I will not represent the party or hold the prime ministership".



Mr. Kem Sokha, however, said that if Mr. Hun Sen is very confident like he said he should open for free competition where all parties have equal access to independent and free media campaigns. He said all TVs, radios and printed media, state or private, are under the control of the ruling party. "If the prime minister is so confident and if his supports are really over 60%, he has to allow all parties free access to all TV stations. When the Human Rights Party hired air time from a radio station in Siem Reap province, the authority threatened the owner of that radio station. And when the Human Rights Party hired air time from a radio station in Battambang province, the authority cancelled its licence. This is the cowardice of the prime minister", he said.