Cambodia opposition skips parliament

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s opposition party unexpectedly failed to attend the re-opening of parliament, setting back hopes of a political truce with the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodia National Rescue Party members felt they were under threat of physical intimidation, spokesman Yim Sovann said, recalling that some of its lawmakers had previously been beaten up by a pro-government mob.

A spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party denied that any threat existed, describing the opposition action yesterday as a political trick.

The opposition had earlier said it would rejoin the parliamentary session after some conciliatory gestures by both sides.

The party stopped attending parliamentary sessions about four months ago after ruling party lawmakers stripped some opposition lawmakers of their legal immunity.

The opposition says lawsuits have been used to unfairly harass its members.

At a news conference, Yim Sovann said the opposition believed that the government was trying to link it to a planned protest in Australia against Hun Sen’s oldest son, Hun Manet.

He denied any link but said he feared that the government would seek some sort of retaliation against the party.