Cambodia king urges Senate to protect rights

Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni yesterday urged senators to protect justice and human rights as the upper house of the country’s parliament met for the first time since the ruling party swept a controversial election in February.

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won every seat up for grabs in the February 25 election after many opposition supporters were stripped of the right to vote late last year.

Rights groups called the vote a “sham” and “undemocratic”.