Rainsy for dialogue, Kheng says

Recently appointed majority leader Sar Kheng has said the opposition will stop using political rhetoric to attack the ruling party and will embrace the “culture of dialogue”.

Speaking to reporters late last week at the Police Training Academy in Kandal province, Kheng said his counterpart, minority leader and opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Sam Rainsy, sent a message to Prime Minister Hun Sen ensuring him that CNRP leaders won’t snipe at the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

Rainsy “guarantees not to let this issue take place”, Kheng said.

Kheng’s comments come less than a week after Hun Sen urged Rainsy to “come and negotiate with me” over the fate of seven opposition lawmakers charged with inciting violence during a protest last year.

Rainsy, who could not be reached yesterday, has taken a middle-of-the-road approach to the comments, and has avoided reacting with fighting words.

Kheng said he will meet with Rainsy on Tuesday, but provided few details about the talks except to say they are “just to prove that both parties are still paying attention to promoting the culture of dialogue”.