Opposition Denies Claims It Is Trying To Destabilize the Government

[geovalin]

Neou Vannarin, VOA Khmer

14 October 2015

PHNOM PENH—

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has denied accusations made by the ruling party that it is seeking an overthrow of the government.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, a member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, made the accusation in a public speech last weekend, saying the opposition has sought to destabilize the government since the 2013 elections.

A Rescue Party spokesman said Wednesday that the party is seeking to win control of the government through legal means: elections.

The row comes amid increased political tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, which boycotted the government for nearly a year after the 2013 elections, on claims they had been marred by fraud.

The two sides have negotiated since then, but fresh rifts have opened over opposition accusations that the government is not doing enough to curb alleged Vietnamese encroachment along border areas. At least 10 Rescue Party supporters remain in jail, on various charges related to demonstrations or the border issue.

Hor Namhong told a group of military officers in Tbong Khmum province on Saturday that the Rescue Party was gathering people to “rise up” against the ruling party and the government and had incited violent protests in January 2014.

source: http://www.voacambodia.com/content/opposition-denies-claims-it-is-trying-to-destabilize-the-government/3005552.html