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| Commemoration of the 5-6 July coup d'etat at the SRP headquarters (Photo: Channa Siv, RFI) |
06 July 2011
By Ly Meng Hour
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Hun Xen raised the question that he was also a victim in that coup d’état (sic!).
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On 06 July, the Sam Rainsy Party commemorated the 14th anniversary of the clash between forces loyal to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, then-first prime minister, and those loyal to Hun Xen, then-second prime minister. The clash took place in Phnom Penh in 1997. During the commemoration, opposition leader Sam Rainsy announced through video conference that justice must be found for the hundreds of people who died during the coup d’état to topple Ranariddh from his position as first prime minister.
The SRP organized a meeting at its party headquarter with the participation of more than 100 activists. The SRP organized a religious ceremony with the presence of 14 Buddhist monks representing the 14th anniversary of the 5-6 July 1997 coup d’état.
The religious ceremony was held to commemorate the bloody fight between forces loyal to Ranariddh, then-first prime minister, and those loyal to Hun Xen who was the second prime minister in 1997.
The 5-6 July 1997 clash led to the death of several hundreds of soldiers and generals who were loyal to Ranariddh.
During the meeting this morning, through video conference from Paris, opposition leader Sam Rainsy announced that justice must be found for those who died during the coup d’état which took place 14 years ago. Sam Rainsy also called on the people to provide additional proofs to him so that he can bring the case to the International Court of Justice, a case in which Sam Rainsy called for the arrest of the criminals who have bloodied hands and bring them to face justice. Through his remark, Sam Rainsy was pointing at Hun Xen.
During a bridge construction site inauguration in Takhmao, Hun Xen reminisced about the 5-6 July 1997, however, Hun Xen raised the question that he was also a victim in that coup d’état (sic!).
Nevertheless, the Funcinpec which used to be the enemy of the CPP, but which is now turned into a CPP sycophant, as well as the Norodom Ranariddh Party did not commemorate this event on a day which the opposition called the coup d’état event.
Instead, Funcinpec, the NRP and their CPP called the SRP’s commemoration an attempt for its political gain.
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