SRP pledges budget boycott

Meas Sokchea with additional reporting by David Boyle
Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Sam Rainsy (right) speaks during a press conference in Phnom Penh in 2009.

The Phnom Penh Post

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has declared his party will boycott parliament’s debate of the 2012 budget draft law in an attempt to render its adoption invalid.

In a statement obtained by the Post yesterday, Sam Rainsy said the boycott was intended to cast doubt over the legality and validity of a budget that allowed a corrupt government to exploit state revenues while increasing foreign debt.

Citing article 76 of the constitution, which states “The [National] Assembly consists of at least 120 members”, the statement said the withdrawal of SRP lawmakers – who occupy 26 of 123 seats – would at least cause donors to reassess their commitments to Cambodia.