Cambodian opposition to take anti-govt movement to rural areas

• By Jack Board
• POSTED: 06 Jan 2014

Cambodia's opposition said its anti-government movement will take on a more grassroots approach and move out of cities into rural areas. This comes after the weekend government crackdown on growing street protests in Phnom Penh.

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File photo: Garment workers throw objects at riot police during a strike near a factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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CAMBODIA: Cambodia's opposition said its anti-government movement will take on a more grassroots approach and move out of cities into rural areas.

This comes after the weekend government crackdown on growing street protests in Phnom Penh.

Party leader Sam Rainsy is leading the opposition's push for power.

He and his deputy have been summoned to court for questioning next week, on suspicion of inciting civil unrest.

In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Rainsy said the movement in Cambodia is reminiscent of what happened in the Philippines, with People Power demonstrations in the late 1980s.

He said: “The current national assembly in Cambodia is illegal. It doesn't represent the people, because it is the result of rigged elections that have distorted the will of the people. So the people have to show their will in a different manner, meaning to express their will, including on the streets.”

Now that protests have been banned in the capital, Rainsy said the opposition will head to other provinces to continue with their push for power.

He said: “Cambodia is a rural country, with 80 percent of the population living in the countryside. So we will continue our struggle by organising our supporters and democratic activists all over the country. We concentrate now in the provinces and we will come back to the big cities when it is appropriate to do so.”

Rainsy also expressed confidence in being able to attain success in the movement.

He declared: “I'm very confident because this is a world trend. It is a historic trend. The wind of freedom is blowing all over the world, and it is reaching Cambodia.” 

- CNA/xq