A bridge too far for Sokha?

6 June 2014
Civil society / Government / International relations / Ministries and other national bodies / Office of the Council of Ministers / Social development
Cambodia National Rescue Party / Cambodia's People Party / Cambodian Center for Human Rights / CCHR / CNRP / Council of Ministers / CPP / Embassy of Vietnam / Hun Sen / Kampuchea Krom / Kem Sokha / Koh Pich bridge / Ou Virak / Phay Siphan / Tran Van Thong

Deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha has drawn the ire of the government and civil society groups after on Wednesday accusing Vietnam of orchestrating the Koh Pich bridge stampede that killed more than 350 people in 2010 as part of a plot to “eliminate the Khmer race, tradition and culture”. Government spokesman Phay Siphan yesterday called the allegations “groundless and ridiculous”, while Cambodian Center for Human Rights chairman Ou Virak said it was irresponsible of a political leader to propagate inflammatory “conspiracy theories”, especially given that no government officials have yet been held personally accountable for the tragedy. Speaking at a ceremony on Wednesday to mark the 65th anniversary of France’s transfer of the former Kampuchea Krom provinces to Vietnam, Sokha, deputy head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, lambasted the Kingdom’s eastern neighbour for trying to destroy Khmer culture, using the stampede as an apparent example. …

 Meas Sokchea and Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bridge-too-far-sokha