Government Creates New CPP-Majority Province
A government request to create a new province in the eastern half of Kompong Cham, where the ruling CPP won its only districts in the province in July’s national election, was approved by King Norodom Sihamoni last month, according to a copy of the Royal Decree obtained Thursday. Officials in Prime Minister Hun Sen’s CPP government said Thursday that other provinces will also be divided, a move that the political opposition said is an attempt to manipulate electoral boundaries to benefit the ruling party. The country’s newest province, to be named Tbong Khmum, will be made up of six districts and a city that all lie east of the Mekong River in Kompong Cham, and will include the only five districts in which the CPP won majorities in the province during the election, according to the decree. … The new province of Tbong Khmum will be made up of Dambe, Kroch Chhmar, O’Reang-ou, Ponhea Krek and Tbong Khmum districts—where the CPP won its only majorities—as well as Suong City and Memot district, says the decree, which is dated December 31. …
Phorn Bopha and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-creates-new-cpp-majority-province-50391/
