Niem Chheng | Publication date 28 March 2018 | 11:50 ICT
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A photograph of Khmer United Party spokesman Kuch Ly and former opposition leader Sam Rainsy posted to Ly's Facebook page. On Tuesday, Ly pledged support to support Rainsy's Cambodia National Rescue Movement. Facebook
A day after registering his political party, Khmer United Party spokesman Kuch Ly has expressed support for the Sam Rainsy-led Cambodia National Rescue Movement, a group Prime Minister Hun Sen has branded as terrorists.
The Khmer United Party, initially called the Kem Ley Party, was formed by Ly and the late political commentator Kem Ley’s brother, Kem Rithisith, and registered on Tuesday, according to a Ministry of Interior document the latter posted on Facebook.
Ly has sent a letter to CNRM leaders Sam Rainsy and Mu Sochua pledging his support to the group’s cause, adding that not all the activities of the opposition were “bad”.
“I still defend that I am not wrong. If I appeal to people to have an insurgency against the government, then I am wrong. This only means that not all of his [Rainsy] and CNRM’s activities are bad,” Ly told The Post Wednesday morning.
He also advocated for the release of jailed “prisoners of conscience”, including jailed Cambodia National Rescue Party President Kem Sokha.
The Cambodia National Rescue Movement was formed by a faction of former CNRP members in January to lobby foreign governments, push for the release of Sokha and even floated the possibility of mass protests.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has been quick to call the movement a “rebel group”, and government officials were instructed to crack down on any local activities linked to them.
The Khmer United Party initially called itself the Kem Ley Party, but had to change its names to be in compliance with amendments made to the Law on Political Parties last year preventing naming a party after an individual.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment on Wednesday morning.
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