The Cambodia National Rescue Party has the backing of democratic nations worldwide and is set to oust the “dictatorship” in the next election, deputy CNRP leader Kem Sokha told supporters in Pursat province yesterday.

Unnamed members of the international community were investigating the political environment in Cambodia, he said, and had determined that his party was a “victim” of the current regime.

“They know how corrupt it is; how dictatorial it is; how destructive of the environment it is; how human rights abuses are [committed] – they know it all,” he said.

However, pointing to the meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and US President Barack Obama in California last month, CPP spokesman, Sok Eysan dismissed Sokha’s claims, saying there was “full freedom of expression” in Cambodia.