Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay sent a letter to the National Assembly yesterday asking that Prime Minister Hun Sen appear in Parliament to explain the recent move to cede two villages to Vietnam.

The letter also asked Hun Sen to explain the planting of border post 314 between Cambodia and Vietnam in Kampot province, a move he claims has cut Cambodians from their land.

“This is a national issue, the prime minister must come to explain officially,” Chhay said.

Cambodian officials last week said the country would have to give two villages to Vietnam if it wanted to keep another two in Kampong Cham province that were deemed territory of the King­dom’s eastern neighbour by the former French Indochina colonial administration.

Va Kimhong, senior minister in charge of the Cambodian Border Affairs Committee, dismissed the objection.

“Opposition party opinion has never matched with the government.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Meas Sokchea at [email protected]