Officials removed a commune chief in Kampong Cham province’s Cheung Prey district yesterday over a resignation letter he wrote in 2008.

Mech Meak, Sotep commune chief and a member of the Sam Rainsy Party, said he was removed from his position after district Cambodian People’s Party officials failed to convince him to join the ruling party.

Mech Meak’s deputy Nong Ny, who is also an SRP member, was announced as his replacement. However, SRP officials said the ousting violated the law because the party had not agreed to it.

Mech Meak refused to recognise his dismissal and vowed to arrive at work at the commune office today.

He said the authority’s reason for removing him – a resignation letter written in 2008 – did not have relevance, because his party had not allowed him to stand down, and his province and district had continued to accept him as commune chief.

He said his ousting was not based on his performance, but came about because he had refused to defect to the CPP.

“The authority incited me to join CPP, but I did not,” he said.

Im Sophonrath, the Cheung Prey district governor who presided at the removal ceremony, said the provincial office considered Mech Meak’s resignation letter official.