Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - CNRP back to border talk with request to Sar Kheng

CNRP back to border talk with request to Sar Kheng

CNRP lawmakers hold a Cambodian flag in front of Border Post 203 in Svay Rieng’s Kampong Ro district during a visit to the Cambodia-Vietnam border last year.
CNRP lawmakers hold a Cambodian flag in front of Border Post 203 in Svay Rieng’s Kampong Ro district during a visit to the Cambodia-Vietnam border last year. Vireak Mai

CNRP back to border talk with request to Sar Kheng

The Cambodia National Rescue Party has asked Interior Minister Sar Kheng to ensure that Cambodians living near the border with Vietnam are barred from renting land to Vietnamese nationals.

It follows the CNRP’s demand earlier this week that the ministry send it a list of foreigners granted citizenship so its officials can check for irregularities.

The opposition has long complained of border encroachment by Vietnam and has previously alleged that illegal immigrants were able to vote in Cambodia’s elections. Last year its lawmakers launched a sustained campaign accusing the government of mismanaging its eastern frontier, and even carried out multiple controversial trips to border areas.

In a letter dated August 23 and signed by five opposition parliamentarians, the CNRP said it had uncovered several cases in Svay Rieng province in which 500 hectares had been leased to Vietnamese farmers.

The CNRP called on Sar Kheng to “take measures” to enforce a directive announced by Hun Sen, who in January said he had made a deal with his Vietnamese counterpart to stop the rental of land.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said that, when received, the letter would be considered, though he noted the premier’s directive was not law. “There are only the educational measures now,” he said of the ministry’s attempts to dissuade villagers on the border from leasing their land to Vietnamese nationals.

A perennially sensitive issue, border violations made headlines again last week when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued another diplomatic protest against Vietnam’s building of structures within zones that are not yet demarcated.

The issue was yesterday seized upon by the minor Cambodia Youth Party whose director, Pich Sros, revealed plans to petition the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh for a response. If none was forthcoming, he warned via Facebook, the group would lead a protest outside the embassy to “demand . . . an end to the violations”.

Sopheak agreed that Vietnam had “rudely” ignored Cambodia’s appeals, though he said the state’s priority was to maintain stability on the border.

Meanwhile, the CNRP’s second request – to receive a list of foreign nationals who have been granted citizenship – was on Wednesday forwarded to Sar Kheng. The letter followed comments by the National Election Committee that it would register any voter with an identity card whether or not they could speak Khmer.

The CNRP said it was seeking the lists to allay suspicions about the “number of illegal immigrants receiving IDs through corruption or any negligence of the Interior officials”.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.