Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and the Phnom Penh municipality have reached a compromise

in the months-long dispute about a memorial stupa to honor the victims of the March

30, 1997, grenade attack on a Sam Rainsy Party rally.

On Friday, June 30, Rainsy got the municipality's permission to erect a new stupa.

However, it must be placed in the park close to Wat Botum and not in front of the

National Assembly like the previous five stupas. They were all pulled down and destroyed

by police and military police forces.

Also, the new stupa will be removed if the authorities want to renovate the park

in the future, and people are not allowed to guard the stupa. Likewise, ceremonies

around the stupa are not allowed when the National Assembly is meeting or when there

is a reception at the Royal Palace.

Finally, the construction of the stupa has to be approved by the Ministry of Urbanization,

the Municipal Land Title Department and the Daun Penh district governor.