A long-serving official in Stung Treng’s rural development department claimed yesterday his recent demotion and transfer to the faraway province of Koh Kong was due to his open support for the opposition party.

Sok Veasna, 45, had since 1998 been the head of the rural economic development bureau at Stung Treng’s department of rural development, until a ministerial letter, dated October 26 and obtained yesterday, said he would be transferred to a minor role in Koh Kong.

The letter gave no cause for Veasna’s removal, which he said was a violation of the General Statute of Civil Servants, which says that an automatic transfer must involve prior correspondence and the consent of the person involved before it can be completed.

“My political tendency is toward the Cambodia National Rescue Party. I think it was for political reasons,” Veasna said. “They do this to intimidate all civil servants in Stung Treng. Civil servants in Stung Treng are rising up to advocate and they demoted me to serve as a warning.”

Rural Development minister Ouk Rabun yesterday hung up on reporters enquiring about the reasons for Veasna’s demotion.