SRP commemorates the victims of the 5-6 July 1997 coup d’état

SRP commemorates the victims of the 5-6 July 1997 coup d’état

06 July 2011
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

The Sam Rainsy Party held a commemoration for the 14th anniversary of the coup d’état which took place on 5-6 July 1997 pitting forces loyal to Prince Ranariddh, the former No. 1 prime minister of Cambodia, and those loyal to Hun Xen, the then-second prime minister. The commemoration was held on 06 July 2011 at the SRP party headquarters in Phnom Penh. SRP MP Kim Suor Phearith said that the SRP commemorate this event every year with a Buddhist prayer to the spirits of fallen Funcinpec forces. On the other hand, an official of the Funcinpec party indicated that his party will not commemorate this event, but that it will hold a ceremony during the Pchum Ben ceremony instead. Pen Sangha, mouthpiece of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), said that the NRP will not hold any commemoration and he is also accused the SRP of organizing this commemoration for political gain.