Cambodia’s main opposition party rejoins CALD

CALD has welcomed back the Candlelight Party (CLP) of Cambodia as one of its members. Currently, Cambodia’s main opposition party, CLP’s membership application was unanimously approved by the CALD leadership during the Council’s 45th Executive Committee Meeting held on 30 June in Sofia, Bulgaria.

CLP was previously a member of CALD, but its name and membership through the years evolved into the Sam Rainsy Party, and then into the National Rescue Party of Cambodia. Based on the official results of Cambodia’s 2022 Commune Elections, CLP had a respectable showing at the latest polls that were held on 5 June, winning four commune chief positions and 2,198 council member slots.

The CLP, headed by Teav Vannol, strives to oppose and eliminate all social violence and all kinds of corruption to ensure peace in Cambodia. It states that it exists to “protect and promote human rights as stated by the United Nations and implement liberal democracy.”

The party’s operations in Cambodia have faced numer ous challenges due to the current repressive government. Among other things, the Hun Sen government has threatened to dissolve the opposition, weaponized the law against opposition leaders and civil-society activists, abused government institutions, and engaged in the systematic violation of fundamental human rights. But CLP Treasurer Mardi Seng, who was the party’s representative to the CALD Executive Committee, has said, “The seed of democracy has been planted and it has taken roots in more than 1,500 local communities. This rebirth or re-establishment of democracy will grow strong and will bear fruits if we liberals support and assist in watering it, caring for it, and tendering to it.”

In announcing CALD’s approval of CLP’s membership application, CALD Secretary General Francis Abaya expressed gratitude to the Cambodian party for joining CALD and for upholding the liberal and democratic principles amidst the mounting challenges in its home country. Said Abaya: “We believe that the people of Cambodia will see through the darkness and allow the CLP to guide them and rise above tyranny and inequality.”

CALD itself will always be ready to support its newest full member, the Candlelight Party, to achieve integrity, truth, and justice in Cambodia.