Cambodia National Rescue Party
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP; Khmer: គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ, UNGEGN: Kônâbâks Sângkrŏăh Chéatĕ, ALA-LC: Gaṇapaks Sanggroaḥ Jāti [keanapaʔ sɑŋkruəh ciət]) was a major political party in Cambodia. It was founded in 2012 as a merger between the Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party.
Cambodia National Rescue Party គណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CNRP |
| President | Kem Sokha |
| Vice Presidents | Eng Chhai Eang Mu Sochua Pol Hom |
| Founders | Sam Rainsy Kem Sokha |
| Founded | 17 July 2012 |
| Registered | 9 April 2013 |
| Banned | 16 November 2017 |
| Merger of | Sam Rainsy Party Human Rights Party Norodom Ranariddh Party |
| Succeeded by | Cambodia National Rescue Movement Khmer Will Party (self-declared; not legally) Candlelight Party (unofficial) |
| Youth wing | CNRP Youth |
| Ideology | Liberalism Liberal democracy Civic nationalism Populism Anti-Vietnamese sentiment |
| Political position | Centre |
| International affiliation | Liberal International |
| Regional affiliation | Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats |
| Colors | |
| Slogan | "សង្គ្រោះ បម្រើ ការពារ" (English: "Rescue, Serve, Protect") |
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| https://nationalrescueparty.org/ (defunct) | |
| |
The party believed in the strengthening of freedom and human rights, institution of free and fair elections, and defending Cambodia's "national integrity". It became the sole challenger to the Cambodian People's Party after the 2013 election. Its official motto was "Rescue, Serve, Protect" (សង្គ្រោះ បម្រើ ការពារ Sângkrŏăh, Bâmreu, Karpéar) and the logo for the CNRP is the rising sun.
Party leader Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017, after which the party was in danger of being dissolved, allegedly for being part of a foreign plot to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen. The case was heard by the Supreme Court of Cambodia which is headed by Chief Justice Dith Munty, a member of the ruling CPP's permanent committee.
On 16 November 2017, the Supreme Court ruled to dissolve the CNRP. Charles Santiago, Chairman of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, called this move "the final nail in the coffin for Cambodian democracy". As a result of the ruling, all CNRP office holders, including 489 commune chiefs and 55 MPs, lost their positions and had their seats allocated to other parties. Additionally, 118 senior party officials were banned from politics for five years. About half the party’s former MPs, including its vice president Mu Sochua, had already fled Cambodia before October out of fear of arrest by the ruling party. The forced dissolution of the party prompted condemnation and calls to reverse the decision from the international community.