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Border Casino Forced Employees to Join Ruling Party, Opposition Says


A casino in Phnom Penh's notorious border town Poipet forced its workers to join the Cambodian People's Party, opposition leaders said Tuesday.

The Resort Casino requires its employees to be in the CPP, opposition leader Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer.

"I believe this action shows that the ruling party is behind the company, using it to intimidate its employees to join the CPP," he said. "Otherwise, they will be fired from their job."

Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party President, said the resort was participating in politics and was contradicting democracy. Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Muth Chantha called the practice unconstitutional.

Resort Casino management could not be reached for comment.

But San Seanhor, a CPP commune chief in Poipet said the allegations against the casino were politically motivated.

The opposition was trying to sully the CPP's name to the people by sowing lies, he said.

"In fact, it is not true. Everything is on the people's will," he said. "They are not stupid now; they are very smart."

Kuol Panha, director of the independent election monitor Comfrel, said national elections always meant people were forced to join one party or other.

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