Despite losing a legal battle with the Ministry of Interior at the Supreme Court, more than 20 activists of the unrecognised opposition party, Cambodia National Heart Party (CNHP) now face legal action at the lower court over allegations of fraudulent thumbprints.

The Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on Wednesday also decided to remove the party name from the list of political parties in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Political Parties.

The removal of CNHP was made following the Supreme Court decision in December to reject the party’s appeal against the ministry’s decision not to validate it, alleging the party used fraudulent thumbprints in its membership list.

The party founding representative Seam Pluk yesterday said the removal of CNHP from the political parties list from the ministry is normal as per the procedures of the Law on Political Parties because the ministry has refused to recognise it and the Supreme Court has already issued a ruling to uphold the ministry’s decision since December 24.

“I have no longer requested to the Ministry of Interior to validate the CNHP. But I urge the Ministry to consider withdrawing the complaint against the CNHP activists,” he added.

Pluk said several CNHP officials and activists were summoned and questioned at the court and referred further questions as to the court case to his lawyer Sam Sokong who could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But Pluk confirmed that more than 20 CNHP activists are facing legal action at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court despite his party having already lost the case at the top court.

The Ministry of Interior spokesman General Khieu Sopheak has told Khmer Times that Pluk and his accomplices must be held responsible for their misdeeds by the lower courts.

“Phnom Penh Municipal Court is continuing the proceedings because it is a criminal offence. The complaint of the Ministry of Interior is a criminal complaint relating to forged documents,” he said.

The government has warned Pluk and related activists not to flee the country to seek political asylum abroad because they are being sued by the ministry for allegedly using fraudulent thumbprints in the membership list.

The ministry’s lawsuit against CNHP activists was filed after Kheng reported to Prime Minister Hun Sen in November that the ministry had instructed the National Police to investigate individuals who had “malicious intent” to forge personal identities.

The CNHP is one among seven opposition parties split from the court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to challenge the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) in upcoming elections.

The six others are the Cambodia Reform Party (CRP), Cambodia National Love Party (CNLP), Khmer Conservative Party (KCP), Khmer Will Party (KWP), Kampucheaniyum Party (KP) and National Future Party (NFP).

The CPP accused CNHP of being formed by ex-opposition leaders, claiming former opposition leader Sam Rainsy used $200,000 from a “watch raffle” campaign to fund the party.

But former opposition leaders who are living in exile, the CNRP said the party’s leadership has nothing to do with the newly-created political party, which was founded by a former CNRP official.

Pluk said yesterday he has not decided to engage in political activities with any political party yet because the Ministry of Interior’s lawsuit against his activists has not yet been concluded.

“However, I will join with an opposition party which has the same vision as my party,” he said.

• Tags: CNHP, fraudulent thumbprints