(November 15, 2005/Manila) The Sam Rainsy Party of Cambodia holds today its party meeting in Manila’s district of Makati with party leader Sam Rainsy presiding. Mr. Sam was Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) from 2000 to 2002.
With the stripping of the parliamentary immunity of Sam Rainsy and two other opposition parliamentarians last February 3, Sam Rainsy was forced into exile. He now resides in Pariswith his wife, fellow opposition parliamentarian Saumura Tioulong. As Mr. Sam cannot enterCambodia without being arrested, the SRP was forced to meet in another country. “It is not merely coincidental that we chose thePhilippines,” Mr. Sam stated. “We have a lot of liberal friends in Manila.”
Attending the meeting was a majority of the Sam Rainsy Party’s top officials, including members of parliament and senators. Mr. Sam described the meeting as being most fruitful, adding that it was an historical event.
Dr. Nereus Acosta, MP, CALD Secretary General and Executive Vice President of the Liberal Party of the Philippines stated that “We in CALD and the LP are honored to have hosted the Sam Rainsy Party here in Manila during Sam Rainsy’s and his fellow oppositionists’ time of need. We remember the time of Martial Law, when Ninoy Aquino was in exile in Boston and he received invaluable support from the international community”. Philippine martyred hero, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was LP Secretary General until he was gunned down in Manila in August, 1983 which triggered a bloodless uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
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