Sam Rainsy Party

Cambodia’s main opposition party is a party with a vision and commitment dedicated towards genuine reform. The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) is fully committed to building roads for a peaceful transition towards a liberalized democracy in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Since the last centuries to the present times, Cambodia is still bound in feudalistic traits that favor a select few even at the anguish of the Cambodian people. To this day, the present regime continues to rely on guns and bullets to administer the country. History has proven time and again that the old order cannot coexist with a clearly increasing trend towards the new order of liberalized democracy.

With the unwavering determination to peacefully promote a genuine democratic order in Cambodia, The Khmer National Party was formed in 1995 under the leadership of Sam Rainsy. But under a regime where the rule of law is routinely ignored or violated, the Khmer National Party was forced in early 1998 to change its name to the present Sam Rainsy Party so that it could be ready for the elections of that year. Despite perpetual threat and intimidation, SRP’s campaign for a new order had been so effective that the ruling party that controlled the entire election process was forced to concede a minimum of 15 out of the 122 seats in the National Assembly to a party that was less than three years old. It would have conceded less or even nothing had the ruling party gotten its own way.

SRP seeks primarily to propagate hope. Hope nurtures a sense of wholeness that includes moral integrity, empowers the poor to improve their livelihood, promotes a peaceful coexistence and affirms the dignity and worth of all people. It can, of course, be achieved with an adherence to the rule of just law, respect for human rights and democratic processes, tight control over corruption, non-partisan bureaucracy, social justice, land reform and better management of all national resources.   

SRP’s vision and commitment are ardently shared by hundreds of thousands of active members throughout Cambodia covering all walks of life, and thousands more all over the world. There are more who work behind the scene. Such a power base has derived tenacity and courage to initiate and pursue programs for gradual reforms to Cambodian institutions towards a prosperous and democratic Cambodia.