Cambodia officially opens new parliamentary headquarters

Jul 7, 2007

DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia officially opened its 24 million- dollar new National Assembly Saturday in a lavish traditional Buddhist ceremony presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni and seven of the nation's most venerable Buddhist monks.

With 7,777 guests in attendance, the timing of the opening to coincide with the anniversary of factional fighting in 1997 which ousted then First Prime Minister and Funcinpec leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh was almost certainly for its astrological significance rather than irony.

Cambodian People's Party (CPP) lawmaker Cheam Yeap declared that 2007 was the anniversary of democracy which was established in Cambodia in late 1946. Observers noted that Prince Norodom Sihanouk's rule from 1953 until UN-organized elections in 1993 Cambodia was ruled

by single parties.

Labels: Chiem Yeap, China influence, Inauguration, New NA building

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