Un nouveau Parti politique défendant les droits des Peuples Indigènes du Cambodge : “Cambodia Indigenous People Democracy Party (CIPDP)” est né.

Indigenous Group Applies For Party Status

Mr. Khet said the Bunong, an indigenous ethnic minority from eastern Cambodia, made up the plurality of the would-be party’s 80 founding members. A Bunong himself, he said the rest were mostly Kuoy, Por and Prao, and that all 80 came from six provinces: Battambang, Kompong Thom, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey and Stung Treng.

“We do this based on the will of the indigenous people of Cambodia, who want to protect their customs, traditions and culture, and the natural resources,” he said. “They want people [in power] who know their identity and who pay attention to indigenous people.”

Mr. Khet estimated that about 500,000 Cambodians were members of indigenous minorities, out of roughly 15 million people living in the country