Getting a head start on campaigning for the 2018 elections, opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha yesterday promised Cham voters in Kampong Chhnang’s Kampong Tralach district that a change in the country’s leadership would mean a change in its approach to land disputes as well.

Speaking at a gathering for Eid al-Adha, the pair said that they had heard from Chams concerned about losing their homes in land disputes, and said that a Cambodia National Rescue Party government would take a more equitable approach to development.

“What we can guarantee 100 per cent is the 2018 national election. In this election, the government will be changed, the top leaders changed, the national policy changed,” Sam Rainsy said.

“As a principle . . . we want to develop, we want to make this place better, but that development is development for the people, not for companies, not for oknhas,” Rainsy said. “The principle of the other side is that they have full power, so if they want to do anything, it’s up to them. If they want to evict someone, they want to mistreat someone, it’s up to them.”

Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan, however, dismissed Rainsy’s accusations, calling them baseless.

“His opinion is the same old song . . . Even when there is not a negative point, he still raises negative points to downgrade the achievements of the ruling party for his own advantage,” Eysan said.