Two hundred opposition youth activists converged at the CNRP's Phnom Penh headquarters yesterday to meet with party leaders and discuss the recent escalation in political tensions.

During the three-hour meeting, Cambodia National Rescue Party acting president Kem Sokha counselled “maturity and patience” and urged the 200 attendees to register to vote as soon as possible, said party spokesman Yim Sovann.

“We also spoke to them about how to prepare themselves to become junior officials, how to train themselves to become the leaders of party,” Sovann added.

In coming weeks, CNRP representatives will travel to the provinces to help strengthen the party’s youth wing, Sovann said.

In the past several weeks, the party has seen two lawmakers bashed by pro-government protests and its leader Sam Rainsy go into self-imposed exile in Europe to avoid an arrest warrant widely considered politically motivated.

Hing Sok San, president of the CNRP’s youth wing, said the recent political turmoil had spurred membership.

“It’s been a wake-up call,” Sok San said. “Many people who before don’t get involved with politics, when they see bad things happen, they get engaged.”