Cambodian Parliament Members Beaten

Two opposition party Cambodian lawmakers were seriously injured Monday after they were beaten by protestors outside the parliament building in Phnom Penh.

The injured lawmakers are Nhoy Chamreoun and Kong Sakphea, members of Cambodia’s National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The protesters demanded the removal of CNRP President Kem Sokha. Most of the demonstrators left after delivering a petition to the Cambodian Assembly on Monday, according to reports from the Cambodian capital. But a small group remained, waiting for lawmakers to leave the building after a morning session.

Nhoy Chamreoun and Kong Sakphea were kicked in the head by some of the protestors. It left them bloodied and dazed. Both required hospital treatment. Chamreoun required surgery.

“I will have a surgery on my right hand shortly and will have a surgery on my right eye tomorrow morning,” Nhoy Chamreoun posted on Facebook Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed strong regrets for the attack.

"Regardless of who they are - whether they are supporters of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the royal government, the opposition party, whoever committed this cheap act must be punished,” he said.

Rescue Party spokesman Yim Sovann said such attacks should never happen again. “I believe serious action should be taken,” the spokesman said.

Opposition politicians in Cambodia have faced arrests during government crackdowns against protests. But this is the first direct physical attack against members of parliament in the last several years.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Neou Vannarin and Sok Khemara reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

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