At least 18 top leaders of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) appeared on television for the first time on Wednesday evening, since there were rumors that the CPP was facing an internal split.
In a public display of unity, the CPP spokesman called the event a "family" dinner that included the CPP President Chea Sim and the CPP VP Hun Sen. Mr. Khieu Kanharith said the meeting was intended to put an end to the false speculation that surfaced when Mr. Chea Sim suddenly left for Thailand for medical reasons, without signing the additional consitutional law that allowed the Block vote in the National Assembly.
However, a Sam Rainsy Party official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the dinner was a disguise to fool national and international opinion.
Cambodia's political observers noted there have been conciliatory talks within the CPP top leadership in the last few days before today's television appearance