Two Human Rights Party activists were killed in a motorcycle
accident Friday in Takeo province as they rushed to attend campaign activities,
officials said.
Mao Hoeurn, 51, vice president of the farmer affairs for the
party, and his father, Mao Ban, 71, an activist for the party, died after their
motorcycle collided with another motorcycle in Taphen commune, Tram Kork
district.
The cause of death was not presumed to be politically
motivated, police and human rights monitors said.
"As per our investigation, Mao Hoeurn was in a hurry
and driving at a high speed, and a traffic accident took place," said HRP
Takeo president Phan Soeurn. "We cannot conclude that this is a political
issue."
Pok Pulrith, chief of traffic police in Takeo, said three
other people were injured, one of them seriously, and are hospitalized in Takeo
provincial hospital.
"This is the first time a political party activist died
in an election campaign due to a traffic accident," he said.
In the first 6 months of 2008, nearly 20 people have died in
Takeo traffic accidents, he said.