Cambodia-CPP forces walk into FUNCINPEC stronghold

(16 Jul 1997) T/I: 10:09:33 More than 1,000 troops of the “ National Armed Forces“ walked into the FUNCINPEC stronghold of Srey Snam on Tuesday (16/7) after meeting virtually no resistance from the royalists. Several T-55 tanks and heavily armed soldiers loyal to the Cambodia’s People Party (CPP) reached the headquarters of RCAF Division 3 in Srey Snam village about 50 kms northwest of Siem Reap town. Local villagers said that soldiers of the third division had left in a hurry earlier in the day after several rockets fired by the national armed forces hit the area leaving three civilians dead and one injured. Upon reaching Division 3 HQ soldiers began shooting at Funcinpec and Division 3 signs and began looting the premises. Soldiers were seen trying on clothing items left behind by the fleeing Royalist soldiers and throwing a portrait of King Sihanouk on the ground a sign of great disrespect for his majesty and the monarchy. SHOWS: SREY SNAM, CAMBODI