PHNOM PENH: Thach Setha, a former member of the Sam Rainsy’s Party (SRP), now known as Candlelight Party (CP) who left the party to join the CNRP, has returned to his original party after review and approval of the group yesterday.

The Candlelight Party welcomes back Mr. Thach Setha and has even appointed him as the spokesman of the Candlelight Party.The announcement made on Wednesday states that his appointment was due to his seniority as the party's founder since its foundation. There is a whisper in the wind that Thach Setha's decision to return is to follow Sam Rainsy's to regroup supporters and eventually reclaim the leadership from Kem Sokha.

Muth Chantha, former opposition leader Kem Sokha’s ex-cabinet chief, boldly says that Sam Rainsy is using Kem Sokha as a political instrument to cheat the Cambodian people in order to gain popularity. And he wrote on his Facebook page this Thursday that Kem Sokha is the face, but behind the scenes is still Rainsy. EAC News has not yet been able to contact Thach Setha for further clarification.

The President of the Institute of International Relations of Cambodia and Political Analyst, Dr. Kin Phea believes that the clearer expression of Sam Rainsy's group back into politics shows that "Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are one." Only political rhetoric, but in fact the two are going their separate ways. Their separation has reached a certain level and it is clear that the two leaders did not dare to declare their full separation for fear of losing the support they once had.

Dr. Kin Phea added, a return to any political party is standard in a democratic society. He understands that the Candlelight Party may now be local in gathering former opposition politicians back to this party and participating in the re-election.

 After the 2012 commune council elections, the Sam Rainsy Party, led by Sam Rainsy, and the Human Rights Party, led by Kem Sokha, merged to form the CNRP to run in the 2013 parliamentary elections. However, after the Supreme Court-dissolved the CNRP, the party alliance split and created a series of parties to run in the upcoming elections, while the original party was the Candlelight Party ,formerly the Sam Rainsy Party and The Human Rights Party has not yet taken a position.