CNRP: Protest planned for September 7

Cambodia opposition plans mass protest on Sept. 7 against poll results

English.news.cn   2013-08-28 19:05:22

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) planned to hold a "nonviolent mass demonstration" on Sept. 7 against the contested election results in which the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won a majority of vote.
In its statement on Wednesday, the CNRP said the party would hold a press conference on Thursday at its headquarters in Phnom Penh in order to give details of the mass protest plan.
The country held a general election on July 28. Initial election results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party ( CPP) of Hun Sen won the election with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, while the CNRP of long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats.
But the CNRP rejected the results, saying that it should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved.
Rainsy told his supporters at the capital's Freedom Park on Monday that he would call nonviolent and peaceful protests throughout the country if an independent committee was not established to look into poll irregularities.
Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee, said there was no need to discuss the formation of any independent committee because the initial election results had been already released and the final results would be issued on Sept. 8.
The opposition party has repeatedly threatened to call mass protests against the poll results.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng wrote a letter to Sam Rainsy on Aug. 8, saying that peaceful demonstrations are the rights of people, but protesters and their leaders must comply with the regulations of the law on peaceful demonstrations.
"In case that a protest has led to violence, destruction to national security, and damage to public or private properties, the protest leaders and offenders must take full responsibilities in front of the law for consequences arising from the protest," he warned.
Soldiers, police and military police with armored vehicles have been deployed around Phnom Penh City since early this month after the opposition's protest warning.
Under the country's constitution, a new parliament will be inaugurated no later than 60 days after the election.
Hun Sen said on Aug. 2 that a new parliament and a new government would be established as scheduled despite the opposition's boycott.
According to the constitution, he said, a new government would be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the new parliament.
Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for five more years through the election victory.

Cambodia's Elections: Aftermath

. Letter from Catherine Ashton, High Representative, Vice-President of the European Commission congratulating Sam Rainsy for the rise of the opposition.

. The King left to China for medical check up.

. German Ambassador talk with PM Hun Sen
Despot & Diplomat

 

. National Election Committee Will Not Investigate Irregularities

by Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - The National Election Committee said Tuesday it will not form an investigative commission to look into irregularities in last month’s polls.

NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha told reporters that the ruling and opposition parties had failed to agree on the formation of such a commission, making it “impossible” to investigate the widespread reports of voter fraud.

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party has said it won the July 28 elections, with 68 of 123 National Assembly seats.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has refused to accept the results of an election without an investigation into a process it says was deeply marred by irregularities.

“There is no compromise between the parties, and it’s impossible to create the commission,” Tep Nitha said Tuesday. “It’s too late to address irregularities.”

The opposition party, along with numerous observers and rights groups, says Election Day was deeply flawed, including a voter registry that either duplicated names, allowing for multiple votes, or omitted names of many voters.

Rescue Party officials say up to 1.2 million people were not given the chance to vote, and that if they had, the party would have won the election. Party officials have said they could boycott the National Assembly’s opening session, potentially halting the formation of a new government.

In negotiations over the formation of the NEC commission, the Rescue Party said it wanted UN observers present for the investigation. The ruling CPP gave “no answer” to those demands, said Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the party.

Solution to Deadlock: New Elections

As announced today, August 12, 2013, by the National Election Committee and compiled by others:

The Cambodian People Party got                   3,227,729 or    48.79%
The Cambodian National rescue Party got      2,941,133        44.44%
The other 6 parties got                                      447,243          6.77%
                                                                                                100%
                                             from a total of     6,616,105people who had actually voted.

There were a total of 9,675,453 registered voters, an absentee rate of 31.62%. There were a campaign by the Khmer People Power Movement (Suon Serey Ratha) and the Lotus Revolution Movement (Dr. Ou Chal) to boycott the elections and people who can't vote as stated by the CNRP and NGOs because of irregularities in the voters lists and the voting process.
    Based on these numbers, the CPP would get  33.36%
                                                CNRP               30.40%
                                                Others                 4.62%

It is clear that there is not an absolute majority for any party to morally having a mandate to lead the country. Truly it is good to have a second round of elections. No law?? No money?? If there is a will, there is a way!
The other alternative is negotiation to share power with its risks and perils of the past.

If there is no fundamental change, there will be the same problems for the future elections.

The CNRP immediately rejects the above results. They are asking for joint committee to investigate.
We will see ... in the mean time, there were armored carriers and troops moving around Phnom Penh ...

More, after the Elections

Cambodia's final poll results to be released on Aug. 14 if no complaints

English.news.cn   2013-08-05 23:02:23

PHNOM PENH, Aug.5 (Xinhua)-- The National Election Committee ( NEC) will release the official results of the general election on Aug. 14 if there are no complaints by political parties, according to NEC's schedule Monday. "The official results with seat allocation and elected candidates will be released on Aug. 14 if there are no challenges from political parties, but the results will be issued on Sept. 8 if there are complaints," said the NEC's schedule.
It said the initial official results will be released on Aug. 10.
Cambodia held a general election on July 28. According to the initial unofficial results issued by the ruling Cambodian People' s Party (CPP), the CPP of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen has won 68 out of the 123 parliamentary seats, with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy taking the remaining 55 seats.
But the CNRP, claiming serious irregularities, rejected the results and called for an independent investigation committee with the United Nations as a "referee."
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng said Monday that it doesn't conform to Cambodian law to invite the UN to join the committee.
"It is impossible to create a committee outside the law in effect," he told reporters. "It is also impossible to reject the NEC's role, which was created by law and was given confidence by the National Assembly."
On Sunday, Im Suosdey, chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC), said that the NEC could allow the establishment of a joint committee comprising the NEC, the CPP and CNRP as members, while national and international officials as observers.
"It is beyond the NEC's authority to invite a UN representative to join the proposed joint committee," he told reporters. "The NEC will set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate irregularities during the poll no matter the CNRP agrees or disagrees, we cannot wait for it."
Cambodian election is widely welcomed by national and international observers for its free, fair and non-violent conduct, he said.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement last Friday that he welcomed the "peaceful conduct" of the elections in Cambodia and urged the authorities to adjudicate complaints " fairly and transparently."
Upon the poll victory, Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will be able to extend his rule by five more years.
According to the constitution, a new National Assembly will be established not later than 60 days after the election.

Editor: yan   Cambodian King calls on political parties to resolve disputed poll peacefully English.news.cn   2013-08-07 22:03:19               PHNOM PENH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday called on the ruling party and the opposition party to solve their dispute over the election result peacefully for the sake of the nation. "For the interest of our country and people, and to maintain national peace and stability, I would like to appeal to the two political parties to continue to discuss each other in order to find a peaceful solution to the conflict or remaining issues," he said in a royal message. The king's appeal came after the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) rejected the results of the July 28 election, and warned to hold nationwide mass protests and to boycott the upcoming first parliamentary session. The initial unofficial results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, with the opposition CNRP taking the remaining 55 seats. But CNRP leader Sam Rainsy, claiming serious irregularities in the poll, did not recognize the results and called on the United Nations to be a "referee" in a proposed poll probe committee which was rejected by the Cambodian National Election Committee (NEC). The NEC said it could only allow the establishment of a committee comprising the NEC, CPP and CNRP as members, with national, international or UN officials as observers. "It is beyond the NEC's authority to invite a UN representative to join the proposed committee," NEC Chairman Im Suosdey told reporters on Sunday. At a rally in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, Sam Rainsy repeatedly warned to lead mass protests against the poll results. "We urge all people to get up to protect our victory," he said, claiming that his opposition CNRP had won 63 seats, with the ruling CPP getting 60 seats. Also, at the rally, CNRP Vice-President Kem Sokha warned to boycott the upcoming first parliamentary session if the party's demand for a UN-backed poll investigation committee was not met. "We vow in front of you that if they do not find justice for us, we will not join the first National Assembly session," Kem Sokha told a rally of about 3,000 supporters. "Now, we call for the UN to find justice for us. If there is no a just solution for us, people will find justice by themselves." In the royal message on Wednesday, the king also appealed to all people to keep calm, maintain national dignity, and continue to make a happy living as usual. "I would like to urge all people to maintain national unity and solidarity, which are our driving force to overcome every major difficulty," he said. The king said that the results of the election will be officially released by the National Election Committee between Aug. 14 and Sept. 8. Prime Minister Hun Sen said last Friday that the new parliament and government would be established as schedule even though the opposition boycotted the first parliamentary session. "According to the constitution, a new government will be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the new National Assembly," said Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years. "I will be the prime minister for the new five-year mandate government," he said. A new parliament will be convened by the king no later than 60 days after the election, according to the country's constitution. "If lawmakers of any political parties fail to show up in the first parliamentary session, it means that they quit their seats, so those abandoned seats will be given to other parties in parliament," he said. Editor: Yang Lina

AFTER THE ELECTIONS

CNRP rejects the results announced by the Government 68/55 and declares that CNRP won with 63 over 60. First PM Hun Sen accepts the investigations by a mixed commission to later reject. This is the last media report:

Cambodia: Prime Minister Insists He’ll Stay in Power

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: August 2, 2013

Hopes for a compromise solution to a deadlock over Cambodia’s election results faded Friday as Prime Minister Hun Sen insisted that he could form a new government even if the opposition boycotted Parliament. Mr. Hun Sen said the Constitution allowed Parliament to carry out its tasks with a simple majority of its 123 members present.

Several independent nonpartisan agencies interpret the law to call for a quorum of at least 120 members to be present to open the new assembly session and form a government. Mr. Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party said provisional results showed that it won 68 seats to the opposition’s 55. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party said that it had won 63 seats and that voting irregularities had been widespread.

The results from the government-appointed National Election Committee are still provisional. “There will be no deadlock for the new National Assembly and the forming of a new government,” Mr. Hun Sen said Friday. “I will be the prime minister for the fifth five-year term of the government.”