CPP: On the move

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's ruling party- controlled National Assembly on Thursday convened its first plenary session to elect members for the body's nine commissions, while the opposition party has continued to boycott the parliament over July's disputed election.

Sixty-eight lawmakers of the Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party on Sept. 24 approved a parliamentary president, chairpersons for the body's nine commissions and Hun Sen's new Cabinet even though the opposition party's 55 lawmakers boycotted the session since they refused to accept the election results.

Thursday's session, attended by 64 ruling party lawmakers, was chaired by President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has announced that his party did not recognize the Prime Minister Hun Sen-led government, claiming that the newly-formed government was a violation of the constitution.

However, Hun Sen has defended that his government was " legitimate" since the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni had already given endorsement.

Rainsy departed Cambodia Monday night on a two-week trip to Europe and the United States in order to seek international intervention in the political impasse triggered by disputed election.

Opposition's lawmaker-elect Ho Vann said on Thursday that the party would continue to boycott the parliament until there was an appropriate solution to the political crisis.

"We want a check and balance role in parliament, or we will continue our boycotts," he told Xinhua over telephone.

He said the party would call a three-day massive protest, starting from Oct. 23, in Phnom Penh in order to submit petitions to the United Nations and 18 signatory countries of the Paris Accord to seek their intervention in the dispute.