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| English.news.cn 2013-12-14 14:38:40 |
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) has announced that it will stage daily protest from
Sunday to urge Prime Minister Hun Sen's government to hold a re-election
following allegations of serious irregularities in the July election.
"The CNRP's Permanent Committee has just decided that we will organize demonstration everyday non-stop to demand a re-election to be held soon," CNRP's leader Sam Rainsy said in a video clip posted on his Facebook page on Friday night.
He said the decision would be announced at the capital's Freedom Park on Sunday, when the first of the demonstrations starts to push for a snap election.
"Please, compatriots, come to join the demonstrations with us," he said.
CNRP's lawmaker-elect Ho Vann said Saturday that the Sunday's rally would be attended by about 20,000 supporters.
"We will rally at the Freedom Park tomorrow, no marching on streets," he told Xinhua.
He said daily protests would be held on a small scale at the Freedom Park over the next week, but will be conducted on a large scale from Dec. 22 onwards.
"Now, we do not demand an independent probe into the disputed July election, but call for a re-election as soon as possible," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Tuesday rejected the opposition's call for a re-election.
"I don't know what to do if they continue to reject the July election results," he told reporters.
"It is impossible to hold a snap election in Cambodia because there is no reason and to hold a re-election will take at least one or two years," he said
He said the ruling Cambodian People's Party's door remained open for further negotiations with the CNRP.
Political dispute between Hun Sen's ruling party and the longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy's party has persisted since the July election results indicated that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition earned the remaining 55 seats.
The opposition has not accepted the outcome and boycotted parliament since then in order to call for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities during the poll, but the ruling party rejected the call, saying it was against the nation's constitution.
One of the protests in mid-September turned violent as protesters threw stones at police and the police retaliated with tear gas, smoke bombs and water cannon. As a result, a protester was shot dead and several got wounded.
Editor:
Shen Qing"The CNRP's Permanent Committee has just decided that we will organize demonstration everyday non-stop to demand a re-election to be held soon," CNRP's leader Sam Rainsy said in a video clip posted on his Facebook page on Friday night.
He said the decision would be announced at the capital's Freedom Park on Sunday, when the first of the demonstrations starts to push for a snap election.
"Please, compatriots, come to join the demonstrations with us," he said.
CNRP's lawmaker-elect Ho Vann said Saturday that the Sunday's rally would be attended by about 20,000 supporters.
"We will rally at the Freedom Park tomorrow, no marching on streets," he told Xinhua.
He said daily protests would be held on a small scale at the Freedom Park over the next week, but will be conducted on a large scale from Dec. 22 onwards.
"Now, we do not demand an independent probe into the disputed July election, but call for a re-election as soon as possible," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Tuesday rejected the opposition's call for a re-election.
"I don't know what to do if they continue to reject the July election results," he told reporters.
"It is impossible to hold a snap election in Cambodia because there is no reason and to hold a re-election will take at least one or two years," he said
He said the ruling Cambodian People's Party's door remained open for further negotiations with the CNRP.
Political dispute between Hun Sen's ruling party and the longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy's party has persisted since the July election results indicated that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition earned the remaining 55 seats.
The opposition has not accepted the outcome and boycotted parliament since then in order to call for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities during the poll, but the ruling party rejected the call, saying it was against the nation's constitution.
One of the protests in mid-September turned violent as protesters threw stones at police and the police retaliated with tear gas, smoke bombs and water cannon. As a result, a protester was shot dead and several got wounded.
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| English.news.cn 2013-12-15 18:02:12 |
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 10,000 supporters of the
opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) held a non- violent
protest at the capital's Freedom Park on Sunday, urging the government
to hold an early reelection following allegations of serious
irregularities in the July polls.
Many protesters tied ribbons around their heads carrying slogans such as "My vote, my life", "Long live democracy!", and " No justice, no peace."
Addressing to the rally, CNRP leader Sam Rainsy said the protest was to push the government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen for a reelection within three months.
"If Prime Minister Hun Sen is brave enough and thinks that he has more popularity, he should allow a reelection, or step down," he said.
He said from now on the party would hold a protest every day at the Freedom Park to demand a snap election.
"If we gather at the Freedom Park to demand the reelection, but the government still ignores the demand, we will march on streets to demand Hun Sen to step down," he said.
Sam Rainsy hailed Thai caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for dissolving the lower house of parliament and calling for general elections in February.
CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha called on people throughout the country to come to Phnom Penh for non-violent daily protest.
After their speeches, the two leaders led thousands of protesters to march on streets in the capital.
National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito said that security
forces have been deployed along the street to ensure security and public order in the city.
"It is their rights to hold a peaceful protest, but if there is any violence happening, we have to take action to ensure public security," he told Xinhua.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has been on a week-long visit to Japan since Thursday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Tuesday rejected the opposition's call for a reelection.
"I don't know what to do if they continue to reject the July election results," he told reporters. "It is impossible to hold a snap election in Cambodia because there is no reason and to hold a reelection will take at least one or two years."
He said the ruling Cambodian People's Party's door remained open for further negotiations with the CNRP.
Political row between Hun Sen's ruling party and longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy's party has persisted since the July election results showed that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition earned the remaining 55 seats.
The opposition refused to accept the outcome and boycotted parliament since then in order to call for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities during the poll, but the ruling party rejected the call, saying it was against the nation's constitution.
One of the protests in mid-September turned violent as protesters threw stones at police and the police retaliated with tear gas, smoke bombs, and water cannons. As a result, a protester was shot dead and several got wounded.
Editor:
Tang DanlMany protesters tied ribbons around their heads carrying slogans such as "My vote, my life", "Long live democracy!", and " No justice, no peace."
Addressing to the rally, CNRP leader Sam Rainsy said the protest was to push the government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen for a reelection within three months.
"If Prime Minister Hun Sen is brave enough and thinks that he has more popularity, he should allow a reelection, or step down," he said.
He said from now on the party would hold a protest every day at the Freedom Park to demand a snap election.
"If we gather at the Freedom Park to demand the reelection, but the government still ignores the demand, we will march on streets to demand Hun Sen to step down," he said.
Sam Rainsy hailed Thai caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for dissolving the lower house of parliament and calling for general elections in February.
CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha called on people throughout the country to come to Phnom Penh for non-violent daily protest.
After their speeches, the two leaders led thousands of protesters to march on streets in the capital.
National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito said that security
forces have been deployed along the street to ensure security and public order in the city."It is their rights to hold a peaceful protest, but if there is any violence happening, we have to take action to ensure public security
," he told Xinhua.Prime Minister Hun Sen has been on a week-long visit to Japan since Thursday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Tuesday rejected the opposition's call for a reelection.
"I don't know what to do if they continue to reject the July election results," he told reporters. "It is impossible to hold a snap election in Cambodia because there is no reason and to hold a reelection will take at least one or two years."
He said the ruling Cambodian People's Party's door remained open for further negotiations with the CNRP.
Political row between Hun Sen's ruling party and longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy's party has persisted since the July election results showed that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition earned the remaining 55 seats.
The opposition refused to accept the outcome and boycotted parliament since then in order to call for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities during the poll, but the ruling party rejected the call, saying it was against the nation's constitution.
One of the protests in mid-September turned violent as protesters threw stones at police and the police retaliated with tear gas, smoke bombs, and water cannons. As a result, a protester was shot dead and several got wounded.
December 19 update
Cambodia’s main opposition party warned Wednesday that it would hold its “biggest protest ever” next month resulting in the closure of national highways and bringing traffic to a grinding halt in the capital if Prime Minister Hun Sen ignores demands to resolve election complaints.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) announced the plans as thousands of anti-government demonstrators joined party leaders for a motorcycle procession through Phnom Penh on their fourth consecutive day of protests calling for new elections over alleged fraud in July polls.
Hundreds have camped out in the city’s Freedom Park since Sunday, when the CNRP launched daily protests after the government ignored its push for an independent probe into voting irregularities in the July 28 elections
CNRP Acting Executive Committee Director Mao Monivann told RFA’s Khmer Service that the plan for early January will involve a massive protest blocking eight national highways, choking off access to the capital.
By shutting down transportation crucial to keeping the country’s economy afloat, the party aims to force the government to listen to demonstrators’ demands, he said.
“In early January, we will organize the biggest protest ever,” he told RFA’s Khmer Service.
“We will seize some main locations and seal off eight national routes. We will freeze traffic,” Mao Monivann said.
Government officials said that the plan was illegal, warning that CNRP leaders could face prosecution for leading such a protest.
“The Traffic Law
states that anyone who blocks roads will be prosecuted,” Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak told RFA. He warned that the plan could escalate the protests to the level of political turmoil seen in neighboring Thailand, where four died and dozens more were injured in clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters at the beginning of the month.
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