The opposition still challenging the election results of the 27th of July

Cambodge Soir
09-08-2008

One day before the NEC announced the preliminary results of the elections, three political parties once again threaten to boycott the parliamentary opening session in September.

“Unacceptable”, declare the three main opposition parties in advance, the SRP, the HRP and the NRP, the day before the announcement of the preliminary election results of the 27th of July by the National Election Committee (NEC).

During a press conference on Friday 8th of August, the gathered representatives of these political parties have disputed the analysis of the NEC in advance. They also requested the committee to dispense justice on the “incorrect” use of the 1018 form and on the “abusive” radiation of names from the rolls.

The head of the SRP has eloquently explained a parallel between “the Pol Pot regime which killed more than two million people and now the CPP which destroys the civil rights of approximately two million voters”.

Muth Chantha, spokesperson for the NRP is directly attacking the committee: “The NEC has committed a serious crime; it has denied the citizens the right to vote.”

Concerning the continuation of the events, the representatives of the opposition were clear. If their complaints aren’t processed according to the law, they won’t join the parliamentary opening session on the 24th of September.

Moreover, Sam Rainsy doesn’t think that the King will be there. “Why would Hun Sen take decisions instead of the King”, did he say, before adding: “two million people didn’t get to vote. These are King’s subjects, the King represents the people.”

The opposition will take the matter further. The parties are thinking about introducing a complaint with the countries that signed the “Paris Agreements” of 1991, in which was stated that Cambodia had to follow a democratic system.

This whole excitement doesn’t seem to bother Khieu Kanharith, the current Minister of Information. Interviewed by “Cambodge Soir Hebdo”, he reacted to the threats of the SRP, the HRP and the NRP not to join the first session of the National Assembly in September. His answer is radical: “Usually, if a party member dies or resigns, his party has to appoint a successor. If a party doesn’t acknowledge the Assembly, it means that it withdraws and its seats will then be shared.” The opposition has now been warned.