| Original report from Phnom Penh 10 September 2008 |
Khmer audio aired 10 September 2008 (761 KB) - Listen (MP3)
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| Opposition leader Sam Rainsy |
King Sihamoni issued his royal invitation to all 123 newly elected members of the National Assembly, but officials of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties, representing 29 seats, have maintained their position that July's election was illegitimate and say they will not swear in next to the ruling party.
The opposition has instead requested an alternate date to swear in, a day later, according to top officials from both parties.
Neither party is willing to be sworn in next to the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said Kong Kom, acting president of the Sam Rainsy Party, and Yem Ponhearith, secretary-general of the Human Rights Party.
Party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are currently out of the country, seeking support from the international community for claims July's election was fraudulent and a new vote should be conducted.
Both party leaders have said in the past they would boycott the swearing-in ceremony altogether.
A royal official warned Wednesday the request for a second swearing in was not likely to be granted.
"The king, as the head of state, invited all 123 elected parliamentarians to the swearing-in ceremony on [Sept. 24]," Um Daravuth, a member of the Royal Cabinet, said Wednesday. "If any party does not respect the king's orders, I say that party is wrong under the Cambodian constitution."
"In no country in the world does a National Assembly swear in two times," Um Daravuth said.
An independent analyst said Wednesday it was up to the king to bring the parties together.
"The king should use his cleverness to bring all the parties to join the swearing-in together for national unity," said Lao Monghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission.
1 comment:
My personal opinion "Are you in or are you out?".
Declined to swearing in along side the CPP but would take it the next day is similar to "Yes, I will be in but on my term".
If look back at the situation in Zimbawe when the President lost the election to the opposition he also declined to accept the result of the election, then engineered another election without the participation of the opposition - declared a winner without any opposition.
The stand-off went on, until an agreement is reached through power sharing quota [President is said to remain the president while oppostion would be the PM].
Cambodia is unique again. The winner cannot form the government because opposition on one hand, is still rejecting results of the election, and at the same time is seeking help from international community through principle of Paris Peace Accord the King to buy a bit more time, whilst on the other hand demand that should be allow to swearing in differently.
At the end of the day, all will be working under the same roof at the NA.
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