Cambodian King calls on political parties to resolve disputed poll peacefully

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni (pictured) 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.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/802334.shtml#.UgJxi8u9KSM