CPP, CNRP Negotiations Next Week

PHNOM PENH, (Khmer Times) – The proposed meeting of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) with the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) with the aim of breaking the month long deadlock is scheduled for next week.

On Thursday morning over breakfast, CNRP’s Kuoy Bunroeun and the CPP’s rum Sokha, discussed the way forward for next week’s meeting. 

Khmer Times learned from very reliable sources involved with the scheduling that CNRP President Sam Rainsy had telephoned Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, the CNRP’s preferred point of contact with the CPP, to call for a meeting to break the deadlock which has seen the 55 parliamentarians elect boycotting the National Assembly since its inauguration on 23rd of September, 2013.

“Mr. Rainsy tried to insist in a meeting this week, but the CPP had declined and it should be scheduled for next week when the Prime Minister is back from China. In addition, the CNRP president was also told to get consensus from his deputy president, Mr. Kem Sokha and any other people before resuming the meeting.”

They added that there will also be a change in the CNRP’s composition as long term Parliamentarian and key CNRP official Mr. Sonn Chhay, Member of Parliament-elect for Phnom Penh is likely to be replaced by Member of Parliament-elect from Kompong Cham, Mr. Kuoy Bunroeun.

“Mr. Bunroeun is the brother in law of Mr. Eng Chhai Eang, Member of parliament elect for Kandal province. We understand that the change was initiated by Mr. Rainsy as Mr. Chhay was perceived to be too diplomatic in his negotiations with the CPP, which will be headed by Mr. Prum Sokha.”

Khmer Times has also reliably learned that the CNRP has come under intense pressure from the international community who have been their most ardent backers.

It is understood that the European Union and the United States of America has called on the CNRP leaders to compromise to break the deadlock and undertake reforms and changes proposed and included in the negotiation framework.

“There may be counter of proposals to the preliminary agreements made before between Mr. Hun Sen and Mr. Rainsy on 10th of April 2010” whereby Mr. Hun Sen said he had agreed during extensive talks with Sam Rainsy via telephone on 9th of April 2014 “that he would call for commune elections in February 2017 and general elections in February 2018, five months earlier than scheduled, as part of a compromise to end a political deadlock that had gripped Cambodia since the last elections in July 2013.

“There is a possibility that there could be an agreement for commune elections to be held a year earlier in 2017 and the general election in 2017, providing of course, the CNRP end their boycott, take their seats in the National Assembly and vote for a constitutional amendment to enable this to happen,” they said.

The officials stressed that these were the key proposals and if this could be agreed upon, there is a very high possibility that the impasse may be over by June.

“The CNRP has also tentatively agreed to drop one of their key points – demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hun Sen as they have now realized that this a CPP matter and that the premier was nominated by the party, has the full support of the party and was elected as the Prime Minister by sitting members of the parliament.” 

They added that there should be no qualms about this as it was Mr. Rainsy who made this possible with his proposal to amend the constitution in 2006 to enable a party with a simple majority to form the government.