Cambodia opposition ends protest as talks on political impasse make headway

By Nguon Sovan English.news.cn   2013-09-17 19:25:51

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's opposition party on Tuesday afternoon ended a 3-day mass demonstration after talks between its party's leader Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen over political stalemate have made progress.

"Our three-day protest has come to an end successfully. I'd like to thank all of you for your time and money to join us. Please return home safely," Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said at the closing of the rally, which was attended by more than 10,000 supporters at the Freedom Park in the capital.

The opposition party launched the mass protest on Sunday at the Park against the contested July 28 election results that gave victory to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The official results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats and the CNRP 55 seats.

Protesters marched through the city and two clashes between police and protesters broke out on Sunday. A protester was shot dead and several wounded in one accident, and a police officer was injured on his head by a stone thrown by protesters in another.

On the following day, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy held a five-hour talk, aiming at finding a way to break through the political stalemate, and the two leaders agreed on three points: no more clashes between police and protesters, creating a mechanism to reform the National Election Committee and more meetings with officials at various levels to resolve national issues.

However, Hun Sen did not agree with a Sam Rainsy's request for an independent committee to look into the contested election results as he said the proposed committee was against the country' s constitution and more importantly, the results of election were already ratified.

The two leaders continued another three-hour meeting on Tuesday at the National Assembly.

Spokesmen said after the meeting that both sides have moved closer to an agreement to break through the post-election political deadlock.

"We have moved closer to each other on the current political issues and reforms to key national institutions," CNRP's spokesman Yim Sovanna said in a joint press briefing after a meeting.

"We are narrowing the gap of differences towards a common ground; however, we need more talks. Hopefully, both sides will be able to find a common ground before the opening session of the parliament on Sept. 23," he said.

Prak Sokhonn, minister attached to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the two sides had agreed on several issues, but they still needed more time to discuss internally in their respective parties.

"Today, there is no a joint statement because we have not totally agreed with all the issues," he said. "Both sides will meet again when they find any formula to reduce the gap of differences relevant to the issues."

They both declined to unveil specific issues they had agreed on.

King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday invited all the 123 elected lawmakers for the opening session of the new parliament on Sept. 23.

Sam Rainsy reiterated at the closing of the rally on Tuesday that the CNRP's lawmakers would not attend the session and would call another mass protest before the session if there was no appropriate solution to the contested election results.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government.

Hun Sen, 61, who has ruled the country for 28 years, will extend his power for further five years through the election victory.

Editor: Yang Yi