The opposition is wondering whether it will join the NA swearing-in session [-Contradiction among HRP leaders]

(Photo: Pring Samrang, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

11 Sept 2008
By Leang Delux and Alain Ney
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French

During their visit to Paris in a tour to alert the International opinion about the numerous “rigging” they have observed during the latest general election, the presidents of the SRP and HRP gave an interview to our colleagues at RFI Khmer-language service.
Maybe it is a distance issue, but a divergence seems to appear among the HRP leaders. In Phnom Penh, on 09 September, while the king just issued the official invitations for the 24 September National Assembly swearing-in ceremony, Yem Ponhearith, HRP secretary-general, declared to Cambodge Soir Hebdo: “We will follow the king’s (invitation).”

On Wednesday 10 September, on the RFI broadcast, Kem Sokha, HRP President, gave a different opinion on this issue. Kem Sokha said that the HRP will not swear in at the same time as the CPP MPs. “The three HRP elected MPs will not go the National Assembly on 24 September,” Kem Sokha stressed.

Sam Rainsy, his new road companion, maintains his position: “We do not recognize the election results, we will not participate in this first session,” Sam Rainsy assured.

When both were asked that this boycott may be construed as a lack of respect for the king, Sam Rainsy skillfully dodged the issue: “No, it’s not that, the king has no power. What the CPP decides, the king is conforming to that. If the CPP does not allow something to the king, the latter would not dare bypass it. Like the case of Ranariddh’s pardon, the green light must be given by the CPP leaders first. This is not an issue of respect or not, but that of our conscience, and our conscience does not allow us to go to this Assembly of (vote) thieves, of ghost and Yuon voters (representatives).”

The two opposition leaders said that they are still waiting for a reply from the king to their request in which they indicated to him their “wish to swear separately from the CPP”. Leaving some doubt behind, Kem Sokha said: “Without a reply from the king, we have not yet decided whether to participate in the first session.”

MPs to get back to benches on September 24

10-09-2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo (English edition)
Click here to read the original article in French

The King officially convened lawmakers for a new parliamentary session. But will Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Human rights Party (HRP) MPs attend?

On September 9, the 123 future MPs of the National Assembly elected in July, received their official convocation--sent by the King--to attend the September 24 session.

Cambodge Soir Hebdo contacted Yem Ponhearith, the HRP General Secretary: “We are in line with the King, but we are still expecting an answer to a letter sent jointly with the SRP. This letter stipulated that we wish not to take the oath at the same time as the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) MPs”.

As for Yim Sovann, Phnom Penh SRP MP: “as long as the complaints filed for election riggings have not been clearly solved, we will not attend the September 24 session. We are still expecting a reply from the King”.

Hun Sen has already warned the opposition party Mps, that failure to attend will result in distributing their seats to other attending party members.

Opposition Requests Second-Day Swear-In [-This is Sihamoni's chance to show his cleverness]

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10 September 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

Two opposition parties have declined an invitation by King Norodom Sihamoni to join in a swearing-in ceremony for the new government scheduled later this month and have asked to have their newly elected parliamentarians sworn in a day later.

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.