CNRP Touts Success on Second Day of Demonstrations

As leaders from the CPP and CNRP sat down for a round of top-level negotiations aimed at breaking the country’s prolonged political impasse on Monday, opposition supporters once again poured into Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park for the second day of demonstrations against alleged fraud in July’s election. Thousands of supporters remained in the park throughout the day as CNRP politicians, singers, dancers and a backup band took turns entertaining the crowd. The size and enthusiasm of those assembled peaked about 4 p.m., when opposition leaders took the stage to inform more than 20,000 supporters about the party’s progress in talks with the ruling party. … Though the opposition reported no progress toward the stated goal of forcing the CPP to cooperate in the formation of an impartial commission to investigate the flawed election, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann told a euphoric audience that the talks were a historic success. … Shortly after Mr. Sovann’s speech, opposition leaders Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy arrived and told the crowd they came away from the talks with a guarantee of peace after an opposition supporter was killed on Sunday night during clashes with military and riot police. Mr. Rainsy asked the crowd to join him for a minute of silence in memory of Mao Chan, 29, who was shot dead late Sunday night near Monivong Bridge. … Mr. Rainsy added that the CNRP would follow through with its boycott of Parliament and continue to hold mass demonstrations until its supporters receive justice in the form of an independent probe into election irregularities. … Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned that it is within the authority of the NEC to give the CNRP’s 55 National Assembly seats to the CPP should the opposition refuse to sit in Parliament, a move that would effectively make Cambodia a one-party state. …

 Aun Pheap and Colin Meyn
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/cnrp-touts-success-on-second-day-of-demonstrations-42529/