Political deal on horizon

Secret negotiations between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition are close to reaching a solution to the political stalemate that has gripped Cambodia since July’s general election, according to sources privy to the discussions. Officials from both parties yesterday denied that talks had occurred, but two independent analysts said they had been briefed in depth by the senior government official acting as a go-between in the negotiations. Political analyst Kem Ley and Heang Rithy, president of the Cambodian National Research Organization, an NGO promoting human rights and democracy, said yesterday they participated in lengthy discussions with the mediator over the proposed demands. According to the pair, a high-ranking government official met with the opposition following the crackdown on striking garment workers and the clear-out of Freedom Park on January 3 and 4 as an envoy of Prime Minister Hun Sen to lay the ground for negotiations between the two parties to be presided over by the King. …

 Kevin Ponniah and Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/political-deal-horizon