Political sides fail to reach agreement before New Year

Cambodia’s rival political sides failed to sign an agreement that would have ended the ongoing political crisis on Friday. Kem Sokha, vice president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, told VOA Khmer that the gulf between the two sides in negotiations remains too wide to form an agreement. … The Rescue Party wants a National Election Committee that is constitutionally and legislatively chosen, a sticking point for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party. The opposition also wants a new election held in 2016; the CPP says it will consider one in 2018. And there are questions over TV and radio licenses for the Rescue Party, Kem Sokha said. Conceding to the demands of the CPP, when all points are not clear, is not an option, he said. “It would be meaningless to the people who tried their best, conducting mass protests, and it would be meaningless to those abroad who financially helped support the protests.” …

 Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodia-political-sides-fail-to-reach-agreement-before-new-year/1893239.html