Sam Rainsy calls for renewed efforts at Cambodian political resolution

Cambodia’s opposition leader Sam Rainsy, fresh from a trip to the European Union, called Wednesday on the country’s ruling party to return to the negotiating table in a bid to end a nine-month political standoff since disputed elections last year. Sam Rainsy said that EU leaders had asked that his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) “resolve the deadlock peacefully,” speaking to reporters at the Phnom Penh International Airport. … After speaking with reporters, Sam Rainsy visited Freedom Park—the capital’s designated protest space which has been kept off limits to gatherings with political undertones most of this year, and where workers’ unions and nongovernmental organizations are planning to hold a May 1 Labor Day rally even though permission has been refused by the authorities. … Later on Wednesday, Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha also met with the U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri to discuss what the two called “rights violations” by the CPP, including restrictions on the freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the ongoing political standoff. …

 Radio Free Asia News Staff
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/resolution-04302014181732.html