Opposition Asks Donors to Stop Work With Government

Lawmakers from the opposition SRP and Human Rights Party who were expelled from Parliament earlier this month have called on the foreign diplomatic corps and international donors to stop signing agreements and conducting other business with the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen. In a letter written on National Assembly stationary, the parliamentarians argue that because 27 opposition lawmakers, and two Funcinpec members, were dismissed from the National Assembly on June 5, the current government is no longer constitutional. … “All Embassies, Diplomatic Missions, and Multilateral Donors stationed in the Kingdom of Cambodia or stationed outside the Kingdom of Cambodia are advised to refrain from signing any agreement with the current Royal Government of Cambodia…until the new legitimate National Assembly is elected and a new Government is formed accordingly.” The letter cites Article 76 of the Constitution, which, according to the letter, states, “the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia is legitimate if it is formed by at least 120 elected Parliamentarians.” However, the actual wording of the Constitution states simply: “The National Assembly consists of at least 120 members.” Due to the expulsion of the 29 lawmakers, there are currently just 93 lawmakers that make up the National Assembly. SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann said the letter was sent out Thursday afternoon, and had not yet received any replies from embassies or donors, but hoped that over the next two days they would receive official support from recipients of the letter. …

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/opposition-asks-donors-to-stop-work-with-government-31421/