Sar Kheng Accuses CNRP of Launching ‘Constitutional Coup’
Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng became the latest senior member of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s CPP government to accuse the opposition CNRP of attempting to “topple” the government though what he claimed is a “constitutional coup.” In a posting to the Interior Ministry website on Thursday following a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia, Yuji Kumamaru, in Phnom Penh, Mr. Kheng said that he told the ambassador that the opposition was trying to oust the government by refusing to accept the disputed result of the July 2013 national election, and by calling for a new vote. … “We see that the CNRP leaders have no real will to resolve the political issue in Cambodia,” Mr. Kheng continued, adding that the CPP is prepared to “negotiate at all levels, and at any time.” Though, Mr. Kheng added: “Demanding a re-election is a demand we cannot accept.” Defending the outcome of the July election, which numerous national and international monitors say was riddled with irregularities designed to boost the chances of the incumbent CPP, Mr. Kheng said the result of the vote was legitimate as polling day was “better than previous elections because there was no violence and it was free.” CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann responded to the Interior Minister on Friday saying that it was the CPP who had ignored the Constitution when it proceeded with inaugurating a National Assembly in which only one party has taken its seats: the CPP. … According to [CPP lawmaker] Mr. [ Cheam] Yeap, a coup d’etat does not require troops and CNRP President Sam Rainsy is attempting to topple the CPP government through his activities in Europe and the U.S. …
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sar-kheng-accuses-cnrp-of-launching-constitutional-coup-51186/
