Cambodia should hold referendum to decide on reelection: political analysts

Cambodia should hold a referendum to decide whether the country calls a reelection or not after allegations of serious irregularities during July’s election that handed victory to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party, political analysts said. … Kek Galabru, president of a renowned human rights group Licadho, proposed that a referendum could be the best choice to break through the five-month-old political dispute in the country. “In my opinion, the leaders of the two parties are the same Khmers. If they have the same good will and want to serve the interest of the nation and the people, they should sit down and talk to find ways to resolve their differences,” she told Xinhua on Saturday. “In a democratic society, people are the owners of the power, so the two leaders should ask the people through a referendum whether they want a reelection or not. If a majority of them want a re-vote, they must follow the will of the people,” she said. … “I have ascended to the prime minister through the constitution. If I descend, it will also be through the constitution,” Hun Sen told reporters. “Therefore, I confirm that there is no reelection because no one can dissolve the National Assembly and no mechanism states about a snap election before the end of the term.” He said Cambodia was different from other countries where prime ministers could dissolve parliaments. Under Article 78 of Cambodia’s constitution, he said, the National Assembly shall not be dissolved before the end of its five-year term, except when the royal government is twice deposed within a period of 12 months. “So, in Cambodia, the prime minister, the king, and the National Assembly itself have no rights to dissolve the parliament, ” he said. …

 Nzweek News Staff
http://www.nzweek.com/world/cambodia-should-hold-referendum-to-decide-on-reelection-political-analysts-2-105897/