CNRP Pledges to Continue Boycott, Stage Demonstrations

Following the convening of a one-party CPP National Assembly, leaders of the opposition CNRP said Monday that they would continue to boycott parliament and use mass demonstrations as a tool to pressure the government to meet their demands for “justice” following what they claim was a fraudulent election. After failed attempts to lobby King Norodom Sihamoni to delay the formation of the new Assembly, opposition leaders said that future protests against the government would spread beyond Phnom Penh, and CNRP president Sam Rainsy said he and vice president Kem Sokha would embark on an international tour to ramp up international pressure on the CPP. “We are devising a plan to mobilize the population to continue protests in a peaceful way and civil disobedience will also be considered as long as it legal,” Mr. Rainsy said, adding that the CNRP would use “internal and external action” as it pushed for reforms from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government. … CNRP chief whip Son Chhay said that the opposition party may be willing to seek alternatives to an investigation into the July 28 ballot in order to join parliament, but he said it would require a guarantee that the power of the CPP over the next five years could be checked by the opposition. “[Our] minimum demand, at least the CPP should recognize we are equal winners in this last election so we can share our responsibilities together, not just legitimize them and let them do all the horrible things again,” he said, adding that outright control of the National Assembly is one concession that the CNRP would accept. … Independent political analyst Chea Vannath said that the CNRP’s paranoia that cooperating with the CPP within the National Assembly would undermine future electoral success was preventing its leaders from entertaining anything less than outright power within parliament. …

 Colin Meyn and Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/cnrp-pledges-to-continue-boycott-stage-demonstrations-43037/