Heavy Security Amid a Loss Of Legitimacy For CPP

The past two days have seen some of the most conspicuous displays of government control of the capital in years, with military and riot police being deployed to ensure the safety of ruling CPP lawmakers and leaders being sworn in to parliament in the absence of the boycotting opposition. Residents of Phnom Penh, many outraged at the swearing in of Mr. Hun Sen and his party amid the absence of 55 members of parliament, questioned Tuesday the legitimacy of a government formed behind such a security shutdown of parts of the city. … “They are afraid,” said So Thy, 59, at a coffee shop in Daun Penh district, explaining why the government had deployed security forces and erected razor-wire barricades throughout the city. Mr. Thy said he believed the ruling CPP is troubled by people’s growing willingness to demonstrate against the government’s refusal to set up an independent inquiry into the disputed results of the July 28 national election. “They are afraid of the people since they created a National Assembly that is not legitimate [and] they are afraid because they got their seats by stealing them,” Mr. Thy said, echoing the opposition’s criticism of the July election. … Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan denied that the police presence in the city over the past two days is an indication that the government faces a legitimacy problem, and said that it is the appropriate response to threats of rebellion from the opposition. “It’s law and order, every nation does the same thing. After the election, the CNRP called for demonstrations throughout the country and we, as a government, are trying to maintain order…against a strategy of rebellion,” he said, explaining that the government was up against behavior it had not had to deal with during previous mandates. …

 Phorn Bopha and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/heavy-security-amid-a-loss-of-legitimacy-for-cpp-43136/