King Calls on Parties to Respect Constitution

King Norodom Sihamoni announced Friday that the political impasse that has been formed in the wake of the July 28 national election should be resolved by “competent institutions stipulated by the Constitution and laws” of the country. Both the ruling CPP and opposition CNRP claimed that King Sihamoni’s message, which was sent in a letter to all Cambodian citizens, supported their position in the post-election standoff. But a political analyst said the King’s letter clearly supported the CPP’s position that any investigation into election irregularities must be conducted by the National Election Committee (NEC) or Constitutional Council of Cambodia, which are the only bodies given legal authority over the electoral process. The CNRP has said an independent commission must conduct an investigation into election irregularities as it claims both the NEC and Constitutional Council are composed mainly of members loyal to the CPP. According to the opposition, both bodies are therefore incapable of coming to an impartial decision over its claims that the CPP and NEC colluded in widespread manipulation of voter rolls and electoral fraud. Cheam Yeap, a senior CPP lawmaker, said Sunday he saw the King’s letter as supporting the CPP’s position that an investigation, outside the authority of the NEC and Constitutional Council, would not be legally permissible. “The royal message means that the Constitution stands as the basic law. The authorities have to follow the Constitution, and the Constitution stipulates that the people must follow authorities,” Mr. Yeap said.

 Colin Meyn and Phorn Bopha
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/king-calls-on-parties-to-respect-constitution-41551/