Rainsy calls Assembly meeting ‘communist’

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, along with the rest of his party, condemned the opening of the National Assembly yesterday, saying in a speech delivered in Siem Reap that the action violated the constitution and had reverted the country to “communist” rule.

Even as rumours swirled about a fake letter purporting to show Cambodia National Recue Party second-in-command Kem Sokha promising to join the parliament in exchange for key positions in the assembly, Sokha and Rainsy presented a unified front in lambasting the ruling Cambodian People’s Party for refusing to delay the body’s first meeting.

“Now their party controls the state and society like in the communist era, going back before the 1991 agreement,” Rainsy said, speaking at Monisovann pagoda. “This is also a violation of the Paris [Peace] Agreement, violating the constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, because it is not a multi-party [system], but a unilateral party [system], the same as in communist times.” …

The 55 elected CNRP lawmakers – and eight others the party maintains would have been elected had the vote count been fair – were in Siem Reap town to formulate a strategy for dealing with the current situation, Rainsy said.

Deputy CNRP president Sokha took time yesterday to vehemently deny the authenticity of a letter bearing his signature and addressed to Prime Minister Hun Sen that started circulating yesterday. In the letter, the lawmaker-elect appeared to promise to bring 23 parliamentarians to take their seats, while accepting the role of vice-president of the National Assembly, and the leadership of four committees for fellow opposition members. …

 May Titthara, Meas Sokchea and Stuart White
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rainsy-calls-assembly-meeting-%E2%80%98communist%E2%80%99