CNRP Will Turn Planned Mass Demonstration into Prayer Meeting

Cambodia (Kohker) – Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has softened its stance on holding a mass protest on September 7 to demand the establishment of an independent commission to probe irregularities of the recent general election, by turning it into a prayer meeting.

“His Majesty King Norordom Sihamoni of Cambodia on August 30 issued a royal message calling on all citizens to maintain calm and national dignity; so the CNRP had to follow the King’s recommendation by deciding to turn the spirit of our planned mass demonstration into “a prayer and meditation meeting for peace and justice for voters,” CNRP President Sam Rainsy said at a press conference this morning.

The CNRP president said the party will hold the prayer meeting nationwide on the morning of 7 September at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park, starting from 9 until 11 O’clock, but people living in the provinces who cannot come to Phnom Penh to attend the meeting will hold such a meeting at pagodas in their home provinces. Sam Rainsy said the CNRP will assure a strict discipline by asking participants to swear to avoid violence so that the gathering will be peaceful.

“We will also tell them not to take sticks or stones, etc., but candles, incense sticks and flowers, to the gathering site,” Sam Rainsy said, adding that the CNRP would notify the authorities concerned about its planned prayer meeting and would seek cooperation from them in maintaining security and orders for the participants. He also urged the authorities not to ban people coming from provinces from attending the meeting or restrict the number of participants.

When asked if the CNRP would continue to hold any protest after the 7 September prayer meeting, the CNRP leader said if justice cannot be found for the voters after that, the opposition party would consider what it would do later.

In the conference, the opposition leaders also told reporters that they would file a criminal lawsuit against National Election Committee President Im Suosdey and “his accomplices” over the election irregularities.

“The CNRP is discussing the matter with its lawyers and will begin its legal action soon after the Constitutional Council has finished hearing its election complaints,” CNRP vice-president Kem Sokha said.