Opposition Kicks Off Mass Protest

Cambodia (Kohker) - The opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party's (CNRP) began its mass demonstration in Phnom Penh capital city this morning to demand an independent probe into its alleged irregularities of the July 28 general election.

At around 8:00 a.m., thousands of people including Buddhist monks already arrived at the city’s Freedom Park where the demonstration was held. Some wore yellow headbands or held placards bearing messages:
“Where is My Vote?” “My Vote My Life”, and “My Vote My Nation” etc.; others held flowers symbolizing peace. Among them, many came from various provinces throughout the country.

Security around the Freedom Park was quite good with hundreds of government security forces being deployed at some important government institutions and at corners of main streets. No security officials were spotted within the protesting site. However, traffic police officials were seen at crossroads surrounding the place to help regulate the traffic.   

Due to fear that the mass protest might turn into violence, some city residents, especially those who live nearby the protesting site, closed the doors of their houses and business establishments and some parts of the city was quiet.

The opposition party’s mass demonstration proceeded peacefully with its leaders giving speeches to the crowd of around 20,000 to 50,000 people, expressing their protest to the election results and demanding the establishment of an independent commission to investigate and resolve election irregularities. Before the peaceful mass demonstration ended at around 11:00 a.m., CNRP president Sam Rainsy asked the protestors to approve a draft petition that contained 4 points including: 1) Demand for the establishment of a joint independent commission consisting of representatives from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the opposition CNRP, local and international organizations and the UN to investigate the election irregularities; 2) request for the National Election Committee (NEC) delaying its announcement of the official results of the election; 3) CNRP’s support to NGOs’ recommendations on seeking justice for voters; and 4) request for the King’s intervention in resolving the election dispute. Sam Rainsy read the 4 points one by one and sought the crowd’s approval for them by asking them to raise their hands to prove it, which they all did in accordance with his instruction enthusiastically.

CNRP Vice-President Kem Sokha said the approved petition would be sent to the King, the Royal Government, the Courts, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Council, and the CPP. He also warned that if the CNRP’s demand is ignored and if the NEC dares to announce the official results of the election on Sunday, the CNRP would continue to hold mass demonstrations in the whole country.

During the protest, Prince Sisowath Thomico, a senior official of the CNRP, also made a short speech to the crowd. He disclosed that His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, would return home early next week from Beijing, China where he is staying with his mother Queen Monineath Sihanouk for routine medical checkup. After the king arrives home, the CNRP will seek his intervention in helping resolve the election dispute, the prince said.