Opposition leaders Meets Supporters in Phnom Penh

Cambodia (Kohker) - Leaders of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) held a meeting with their supporters at Phnom Penh's Freedom Park on the evening of August 26. This was their second big rally held in the capital city this month. About 10 thousand people turned out at the gathering, which began around 4:00 p.m. and lasted for about 3 hours.


The CNRP vice-president Kem Sokha said the purpose of the meeting was to inform voters about the party's political stance in the post-election period. He thanked the voters, especially those in Phnom Penh, for voting for the opposition, saying they had made the right decision.

"Your decision to vote for the CNRP on July 28 means you voted to oust the current dictatorial and corrupt leader," he said.

Kem Sokha told the crowd that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), with the held of the National Election Committee (NEC), had stolen their votes and victory and he declared that the CNRP would continue to seek justice for them by demanding the establishment of an independent mechanism that would consist of national and international organizations and the UN as observers to investigation serious irregularities that the party claimed had taken place in the general election. The CNRP does not believe that the NEC and the Constitutional Council would be able to resolve the election irregularities and find the real justice for the voters, he said, adding that the opposition leaders would file a court complaint against the NEC leaders for falsifying election documents.

In the meeting, CNRP president Sam Rainsy told his supporters that irregularities found when the "Safety Packages A" [in which original polling data are kept] were opened for verification of election results at the NEC headquarters on Sunday morning were serious and were the "ill acts of the NEC and the CPP" who, he claimed, had stolen the votes of the people; and he called for the resignation of the NEC's 9 members.

Sam Rainsy also said that the CNRP would continue to urge the Constitutional Council to order the NEC to open more "Safety Packages A" and to find a proper solution before the final election results will be officially announced. The CNRP will also continue to demand the formation of an independent commission to investigate the election irregularities because the party does not trust the NEC and the constitutional Council, he said, warning again to hold mass demonstration in the whole country if such a commission cannot be established.