Opposition Warns to Hold Mass Protests Again

At press conference held at the opposition party's headquarters in Phnom Penh on Monday morning, CNRP president Sam Rainsy said that he did not trust the National Election Committee (NEC) or the Constitutional Council, the country's top institution authorized to solve the election disputes. He called on the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to return to the negotiation table in order to talk about the establishment of the commission. The CNRP would accept results found by the commission's proper and independent investigation, he said.

The CPP and the CNRP have met several times to seek solutions to their election disputes, but failed to reach any agreement. The CNRP demands again and again that an independent commission that must include representative from local and international organizations and the United Nations be established to investigate the election irregularities, but the CPP wants the election disputes to be settled by the NEC and the Constitutional Council.

The preliminary results of the July 28 general election showed that the CPP won 68 of the total 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the CNRP had received 55, but the opposition party claimed it had received 63 seats, and alleged the ruling party of stealing its votes in collusion with the NEC.