Cambodian opposition to defy gov't ban on rallies during commune election

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday that the party will defy a government ban on rallies during a two-week commune council election campaign, which kicks off on Friday.

"The ban is a violation of the law on election, which states that eligible political parties have rights to hold election campaign to propagandize about their parties' political platforms, " he said in a news conference. "On Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. ( local time), we will gather at Freedom Park (the capital's designated protest site), or nearby Freedom Park and then march through streets."

He said the upcoming rally is not a demonstration, but campaign to publicize the CNRP's political platform ahead of the commune council election, which will be held on May 18.

The election is not a universal poll and instead will be voted by 11,459 sitting commune councilors -- typically along party lines -- for provincial, district and city councilors.

Sam Rainsy's announcement came after Phnom Penh Municipal Vice- Governor Khuong Sreng issued a statement Wednesday to forbid the CNRP from gathering at the Freedom Park or marching through streets in the city during the election campaign from May 2 to 16.

The statement explained that the election is not a universal vote and there are only 810 sitting commune councilors in Phnom Penh, who will cast their ballots.

It said the CNRP can hold the campaign at its headquarters or private locations.

Since Wednesday, heavy security forces have been deployed in the Freedom Park as razor wires and barricades have been placed around the park to prevent people from entering the site.

National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito said Thursday that security measures will be taken if the CNRP defies the ban.

"The ban has been issued already. If they're going to act against the law, police will implement the law so as to ensure public security and social order," he said.

Political row between the Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the Sam Rainsy's CNRP has persisted since the July's national election outcome indicated that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

The opposition has refused to accept the results it says were marred by fraud, and it has boycotted parliament and staged a number of demonstrations to demand an early election.