Cambodia opposition calls on supporters to join protest against poll results

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Thursday appealed to its supporters to take part in a three-day mass protest against the July 28 election results that handed victory to the Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.

"The CNRP will organize a massive non-violent demonstration on September 15, 16 and 17 at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh in order to demand the establishment of an independent investigation committee to look into alleged poll irregularities during the July 28 election," the party said in a statement.

"The party would like to invite compatriots, particularly youths, to attend this non-violent protest in order to demand justice for vote owners," it said.

However, the protest plan is not yet allowed by the authority.

Phnom Penh Municipality spokesman Long Dimanche said the City Hall does not have the authority to approve the CNRP's request for a three-day mass protest, during which 5,000 people are scheduled to camp out for three nights and other 20,000 protesters would occupy the park from morning until noon.

"We have already forwarded the CNRP's protest request to the Ministry of Interior for a final decision, but there has been no answer back yet," he said on Thursday.

The National Election Committee (NEC) released the final election results on Sunday, confirming that the Cambodian People' s Party (CPP) of long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen won the victory with 68 seats and the CNRP of long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy took the remaining 55 seats.

But the opposition rejected the results, claiming that its party should win 63 seats, with the CPP receiving 60 seats if alleged irregularities during the poll were fairly resolved.

It accused the NEC of being loyal to the ruling CPP and demanded an independent poll probe committee that excluded the NEC, but the CPP ruled it out, saying that it was against the kingdom' s constitution.

King Norodom Sihamoni wrote in a royal message on Monday that he would convene the first National Assembly session on Sept. 23.

Sam Rainsy has announced that his party would boycott the first parliamentary session if the proposed committee was not formed.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government.