Thousands of Cambodia’s opposition supporters gather in Phnom Penh for big rally
By Ly Bela
Cambodia News / New Youth
Phnom Penh (Sept 7, 2013): Several thousands of supporters, including Buddhist monks, of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Saturday morning gathered at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh to seek for setting up an independent investigation committee joined by the United Nations in order to solve the election irregularities.
CNRP leader Sam Rainsy said his party needs a joint investigation committee consists the big parties — CNRP and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) — and the UN but no need the National Election Committee (NEC).
Sam Rainsy alleged NEC as the thief who helped steal the election results from CNRP for CPP so that the joint investigation committee does not need the thief like NEC.
Kem Sokha, the CNRP Vice President, also said at the the rally that the CNRP would ask King Norodom Sihamoni to help solve the problems when the King returns from China in the next two weeks.
Earlier this week, Sam Rainsy also urged Prime Minister Hun Sen to leave from power saying that it is enough for Hun Sen who has been in power for 20 years.
Cambodia’s national election held on July 28 led CPP wins 68 seats out of 123 parliamentary seats while the CNRP is getting 55 seats.
However, the CNRP has rejected and declared its victory had been stolen by saying that it would have won a majority up to 63 seats if no irregularities and flaws.
Although CNRP claims that tens of thousands of supporters join the rally on Saturday, independent observers estimated that the number can be several thousands. Police have launched tough security along the national routes to Phnom Penh capital in case there are people to join CNRP rally to day and later.
Music band, singing and dancing perform at the rally while some UN agencies are being at the spot for media assistance for both protesters and government’s armed forces.
