Cambodia finds exploded devices near US embassy and National Assembly

Phnom Penh (Sept 13, 2013): Cambodian authorities on Friday morning have found 3 M79 grenade launchers in a park near US embassy in central of Phnom Penh. Another big exploded device was also found in the same morning at opposite of the National Assembly.

Phnom Penh police chief said there is no clue for the motive of the bombs and police will beef up forces for national security.

Cambodia has been in political crisis between the ruling and opposition parties since July 28 national election. Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) wins 68 out of 123 parliamentary seats and Sam Rainsy’s Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) gets 55 seats.

However, the CNRP has rejected the results saying that its party’s results have been stolen and alleged National Election Committee (NEC) as the thief who helped steal the election results for CPP.

CNRP called for mass demonstration until the problems are solved and last weekend, about 20 thousands of CNRP supporters gathered at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh, near the US embassy, for peaceful rally and on 15-16 September, CNRP will hold another rally.

King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday returned home from China and he would call for the first national assembly meeting on September 23. But before the assembly meeting, the King called both CPP and CNRP leaders to meet at his Royal Palace on September 14 to find a political solution for the interests of the nation and people. Prime Minster Hun  Sen has agreed while Sam Rainsy still has no positive response for the meeting.

In 1998, Prime Minister Hun Sen escaped without injury when a rocket-propelled bomb exploded some 10 meters from his car in Siem Reap provincial town, northwestern country, while he was on the way in his car to the National Assembly for swearing in. The attack killed a boy and wounded three other persons.  Heng Neng / Cambodia News