Cambodia opposition chief calls for talks over poll results

Cambodia's long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Friday called for negotiations with the ruling party's top leaders over the disputed poll results. "Standing on the spirit of resolving remaining problems peacefully in the spirit of national reconciliation and unification...I support any negotiating meetings between the top leaders of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in order to find solutions to the irregularities of the fifth parliamentary election on July 28 and to reach political reforms for our country's progress," CNRP's President Sam Rainsy said in a letter to CPP's President Chea Sim. In the letter, Rainsy still renewed his demand for the establishment of an independent committee to look into alleged poll irregularities even though the CPP has repeatedly rejected the request, explaining that it was against the country's Constitution. Initial election results showed that the ruling CPP won the poll with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, and the opposition CNRP took the remaining 55 seats. But the CNRP rejected the results, claiming that it should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved. Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee, said the final election results would be issued on Sept. 8. On Thursday, Sam Rainsy set a date--September 7--to hold a massive nonviolent protest against the poll results if the CPP did not resume talks with the CNRP towards the formation of the proposed committee. In response, CPP issued a statement on Thursday, saying that the party was ready to resume talks with the CNRP, but ruled out the possibility of talks on the formation of a special investigation committee since it was against the Constitution. Under the country's Constitution, a new parliament will be inaugurated no later than 60 days after the election. Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Aug. 2 that a new parliament and a new government would be established as scheduled despite the opposition's boycott. According to the Constitution, he said, a new government would be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the new parliament. Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for further five years through the election victory.