Cambodia's final poll results to be released on Aug 14 if no complaints

The National Election Committee ( NEC) will release the official results of the general election on Aug. 14 if there are no complaints by political parties, according to NEC's schedule Monday. "The official results with seat allocation and elected candidates will be released on Aug. 14 if there are no challenges from political parties, but the results will be issued on Sept. 8 if there are complaints," said the NEC's schedule. It said the initial official results will be released on Aug. 10. Cambodia held a general election on July 28. According to the initial unofficial results issued by the ruling Cambodian People' s Party (CPP), the CPP of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen has won 68 out of the 123 parliamentary seats, with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy taking the remaining 55 seats. But the CNRP, claiming serious irregularities, rejected the results and called for an independent investigation committee with the United Nations as a "referee." Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng said Monday that it doesn't conform to Cambodian law to invite the UN to join the committee. "It is impossible to create a committee outside the law in effect," he told reporters. "It is also impossible to reject the NEC's role, which was created by law and was given confidence by the National Assembly." On Sunday, Im Suosdey, chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC), said that the NEC could allow the establishment of a joint committee comprising the NEC, the CPP and CNRP as members, while national and international officials as observers. "It is beyond the NEC's authority to invite a UN representative to join the proposed joint committee," he told reporters. "The NEC will set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate irregularities during the poll no matter the CNRP agrees or disagrees, we cannot wait for it." Cambodian election is widely welcomed by national and international observers for its free, fair and non-violent conduct, he said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement last Friday that he welcomed the "peaceful conduct" of the elections in Cambodia and urged the authorities to adjudicate complaints " fairly and transparently." Upon the poll victory, Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will be able to extend his rule by five more years. According to the constitution, a new National Assembly will be established not later than 60 days after the election.