Cambodian King invites ruling, opposition leaders for talks over election dispute

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday invited Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy for a talk over election dispute on Saturday. "I would like to invite Samdech Techor Hun Sen, vice-president of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and two colleagues to attend a meeting under my presidency in order to resolve national issues with the top leaders of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9:00 a.m. at the Royal Palace," the king wrote in a royal message to Hun Sen. In a response to the king's invitation, Hun Sen said he would lead two colleagues--Say Chhum, CPP's secretary general, and Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng--to attend the meeting. The opposition party could not be reached for a response on Thursday. The National Election Committee (NEC) released the final results of the July 28 election on Sunday, confirming that the 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. The CNRP set Sept. 15, 16, and 17 for a massive non-violent protest at the capital's Freedom Park against the election results. It would then would boycott the first parliamentary session if the proposed committee was not formed. Prime Minister Hun Sen said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government. He said, according to the constitution, 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 another five years through the election victory.