Cambodian PM, opposition leader pledge to avoid further police-protester clashes

Cambodia's long-serving Prime Minister (PM) Hun Sen and long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Monday agreed to avoid further clashes between the police and protesters after a clash at Sunday night left one protester dead and several injured. "Both sides agree to comply with the king's royal message dated Sept. 16," Prak Sokhon, minister attached to the PM told reporters after a 5-hour meeting between the two political leaders at the National Assembly. King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday called on opposition protesters and police to stop using violence against each other after a deadly clash at Sunday night. "I would like to beg all compatriots who are the protesters and the authorities to stop using violence in all images such as stone throwing or weapon using that cause injuries or deaths to people, and create serious danger to the whole nation," the king said in the royal message. He urged people to return to the tradition of non-violence and exercise their utmost restraints to avoid national instability. The king's royal message came after a clash between police and opposition party protesters Sunday night at a flyover in the southern part of the city left one man shot dead and three wounded. Prak Sokhon said the two leaders also agreed to create a mechanism to reform the National Election Committee and would continue meetings at all levels to resolve national issues. Two clashes between police and protesters broke out on Sunday during a mass protest led by Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), against the July 28 election. In the clashes, the police had fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. The final results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen got victory with 68 parliamentary seats and the CNRP of Sam Rainsy received the remaining 55 seats. The CNRP did not recognize the outcomes, claiming that its party should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting 60 seats if alleged irregularities during the poll were fairly investigated. On Monday, a few thousands of opposition protesters are still rallying at the capital's Freedom Park even though the City Hall did not give permission. Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government. Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will rule the country for another five years through the election victory.