Cambodia: 20,000 rally over disputed elections
Around 20,000 protesters gathered in Phnom Penh on September 7 in a so far peaceful rally to demand a probe of the results of the disputed parliamentary elections held on July 28.
The protest is one of the Southeast Asian nation’s largest opposition rallies since many years and is led by the country’s main opposition force, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of liberal politician Sam Rainsy who has the support of the powerful Free Trade Union, the country’s biggest labour organisation.
Sine the elections, no new government has been instituted, which has caused a political standstill in the country. The opposition is demanding a United Nations-backed probe to be held into alleged electoral fraud.
Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across Phnom Penh to maintain order, but no violence was reported.
The long-dominant Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has denied foul play and Prime Minister Hun Sen has said he will ignore the opposition challenge and forge ahead with forming a government. However, analysts say the large number of protesters is signaling widespread dissatisfaction with his government, despite rapid economic growth and success in reducing poverty.
Senior CPP member Cheam Yeap said his party had no intention of bowing to CNRP’s demands and accused Rainsy of being “ambitious and greedy”.
Around 20,000 protesters gathered in Phnom Penh on September 7 in a so far peaceful rally to demand a probe of the results of the disputed parliamentary elections held on July 28. The protest is one of the Southeast Asian nation's largest opposition rallies since many years and is led by the country's main opposition force, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of liberal politician Sam Rainsy who has the support of the powerful Free Trade Union, the country's biggest labour organisation. Sine the elections, no new government has been instituted, which has caused a political standstill in the country....
Around 20,000 protesters gathered in Phnom Penh on September 7 in a so far peaceful rally to demand a probe of the results of the disputed parliamentary elections held on July 28.
The protest is one of the Southeast Asian nation’s largest opposition rallies since many years and is led by the country’s main opposition force, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of liberal politician Sam Rainsy who has the support of the powerful Free Trade Union, the country’s biggest labour organisation.
Sine the elections, no new government has been instituted, which has caused a political standstill in the country. The opposition is demanding a United Nations-backed probe to be held into alleged electoral fraud.
Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across Phnom Penh to maintain order, but no violence was reported.
The long-dominant Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has denied foul play and Prime Minister Hun Sen has said he will ignore the opposition challenge and forge ahead with forming a government. However, analysts say the large number of protesters is signaling widespread dissatisfaction with his government, despite rapid economic growth and success in reducing poverty.
Senior CPP member Cheam Yeap said his party had no intention of bowing to CNRP’s demands and accused Rainsy of being “ambitious and greedy”.
