Cambodian PM Hun Sen Vows not to Step Down

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 01, 2003

Cambodian PM Hun Sen Vows not to Step Down

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen vowed Sunday that he will not step down from the premiership, calling the demand for him to resign as "strange."

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen vowed Sunday that he will not step down from the premiership, calling the demand for him to resign as "strange."

Hun Sen made the remarks during the inspection of an irrigation project in southern Kandal province.

"I will remain as prime minister until the year 2008, because Cambodian people supported me, and if people will continue to support me after 2008, I will be a prime minister again," Hun Sen said. "I will declare to the earth, the sky and the air that I, Hun Sen, will not step down from the premiership."

According to official election results released on Saturday, Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won the July 27 National Assembly election with 73 seats out of 123, while the royalist FUNCINPEC party got 26 seats and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) 24.

"We are the winner. So, under the Constitution, I will be the premier without doubt," Hun Sen stressed.

Hun Sen's remarks were apparently a response to his rivals wanting to depose him. "The only way they could oust me is to assassinate me," Hun Sen said.

FUNCINPEC and the SRP rejected the election results and vowed not to join a new coalition government with Hun Sen still as prime minister.

Though the election results were rejected by some political parties, Cambodia's military and police forces on Sunday reaffirmed their support to Prime Minister Hun Sen. The police had arrested 20 people on Sunday who held a protest against the election results.

Under the Cambodian Constitution, a single political party can only govern alone if it wins the elections with more than a two-thirds majority, or 82 seats of the National Assembly.

While the election was accepted by the international community as free and fair, the United State Sunday said Cambodia's election "fell short of international standard."

In its statement, the US said, "the National Election Committee failed to establish a credible process to resolve complains, including political intimidation, vote buying, and for punishing violators of the election law."

The US also urged the Cambodian parties to negotiate among themselves peacefully and in conformance with the Cambodian Constitution to form a new government that will advance the interests of the Cambodian people.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Cambodian PM's Party Wins Parliament Election

Cambodian Newly-formed Alliance Reiterates Rejection of Election Results

Hun Sen Rejects to Negotiate with Newly Formed Alliance

Martin Luther King's Dream Hard to Be Fulfilled ( 23 Messages)

China's Economy Faces Stiff Challenges: Minister ( 3 Messages)

China's 150 million mu Forests Plagued by Exotic Pests ( 3 Messages)

Is a Good Husband Worth More Than a Good Job? ( 2 Messages)

Poll Shows More Americans Wouldn't Vote for Bush ( 15 Messages)