Cambodian Two Major Parties Reject Poll Results

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, August 09, 2003

Cambodian Two Major Parties Reject Poll Results

As international observers and some NGOs gave their nod to Cambodia's multi-party election, the two major parties on Friday refused to accept the election results, claiming it was not fair and free.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

As international observers and some NGOs gave their nod to Cambodia's multi-party election, the two major parties on Friday refused to accept the election results, claiming it was not fair and free.

"The FUNCINPEC party and the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) reject the provisional results of the July 27 election released by the NEC (the National Election Committee) on August 8, 2003," said a joint statement signed by the two parties' secretary generals Prince Norodom Sirivudh and Eng Chhay Eang.

The two parties also denounced election committees in every level for preventing their representatives from addressing massiveirregularities, including vote-buying, confiscation of vote cards,relocation of voting stations without sufficient notice.

"Therefore, the 2003 election process under the management of the NEC has not been transparent, free and fair," it stated, adding that "it can not be acceptable since it produces a result that does not reflect the will of the Cambodian people."

According NEC, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has won the majority of the votes, leading to garner 73 seats in 123-seat National Assembly, while the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and FUNCINPEC were second and third.

The FUNCINPEC party, led by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the son of King Norodom Sihanouk, had filed complaints Thursday with the Constitutional Council in an attempt to invalidate official election results.

The rejection of the two parties would cause some trouble for the CPP to form a new government, as the CPP, without a two-thirdsmajority required to govern alone needs a coalition partner.

The incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen had said earlier that he hoped the CPP and FUNCINPEC could cooperate again in the new coalition. Hun Sen, at the same time, rejected the proposal put forth by the two parties on forming a tripartite coalition government.

The CPP, in its statement issued on Friday, appealed to all parties, whether they have garnered seats or not in the National Assembly, to "respect the will of Cambodian people, support the election results, and to put the national interests above everything."

"The CPP will fully support the election results announced by the NEC, and to form a new government headed by incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen" it said.

The statement also warned any parties against attempting to destroy the results of the election. "The success of the election is not a victory for any political party but a victory of the whole nation and people, a victory for those who love peace, stability and the development," it stressed.

One thousand international observers and about 30,000 local observers monitored the voting process in more than 12,000 pollingstations countrywide. They have largely praised the elections as asuccess with peaceful calm, saying it reflected the will of people,and was acceptable.

The final official results and the specific seats for the threeparties will be announced on August 14 and September 6, according to the NEC's Secretary General Tep Nitha.

The new National Assembly is supposed to convene on September 25 before the establishment of the new government in early October.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Cambodian Ruling Party Confirms Victory, Rivals Boycott

Cambodian PM Vows to Head New Government

DPRK's Kim Jong Il Elected Member of Parliament ( 2 Messages)

Main Party of China's First Euthanasia Lawsuit Dies ( 2 Messages)

For Whom Does Jackie Chan Feel Pity and Shed Tears? ( 5 Messages)

News Analysis: Bush's Political Fortune to Rise or Fall? ( 4 Messages)

Japan to Be Restored as China's Biggest Tourism Source ( 3 Messages)