Cambodia’s political crisis may soon be over, leaders say

Cambodia’s political crisis may soon be over, leaders say

         By Puy Kea / Kyodo News | 10 April 2014

     PHNOM PENH, April 10 Kyodo - Cambodia’s political crisis that has dragged on for nearly seven months may be nearing an end as the leaders from the ruling and opposition parties have reached a tentative deal, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday.

     Hun Sen of the Cambodian People’s Party said he spent around 45 minutes on the telephone with Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, concerning election reform and the opposition party’s call for an early election.

    

He said a draft agreement is being worked out and the two parties’ leaders might meet as early as Friday at the Royal Palace if Kem Sokha, the CNRP’s co-leader, endorses what was tentatively agreed between him and Sam Rainsy.

     Hun Sen suggested the next general election, currently set to be held in July 2018, could be moved forward by five months to February of that year.

     Later Thursday, Sam Rainsy told reporters about 80 percent of the differences between the two parties has been settled and a major remaining point is a fixed date for the election.

     “I cannot agree alone but together with Kem Sokha,” he said, adding Kem Sokha will come back from the United States in four or five days and if an agreement is materialized, a political pact will be signed then.

     The leaders’ meeting as proposed by Hun Sen will have to wait until Kem Sokha is back.

     Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy are “just one man,” Sam Rainsy said.

     He, meanwhile, emphasized there is no “comprehensive agreement” yet despite the fact there is a positive trend and a big move forward.

     He added the CNRP’s original position is to demand a midterm election in early 2016 and this is what he has to consult with Kem Sokha about before moving ahead with what he had discussed with Hun Sen.

     In protest at the official results of the July 2013 election, all 55 CNRP lawmakers in the 123-seat National Assembly have boycotted its sessions since they started in September last year.

     Besides calling for a fresh election, they have demanded a serious probe into alleged election irregularities.

     The two parties have met several times but failed to reach any concrete agreement, especially on election reform, the timing of the next election and power-sharing in the National Assembly.