Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng onJanuary 31 accused the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP)of trying to launch an constitutional coup d’etat against thegovernment of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
In a meetingwith the Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia , Yuji Kumamaru, in PhnomPenh , Sar Kheng said the opposition was trying to oust the governmentby refusing to accept the disputed result of the July 2013 nationalelection, and by calling for a new vote.
CNRP’s moves amount to a constitutional coup plot aiming to topple the current legal government, he said.
Kheng added that post-election developments proved that while theruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) is ready for negotiations with theCNRP at all levels at any time, the opposition’s leaders are yet to showtheir real will to solve the political disputes.
Meanwhile, another CPP official, lawmaker Cheam Yeap, also held thatCNRP is trying to overthrow PM Hun Sen’s government through a civilcoup. CNRP leader Sam Rainsy’s activities abroad, in which he called onpartners to stop trade contracts with the country, violated theCambodian constitution, he said.
To date,negotiations between the CPP and the CNRP have collapsed without anysign of restoration. The CNRP still refuses the election results and isboycotting the new parliament and demanding a new election, while theruling party has appealed for further talks.
Cambodia is facing a political crisis stemming from the July 2013election in which the CPP won 68 parliament seats and the CNRP received55. The opposition has claimed the poll was rigged.
Earlier on January 31, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Hor Namhong told visiting British Minister of State at theForeign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire that the CNRP should joinparliament if it really wants to debate on electoral reform or are-election.
According to the nation's constitution,the National Assembly cannot be dissolved before a five-year term ends,Namhong stated, adding that the opposition's demands for a re-electionor an early election would require an amendment to the constitution.
He said the CPP is still open for negotiations with the opposition on the dispute.
For his part, Swire said that it was essential for the two parties tomeet and negotiate for a peaceful solution to their differences.-VNA
In a meetingwith the Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia , Yuji Kumamaru, in PhnomPenh , Sar Kheng said the opposition was trying to oust the governmentby refusing to accept the disputed result of the July 2013 nationalelection, and by calling for a new vote.
CNRP’s moves amount to a constitutional coup plot aiming to topple the current legal government, he said.
Kheng added that post-election developments proved that while theruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) is ready for negotiations with theCNRP at all levels at any time, the opposition’s leaders are yet to showtheir real will to solve the political disputes.
Meanwhile, another CPP official, lawmaker Cheam Yeap, also held thatCNRP is trying to overthrow PM Hun Sen’s government through a civilcoup. CNRP leader Sam Rainsy’s activities abroad, in which he called onpartners to stop trade contracts with the country, violated theCambodian constitution, he said.
To date,negotiations between the CPP and the CNRP have collapsed without anysign of restoration. The CNRP still refuses the election results and isboycotting the new parliament and demanding a new election, while theruling party has appealed for further talks.
Cambodia is facing a political crisis stemming from the July 2013election in which the CPP won 68 parliament seats and the CNRP received55. The opposition has claimed the poll was rigged.
Earlier on January 31, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Hor Namhong told visiting British Minister of State at theForeign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire that the CNRP should joinparliament if it really wants to debate on electoral reform or are-election.
According to the nation's constitution,the National Assembly cannot be dissolved before a five-year term ends,Namhong stated, adding that the opposition's demands for a re-electionor an early election would require an amendment to the constitution.
He said the CPP is still open for negotiations with the opposition on the dispute.
For his part, Swire said that it was essential for the two parties tomeet and negotiate for a peaceful solution to their differences.-VNA
