On King's Return, Heavy Election Duty
Opposition officials said Friday they would ask King Norodom Sihamoni to postpone the date of the new government's swearing-in. (15 Aug
As King Norodom Sihamoni returned from the Beijing OlympicsFriday, he was scheduled for key election functions, but opposition officialssaid they would ask him to delay a swearing-in ceremony for the formation ofthe new government. Opposition leaders are maintaining a boycott of July'selection results, claiming widespread fraud undermined free and fairelections. Their complaints of fraud were dismissed by the NationalElection Committee, but they have appealed to the Constitutional Council.Ruling party officials say the opposition risks losing its seats if itmaintains the boycott. "The opposition still has a strong stance against theelection results and requests a revote, because of many irregularities,"Kong Kom, Sam Rainsy Party vice president, said. "If the king invites [newgovernment members] to join the swearing-in ceremony...we will deny. But werequest the king to reschedule the swearing-in ceremony on another day, untilthe National Election Committee, Constitutional Council and the internationalcommunity recognize the election as free and fair." A denial of the king's invitation by the opposition wouldinvite "political assassination," NguonNhil, Cambodian People's Party senior official, told VOA Khmer Friday. "If the opposition denies the king's invitation…theopposition looks down on the king and breaks the constitution," NguonNhil said."The presence of the king and the majority win of the CPP will disqualifythe opposition boycott." Lao Monghay, a senior researcher for the Asian Human RightsCommission, said the king could face a complication on his return from Beijing. "The king also has much concern about theboycott," he said. "I don't have hope the king can solve the problem,because the king has limited political experience to administer the state. Butthe CPP's big win, if it will use its potential power over the king, maybe itwill ask the king to take action as stated in the constitution, which will bedifficult for the king to deny." Meanwhile, King Sihamoni will also need to address a requestby the Norodom Ranariddh Party to pardon the prince, who remains in exilefollowing sentencing over breach of trust. "The pardon is not a priority," Lao Monghay said."But the opening of the new National Assembly is the priority."