Opposition Requests Second-Day Swear-In
The Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties say they refuse to swear-in with the ruling Cambodian People's Party. (10 September 2008)
Two opposition parties have declined an invitation by KingNorodom Sihamoni to join in a swearing-in ceremony for the new governmentscheduled later this month and have asked to have their newly electedparliamentarians sworn in a day later. King Sihamoni issued his royal invitation to all 123 newlyelected members of the National Assembly, but officials of the Sam Rainsy andHuman Rights parties, representing 29 seats, have maintained their positionthat July's election was illegitimate and say they will not swear in next tothe ruling party. The opposition has instead requested an alternate date toswear in, a day later, according to top officials from both parties. Neither party is willing to be sworn in next to the rulingCambodian People's Party, said Kong Kom, acting president of the Sam RainsyParty, and Yem Ponhearith, secretary-general of the Human Rights Party. Party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are currently out ofthe country, seeking support from the international community for claims July'selection was fraudulent and a new vote should be conducted. Both party leaders have said in the past they would boycottthe swearing-in ceremony altogether. A royal official warned Wednesday the request for a secondswearing in was not likely to be granted. "The king, as the head of state, invited all 123elected parliamentarians to the swearing-in ceremony on [Sept. 24]," UmDaravuth, a member of the Royal Cabinet, said Wednesday. "If any partydoes not respect the king's orders, I say that party is wrong under theCambodian constitution." "In no country in the world does a National Assemblyswear in two times," Um Daravuth said. An independent analyst said Wednesday it was up to the kingto bring the parties together. "The king should use his cleverness to bring all theparties to join the swearing-in together for national unity," said LaoMonghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission.