CAMBODIA: Tens of thousands of opposition party supporters rally against election results

Record ID: 214052

  • Title: CAMBODIA: Tens of thousands of opposition party supporters rally against election results
  • Date: 7th September 2013
  • Summary: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (SEPTEMBER 7, 2013) (REUTERS) OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORTERS IN FREEDOM PARK SUPPORTERS CARRYING SIGNS AND FLAGS VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER SAM RAINSY WALKING THROUGH CROWD RAINSY AND OTHER CAMBODIA NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY (CNRP) OFFICIALS ON STAGE WOMEN WAVING CNRP FLAGS MORE OF RAINSY ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) OPPOSITION LEADER SAM RAINSY SAYING: "We're praying for one reason, one purpose, which is praying for peace, freedom and justice" SUPPORTERS CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) OPPOSITION LEADER SAM RAINSY SAYING: "We're here to find the facts (crowd repeats) about (crowd repeats) the election results (crowd repeats) in order to ensure (crowd repeats) the respect of the will (crowd repeats) of all Cambodia people (crowd repeats)." VARIOUS OF CROWD PRAYING AND CHANTING VARIOUS OF MONKS IN THE CROWD VARIOUS OF CROWD CHEERING MAN HOLDING SIGN READING IN BOTH ENGLISH AND KHMER: "WHERE IS MY VOTE" SUPPORTERS CHANTING MAN HOLDING SIGN READING IN BOTH ENGLISH AND KHMER: "MY VOTE: MY LIFE" MAN WAVING CNRP PARTY FLAG WOMAN HOLDING SIGN READING: "I HUNGER FOR JUSTICE" (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) UNIVERSITY STUDENT MENG LI LI SAYING: "I'm here to appeal and to give strength to the youth, and to the people who are gathering here in order to find justice and true democracy." SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) UNIVERSITY STUDENT KLORK KOHAL SAYING: "I want justice for myself and for the Cambodian people, to find justice for their vote." POLICE FORCES BEHIND BARRICADE POLICE OFFICER POLICE OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC SUPPORTERS LEAVING ON MOTORBIKES
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cambodia
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3UDBDJQJ8OFSCJOQ937ADLWEM
  • Story Text: Thousands of supporters of Cambodia's defiant opposition rallied on Saturday (September 7) to demand an independent probe into July elections they say were rigged to prolong the rule of a prime minister now facing his biggest political challenge in two decades.
    The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the amalgamation of what was once an impotent opposition to Hun Sen's iron-fisted rule, claims it actually won the election and has vowed to hold protests until their demand was met and urged the international community to disregard the result of the national poll.
    The long-dominant Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has denied foul play and Hun Sen has said he will ignore the opposition challenge and forge ahead with forming a government. The CPP won the election with a greatly reduced majority, signaling widespread dissatisfaction with his government, despite rapid economic growth and success in reducing poverty.
    CNRP leader Sam Rainsy returned from self-exile before the election, but was not able to run.
    He told the crowd they had a right to seek justice in the election.
    "We're praying for one reason, one purpose, which is praying for peace, freedom and justice," Rainsy said in Freedom Park, the only venue where demonstrations are allowed.
    "We're here to find the facts (crowd repeats) about (crowd repeats) the election results (crowd repeats) in order to ensure (crowd repeats) the respect of the will (crowd repeats) of all Cambodia people (crowd repeats)," he added.
    The CNRP has urged supporters not to march in the city, fearing violence could easily erupt. Security forces have cracked down hard on strikes and protests by disgruntled factory workers and victims of a spiraling number land evictions.
    But supporters came peacefully and said they only wanted their voices to be heard.
    "I'm here to appeal and to give strength to the youth, and to the people who are gathering here in order to find justice and true democracy," said university student Meng Li Li.
    "I want justice for myself and for the Cambodian people, to find justice for their vote," added Klork Kohal, also a university student.
    Thousands of riot police armed with batons and shields have this week been running crowd control drills. Security forces manned posts on nearby streets as protesters, in yellow headbands with peace signs written on their cheeks, arrived.
    Hun Sen's CPP has said it won 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats in the election, compared to the CNRP's 55 seats, a hefty loss of 22 seats for a ruling party that has formed a close but unpopular political alliance with China, its biggest investor.
    But CNRP maintains it won 63 seats to the CPP's 60 and Rainsy has accused the CPP of colluding with the National Election Committee to steal 2.3 million votes from his party.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register