Peaceful protests are planned for the next three days in Phnom Pehn as the opposition party continues to dispute the victory of Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party in Cambodia’s latest election.
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Thousands of people are gathering in Phnom Penh today to begin the first in a three-day demonstration planned against alleged voting irregularities that have marred the the general election held in July.
Prime Minster Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) have held power for 33 years. According to the latest election results the CPP won 68 out of 123 legislative seats at the polls, but the opposition claims that they were defrauded out of eight seats that would have given them the win.
This mass demonstration is timed to coincide with the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement — a deal that was meant to prepare the country for free and fair elections. The CNRP plan on presenting a petition that calls for the U.N. and the 18 governments who signed the 1991 agreement to intervene in the political deadlock.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that an independent agency is not needed to verify election results. Regardless of how Hun Sen feels, the United States, the United Kingdom, and a number of other countries that were signatories to the 1991 Paris Agreements have not sent congratulations on the latest election.
Police have stated that this week’s protest will not be as tightly controlled as previous rallies, after frustrations over police delays erupted in violence. Police have also been instructed not to talk to protesters.
According to the Cambodia Daily: Unlike at the previous protests conducted by the CNRP, the security presence around the capital was minimal and all major roads in the city center were open to traffic.
While the protests are expected to be peaceful, Journeys Within is recommending that visitors to Phnom Penh do not take part in the gatherings.
The schedule of the marches is expected to be as follows: – On the 23rd at 3 p.m. the march will go to the U.N. offices.
– On the 24th, at 8 a.m. the march will go from Freedom Park to the French, British and U.S. embassies.
– On the 25th, we will march at 8 a.m. to the embassies of Australia, Russia, Japan, Indonesia and then finish the day at the Chinese Embassy.