Cambodia's Opposition Accepts Post-election Talks Proposal

"Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy has agreed to an offer of talks from Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss claims of voting irregularities."

Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy has agreed to an offer of talks from Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss claims of voting irregularities.

After suffering the worst election result in 15 years, Hun Sen has extended an olive branch to the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party.

The opposition has rejected the ruling party claim of victory after last weekend's national elections.

Sam Rainsy says the opposition won the election despite the ruling party's efforts to manipulate the result, and the prime minister has been forced to compromise.

Sen Lam talks to Cambodia’s opposition leader Sam Rainsy about this.

“Actually Mr Hun Sen is forced to make such a concession because he lost the election. We just expect him to concede because we want the country to move forward, but on the basis of justice, on the basis of truth, and the truth is that the opposition won the last election.”
 
Q. But surely a crucial way of moving forward is opening dialogue with the government, and there you have a door open to you. Prime Minister Hun Sen says he's willing to meet with you, will you take up his offer?
 
“Yes we accept to do dialogue,  to talk but the objective is to establish and to expose the truth, nothing less because we can move forward only once the truth is recognised by everybody, and the truth is that the ruling party after ruling Cambodia for 34 years has lost this election, and there is a democratic change underway in Cambodia.”
 
Q.  And on this point of seeking the truth, the CNRP is claiming that it won 63 of the 123 seats in parliament. What do you base your figures on? What evidence do you have?
 
“We have collected data from all over the country and irregularities have been denounced by countless national and international observers; the United Nations, independent organisations such as the Washington-based National Democratic Institute has pointed to manipulation of the election process. In spite of this manipulation of the election process by the ruling party, the opposition still want, so this is quite historic. This cannot be hidden and nobody can steal the victory of the Cambodian people.”
 
Q. You're talking about stealing the victory but should you not wait for the official results to be released before you make claims that you have actually won the elections?
 
“Precisely now that the ruling party accepts to join in this committee to investigate, so we are ready. We'll abide by any conclusion by the investigation committee, and we would expect the ruling party to make the same commitment.”
 

READ MORE: Cambodia's Opposition Leader Vows to Bring Democracy

Q. Well as you heard in that grab of Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier, he says it's not important which political party won the election, that the important thing is the nation coming together. He's in a very conciliatory mood from what I can gather. So what are you taking to the table, what suggestions do you have for Prime Minister Hun Sen?
 
“You know I have been dealing with Prime Minister Hun Sen for 20 years, so what is important is deeds,  not only words. So we have to be very careful and we want the international community to witness and the United Nations to be a referee.”
 
Q. Well some Cambodians are saying that instead of being disruptive why not be a credible opposition force in the parliament, given that you do have a handsome set of numbers in parliament to keep the government honest? Why not go down that path?
 
“But based on the truth, based on the will, the true will of the Cambodian people, the opposition now, what used to be the opposition should be the ruling party. And what used to the ruling party, should be the opposition. It is not acceptable that a ruling party has to rule the country forever. There is a democratic change all over the world, why not in Cambodia? I think the Cambodian people also deserve freedom and respect.”
 
Q. And Mr Rainsy do you have a timeline for meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen? When do you expect to tee up a meeting with him?
 
“Very soon but what must be done very quickly is the establishment of this investigation committee. So I am happy that Mr Hun Sen and the ruling party accepts to join this committee. So we will confirm this in the next few hours and I hope that this committee will start working very, very soon.”
 

ALSO READ: Cambodia's Opposition Leader Campaigns from Exile

Q.  Do you have any details, can you elaborate for us who is likely to sit on this national bipartisan committee?
 
“Mr Hun Sen has already given indication there will be very senior officials from his party, such as the Secretary General of his party, the former communist party, the Minister of Interior, another deputy Prime Minister. As for the opposition, I will send very high ranking officials from my party also.”

• Cambodi
• Sam Rainsy
• election
• Radio Australia