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Cambodian election protests grip Phnom Penh Cambodian election protests grip Phnom Penh
(about 3 hours later)
Protesters in Phnom Penh have taken to the streets again after Sunday's march disputing Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent election victory turned violent, leaving one dead and several more injured. Protesters have taken to the streets of the Cambodian capital again after Sunday's march disputing Hun Sen's recent re-election as prime minister turned violent, leaving one dead and several more injured.
Roughly 1,000 demonstrators camped out overnight in the capital's Freedom park and were joined on Monday morning by hundreds more calling for an independent investigation into voting irregularities that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue party (CNRP) claims may have cost them the election. Roughly 1,000 demonstrators camped out overnight in Phnom Penh's Freedom park and were joined on Monday morning by hundreds more calling for an independent investigation into voting irregularities that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue party claims may have cost them the election.
Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's party (CPP) won the July polls with 68 seats to CNRP's 55, a vastly reduced majority but one that the CNRP alleges was still biased in the CPP's favour. Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's party won the July polls with 68 seats to the CNRP's 55, a vastly reduced majority but one that the opposition alleges was still biased in the CPP's favour.
The demonstrations present a formidable challenge to Hun Sen's 28-year-reign, with many protesters openly angry and discussing their political opinions for the first time in a country where dissent has in the past been met with prison sentences. The demonstrations present a formidable challenge to Hun Sen's 28-year-reign, with many protesters openly angry and discussing their political opinions for the first time in a country where dissent has in the past been met with prison sentences.
Monday's protests coincided with negotiations between Hun Sen and opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, which ended with a three-point agreement promising to calm the situation without the use of violence, continue discussions between the two parties and reform the national election commission, which many believe is a stooge of the ruling government.Monday's protests coincided with negotiations between Hun Sen and opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, which ended with a three-point agreement promising to calm the situation without the use of violence, continue discussions between the two parties and reform the national election commission, which many believe is a stooge of the ruling government.
CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann hailed the talks as a success for the opposition, although its most immediate role may lie in the way it shifts the current protests, said Ou Virak of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR). CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann hailed the talks as a success for the opposition, although its most immediate role may lie in the way it handles the current protests, said Ou Virak of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights.
"The CNRP's position [regarding the protests] has always been on investigating the irregularities of the election, so in accepting the reform of the NEC as a key part of the agenda, the CNRP has shifted its focus onto reform," he said. "The CNRP's position [regarding the protests] has always been on investigating the irregularities of the election, so in accepting the reform of the NEC as a key part of the agenda, the CNRP has shifted its focus on to reform," he said.
"This means they are not trying to solve the current election dispute but trying to prevent this from occurring again in the future. This shift of mindset is really, I think, significant.""This means they are not trying to solve the current election dispute but trying to prevent this from occurring again in the future. This shift of mindset is really, I think, significant."
Although no date was set for future talks, Monday's five-hour discussion was an improvement on Saturday's attempted negotiations led by King Norodom Sihamoni between the bitter political rivals, which ended after 30 minutes with no clear solution.Although no date was set for future talks, Monday's five-hour discussion was an improvement on Saturday's attempted negotiations led by King Norodom Sihamoni between the bitter political rivals, which ended after 30 minutes with no clear solution.
The opposition had warned it would boycott parliament's first session on 23 September unless an independent investigation was established, but Monday's talks may force the CNRP to change tack.The opposition had warned it would boycott parliament's first session on 23 September unless an independent investigation was established, but Monday's talks may force the CNRP to change tack.
As a constitutional council also ruled on Friday that all irregularities had already been investigated and no further investigation was needed, it is also highly unlikely that the government would act otherwise, whether or not these demonstrations may be part of a larger "Cambodian spring", said political analyst Carl Thayer.As a constitutional council also ruled on Friday that all irregularities had already been investigated and no further investigation was needed, it is also highly unlikely that the government would act otherwise, whether or not these demonstrations may be part of a larger "Cambodian spring", said political analyst Carl Thayer.
"If Hun Sen agreed to an outside investigation at this stage, that would be tantamount to conceding that the elections were rigged," he said."If Hun Sen agreed to an outside investigation at this stage, that would be tantamount to conceding that the elections were rigged," he said.
Monday's protest turnout was considerably smaller than Sunday's gathering of 20,000, during which crowds swelled in Freedom park before marching through the streets. The demonstrations that started peacefully took a violent turn when some protesters reportedly tried to remove roadblocks on a bridge near CNRP headquarters, leading to clashes with police. Monday's protest turnout was considerably smaller than Sunday's gathering of 20,000, during which crowds swelled in Freedom park before marching through the streets. Sunday's demonstrations started peacefully but took a violent turn when some protesters reportedly tried to remove roadblocks on a bridge near CNRP headquarters, leading to clashes with police.
Eyewitnesses claim that the man killed on Sunday was shot in the head. He was and was not part of the protests but one of a number of people attempting to get home past the barricades. Several others were shot in the face and neck in the clashes, the Phnom Penh Post reported. Eyewitnesses claim the man killed on Sunday was shot in the head. He was not part of the protests but one of a number of people trying to get home past the barricades. Several others were shot in the face and neck in the clashes, the Phnom Penh Post reported.
But National Military police spokesman Khen Tito told Reuters that police had only used teargas, batons and smoke grenades against the protesters and could not be held accountable for what happened to the man who died.But National Military police spokesman Khen Tito told Reuters that police had only used teargas, batons and smoke grenades against the protesters and could not be held accountable for what happened to the man who died.
"I don't know how he was killed," he said. "We didn't use live bullets.""I don't know how he was killed," he said. "We didn't use live bullets."
Protests are expected to continue in the city until 6pm o n Tuesday as part of a planned three-day challenge to the CPP. Protests are expected to continue in the city until 6pm on Tuesday as part of a planned three-day challenge to the CPP.
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