PHNOM PENH —
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy told supporters on Tuesday that his Cambodia National Rescue Party is sticking to demands that the National Election Committee be reformed.
But he did appear to back away from a previous demand that would have the NEC voted on and approved in the legislative National Assembly.
The Rescue Party is in talks with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to end a political deadlock in place since the 2013 elections, which the opposition says was marred by fraud.
“We can no longer trust the NEC,” Sam Rainsy told supporters from Kampot and Takeo provinces.
He offered three remedies: NEC’s members should be selected by the ruling party and the opposition; or selected by independent NGOs; or be comprised of three members each from the ruling party, the opposition and independent organizations.
Without progress on NEC reform, he will call for more pro-opposition rallies, Sam Rainsy said.
Chheang Von, a ruling party political negotiator, said the NEC could be selected by the CPP and Rescue Party “only,” because they each won seats in the 2013 election.
But he also said that the rights of CPP supporters should also be considered—and not only those of the opposition.
But he did appear to back away from a previous demand that would have the NEC voted on and approved in the legislative National Assembly.
The Rescue Party is in talks with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to end a political deadlock in place since the 2013 elections, which the opposition says was marred by fraud.
“We can no longer trust the NEC,” Sam Rainsy told supporters from Kampot and Takeo provinces.
He offered three remedies: NEC’s members should be selected by the ruling party and the opposition; or selected by independent NGOs; or be comprised of three members each from the ruling party, the opposition and independent organizations.
Without progress on NEC reform, he will call for more pro-opposition rallies, Sam Rainsy said.
Chheang Von, a ruling party political negotiator, said the NEC could be selected by the CPP and Rescue Party “only,” because they each won seats in the 2013 election.
But he also said that the rights of CPP supporters should also be considered—and not only those of the opposition.
