President of the opposing Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam
Rainsy on October 31 called for dialogue with the ruling Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) over political conflict after July’s election.
Speaking at a press conference, Sam Rainsy said his party is keen on
reaching a peaceful resolution to the current political deadlock, adding
that he will phone Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar
Kheng to inform him that the CNRP is willing to resume dialogue between
the two parties.
However, Sam Rainsy insisted that
his party will not change its stance on the establishment of a committee
to investigate alleged election irregularities.
Experts hold that the resumption of talks between the two parties with a
target of settling post-election conflicts will face difficulties as
both the CPP and CNRP continue to give their conditions to be able to
sit together.
CPP spokesman Cheam Yeap said on
October 30 that the party cannot speak with CNRP leaders unless its
lawmakers take the oath at the Royal Palace .
As the CNRP holds fewer seats in the National Assembly, they should be
more flexible and accept conditions that the CPP give, Cheam Yeap said,
adding that during previous talks, the CPP proposed one position as
National Assembly Vice Chairman, four committee heads and five deputy
heads of five out of nine NA committees for the CNRP.
According to Cambodia ‘s National Election Committee, the CPP won
68 NA seats at the July election, while the CNRP won the remaining 55.
The CNRP rejected the results and announced a boycott against the new
NA.
Last week, the CNRP launched a three-day mass
protest by marching through streets in Phnom Penh to deliver petitions
to the United Nations office and foreign embassies in a bid to seek
their intervention in the country’s political crisis after the
election.-VNA