The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is ready to resume
negotiations with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
to resolve any remaining issues surrounding the recent election results,
CPP Chairman Chea Sim said on August 29.
The
statement, which urged national unification, responded to CNRP President
Sam Rainsy’s calls for the formation of an independent committee to
investigate alleged irregularities in last month’s election.
The two parties have met twice recently to discuss the matter, but reached no agreement.
Sam Rainsy’s party has widely challenged the results of the poll,
which handed victory to the CPP, and has complained about
irregularities.
On the same day, the Cambodia Council
Constitution (CCC) refused a CNRP request to further investigate
results in nine communes in Kampong Thom province.
The council had previously agreed to open sealed ballot bags from some
polling stations in Kratie and Battambang provinces to check for
irregularities. After that investigation, the local elections results
have not changed from the preliminary ones already announced by the
National Election Committee (NEC).
Sealed documents from 12 polling stations in Seam Reap province will be opened on August 30 under an order from the CCC.
Initial results of the July 28 general election showed that the ruling
CPP won 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, with the CNRP taking the
remaining 55 seats.
The official election results are set to be released on September 8, according to NEC.-VNA