Sam Rainsy Party Joins Assembly Swear-In By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 September 2008
Newly elected members of parliament swore in on Wednesday, in a ceremony
presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni, third from left.Four political
parties,
including the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, attended a swearing-in ceremony
for a new government Wednesday, but the Human Rights Party held fast to
promises it would boycott, withholding three elected lawmakers from the
process.
The attendance of Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers followed weeks of threats to
boycott the ceremony, potentially threatening to deadlock to the government or
cost the opposition some positions in the Assembly.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy arrived at the National Assembly building in
Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district early Wednesday morning for the opening of
the
Assembly, with King Norodom Sihamoni presiding.
Reporters were barred from the Assembly session, and Sam Rainsy declined to
speak to reporters afterward. His party won 26 of 123 National Assembly seats
in July's election, second behind the 90 seats won by the Cambodian People's
Party.
Sam Rainsy had said before Wednesday's session the election had been
fraudulent and had called for a revote while threatening to withhold his
candidates
from Wednesday's ceremony.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said lawmakers joined the government on
Wednesday after Prime Minister Hun Sen promised to have the opposition role
officially recognized by the government and to provide a budget for opposition
operations.
Hun Sen addressed reporters Wednesday morning.
"All political parties joined the meeting around the king except the Human
Rights Party of Kem Sokha," Hun Sen said. "I promised to get the request by
Sam Rainsy discussed in the National Assembly ad hoc [committee] to be put in
the internal rules."
Human Rights Party lawmakers Kem Sokha, Yem Ponhearith and Ou Chanrith stayed
at their headquarters in Phnom Penh Wednesday morning, watching the Assembly
ceremony on TV.
"We are following a request from the voters to boycott," HRP President Kem
Sokha said by phone.
"The fourth legislative National Assembly meeting is a new opportunity in
history for the legislative institution," King Norodom Sihamoni told incoming
lawmakers, and it was imperative the Assembly hold Cambodia's interests above
all others.
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In a message dated 9/24/2008 8:13:57 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Dear All,
The first session of parliament was inaugurated with fanfare. After vowing
to boycott the swearing in ceremony, the oppositions, with the exceptions of
four MPs, have attended the swearing in. Sam Rainsy attended, but Kem Sokha
and two of his MPs were prevented from entering the National Assembly building
because they arrived there too late. After all MPs arrived, the king then
opened the parliament on a grand scale. To view the pictures of the swearing
in,
click below.
_National Assembly Swearing In- 24.9.08_
(http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2008/09/national-assembly-swearing-in-24908.html)
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