| English.news.cn 2013-07-29 14:44:57 |
   
 
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by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- A group of international observers said Monday that Cambodia's general election on Sunday was free, fair and transparent, though the kingdom's main opposition party rejected the election results, claiming irregularities.
"The election was free, fair and transparent, and, above all, peaceful, non-violent and smooth," Jose de Venecia, former Speaker of the Philippines, who led a group of international observers from the International Conference of Asian Political Parties ( ICAPP) and the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International ( CAPDI), said in a press conference.
"This bears testimony to the fact that Cambodian democracy has not only matured, but come of age politically," he said.
According to the group's statement, the delegation visited over a dozen polling stations, some pre-arranged visits and some randomly, within Phnom Penh City and provinces on its outskirts.
"We consider the election in Cambodia as a triumph of popular will and a victory of the Cambodian people in their quest to build a better future based on the supremacy and sanctity of the ballot, " the statement said.
"We extend our heartiest congratulations to the people, political parties, leaders, media, civil society and the Cambodian election body for the successful and orderly conduct of the election."
ICAPP and CAPDI represent over 340 political parties in Asian, according to the statement.
However, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP) of recently-returned leader Sam Rainsy rejected the election results and claimed irregularities.
"The CNRP does not accept the election results as indicated by the National Election Committee or by some political parties because there are too many irregularities, and the results do not reflect the will of people," Sam Rainsy told a press conference on Monday.
"The party calls for the establishment of a joint committee in order to investigate the irregularities such as vote counting and duplicated names of voters."
The CNRP said the committee should report back by August 31.
Kem Sokha, CNRP's vice president, said the party did not recognize the election results, but it would not abandon the numbers of seats it won in the election.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen announced late Sunday that it has won "an absolute majority seats" in the Sunday's general election.
"According to the preliminary results, the CPP won an absolute majority seats in the polls so that the party has enough seats to prepare the government for the fifth legislature of the National Assembly," the party's statement said.
Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government and the CPP, told Xinhua on Sunday that the preliminary results showed that the CPP gained 68 seats and the CNRP got the remaining 55 seats in the Sunday's poll.
Despite the victory, the ruling CPP of Prime Minister Hun Sen saw a remarkable decline in the numbers of seats it attained. In the last elections in 2008, the party won up to 90 seats out of the 123 seats in parliament.
While the opposition party saw a sharp increase in the numbers of seats from only 29 seats in the elections in 2008.
The official results from the National Election Committee are still unavailable so far.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for another five years through the Sunday's victory.
According to the constitution, the first session of the new National Assembly will be convened no later than 60 days after the election.
PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- A group of international observers said Monday that Cambodia's general election on Sunday was free, fair and transparent, though the kingdom's main opposition party rejected the election results, claiming irregularities.
"The election was free, fair and transparent, and, above all, peaceful, non-violent and smooth," Jose de Venecia, former Speaker of the Philippines, who led a group of international observers from the International Conference of Asian Political Parties ( ICAPP) and the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International ( CAPDI), said in a press conference.
"This bears testimony to the fact that Cambodian democracy has not only matured, but come of age politically," he said.
According to the group's statement, the delegation visited over a dozen polling stations, some pre-arranged visits and some randomly, within Phnom Penh City and provinces on its outskirts.
"We consider the election in Cambodia as a triumph of popular will and a victory of the Cambodian people in their quest to build a better future based on the supremacy and sanctity of the ballot, " the statement said.
"We extend our heartiest congratulations to the people, political parties, leaders, media, civil society and the Cambodian election body for the successful and orderly conduct of the election."
ICAPP and CAPDI represent over 340 political parties in Asian, according to the statement.
However, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP) of recently-returned leader Sam Rainsy rejected the election results and claimed irregularities.
"The CNRP does not accept the election results as indicated by the National Election Committee or by some political parties because there are too many irregularities, and the results do not reflect the will of people," Sam Rainsy told a press conference on Monday.
"The party calls for the establishment of a joint committee in order to investigate the irregularities such as vote counting and duplicated names of voters."
The CNRP said the committee should report back by August 31.
Kem Sokha, CNRP's vice president, said the party did not recognize the election results, but it would not abandon the numbers of seats it won in the election.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen announced late Sunday that it has won "an absolute majority seats" in the Sunday's general election.
"According to the preliminary results, the CPP won an absolute majority seats in the polls so that the party has enough seats to prepare the government for the fifth legislature of the National Assembly," the party's statement said.
Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government and the CPP, told Xinhua on Sunday that the preliminary results showed that the CPP gained 68 seats and the CNRP got the remaining 55 seats in the Sunday's poll.
Despite the victory, the ruling CPP of Prime Minister Hun Sen saw a remarkable decline in the numbers of seats it attained. In the last elections in 2008, the party won up to 90 seats out of the 123 seats in parliament.
While the opposition party saw a sharp increase in the numbers of seats from only 29 seats in the elections in 2008.
The official results from the National Election Committee are still unavailable so far.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for another five years through the Sunday's victory.
According to the constitution, the first session of the new National Assembly will be convened no later than 60 days after the election.
Editor:
Mengjie
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