| English.news.cn 2013-08-09 16:18:30 |
   
 
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by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Security forces and armored vehicles deployed on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, are for security reason only and are not intended to threaten any side in the dispute over the election results, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng said Friday.
Answering reporters' questions about news reports of troops and armored vehicles found stationed Thursday on the outskirts of the capital, Sar Kheng said the news was true and the deployment was to secure security and stability.
"Maybe, this news is not wrong, it is correct information, but I'd like to inform that, recently, His Excellency Sam Rainsy has repeatedly warned to lead mass protests against the election results. If I am not confused he has announced for seven times to lead mass protests," he told reporters at the Ministry of Interior.
He said in all countries, the governments have duties to maintain security and stability for their countries and the deployment was not aimed to intimidate anyone.
"We have no wish to threaten people, but the government has duties to protect security and peace. If the demonstrations are peaceful protests, I ensure that there will really be no any problem," Sar Kheng said.
"In case that a protest has led to violence, destruction to national security, and damage to public or private properties, the protest leaders and offenders must take full responsibilities in front of the law for consequences arising from the protest," he warned.
Cambodia held a general election on July 28. The initial results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy taking the remaining 55 seats.
However, Sam Rainsy rejected the results, claiming serious irregularities, and warned to lead nationwide mass protests against the poll results.
"We urge all people to get up to protect our victory," he told about 3,000 supporters at a rally in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, claiming that his CNRP won 63 seats, while the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said troop deployment and opposition party's warnings of mass protests were concerns for all.
"We urge all sides to try their best to find a peaceful solution to the problem," he told reporters on Friday.
Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh warned on Thursday that any post-poll serious turbulence would lead to economic jeopardy.
"The Cambodian economy has continued its high growth path and achieved 7.6 percent GDP growth last year, and is expected to grow at the same pace this year if there are no serious post-election disturbances," he said.
In the latest development on Friday, the National Election Committee (NEC) appealed to the ruling CPP and the opposition CNRP to attend a meeting in order to decide on the establishment of a poll irregularity investigation committee.
If formed, the committee could comprise the NEC, the CPP and CNRP as members, and national, international or UN officials as observers.
On Monday, Sam Rainsy requested United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to dispatch observer(s) to monitor an investigation being carried out by the NEC into irregularities during the poll.
But there has not been a response yet from Ban so far.
Either the NEC or the ruling CPP expressed their welcomes for the presence of UN observer(s) for the alleged poll irregularity investigation.
"Since the beginning, we have never barred UN observers from monitoring the poll," Tep Nytha, NEC's secretary general, told Xinhua on Thursday.
Sar Kheng said Friday that there would be no any barrier to the formation of the joint committee as the CPP did not mind the presence of UN observers.
"We want to accelerate our talks towards a peaceful solution as soon as possible in order to enable our people to live in peace and happiness," he said.
According to the NEC, the election results will be officially released between Aug. 14 and Sept. 8.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Security forces and armored vehicles deployed on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, are for security reason only and are not intended to threaten any side in the dispute over the election results, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng said Friday.
Answering reporters' questions about news reports of troops and armored vehicles found stationed Thursday on the outskirts of the capital, Sar Kheng said the news was true and the deployment was to secure security and stability.
"Maybe, this news is not wrong, it is correct information, but I'd like to inform that, recently, His Excellency Sam Rainsy has repeatedly warned to lead mass protests against the election results. If I am not confused he has announced for seven times to lead mass protests," he told reporters at the Ministry of Interior.
He said in all countries, the governments have duties to maintain security and stability for their countries and the deployment was not aimed to intimidate anyone.
"We have no wish to threaten people, but the government has duties to protect security and peace. If the demonstrations are peaceful protests, I ensure that there will really be no any problem," Sar Kheng said.
"In case that a protest has led to violence, destruction to national security, and damage to public or private properties, the protest leaders and offenders must take full responsibilities in front of the law for consequences arising from the protest," he warned.
Cambodia held a general election on July 28. The initial results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy taking the remaining 55 seats.
However, Sam Rainsy rejected the results, claiming serious irregularities, and warned to lead nationwide mass protests against the poll results.
"We urge all people to get up to protect our victory," he told about 3,000 supporters at a rally in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, claiming that his CNRP won 63 seats, while the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said troop deployment and opposition party's warnings of mass protests were concerns for all.
"We urge all sides to try their best to find a peaceful solution to the problem," he told reporters on Friday.
Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh warned on Thursday that any post-poll serious turbulence would lead to economic jeopardy.
"The Cambodian economy has continued its high growth path and achieved 7.6 percent GDP growth last year, and is expected to grow at the same pace this year if there are no serious post-election disturbances," he said.
In the latest development on Friday, the National Election Committee (NEC) appealed to the ruling CPP and the opposition CNRP to attend a meeting in order to decide on the establishment of a poll irregularity investigation committee.
If formed, the committee could comprise the NEC, the CPP and CNRP as members, and national, international or UN officials as observers.
On Monday, Sam Rainsy requested United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to dispatch observer(s) to monitor an investigation being carried out by the NEC into irregularities during the poll.
But there has not been a response yet from Ban so far.
Either the NEC or the ruling CPP expressed their welcomes for the presence of UN observer(s) for the alleged poll irregularity investigation.
"Since the beginning, we have never barred UN observers from monitoring the poll," Tep Nytha, NEC's secretary general, told Xinhua on Thursday.
Sar Kheng said Friday that there would be no any barrier to the formation of the joint committee as the CPP did not mind the presence of UN observers.
"We want to accelerate our talks towards a peaceful solution as soon as possible in order to enable our people to live in peace and happiness," he said.
According to the NEC, the election results will be officially released between Aug. 14 and Sept. 8.
Editor:
Fu Peng
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