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Cambodian Opposition, Citing Disputed Election, Boycotts Opening of Parliament Cambodian Opposition, Citing Disputed Election, Boycotts Opening of Parliament
(about 2 hours later)
BANGKOK — Despite a boycott over a disputed election that left dozens of seats vacant in the National Assembly, the king of Cambodia opened a new session of Parliament on Monday attended by the long-serving, authoritarian prime minister, Hun Sen, and his fellow party members.BANGKOK — Despite a boycott over a disputed election that left dozens of seats vacant in the National Assembly, the king of Cambodia opened a new session of Parliament on Monday attended by the long-serving, authoritarian prime minister, Hun Sen, and his fellow party members.
The king, Norodom Sihamoni, made no mention of the boycott in his speech.The king, Norodom Sihamoni, made no mention of the boycott in his speech.
“The Cambodian nation must stand united,” the king said, according to news reports from Phnom Penh.“The Cambodian nation must stand united,” the king said, according to news reports from Phnom Penh.
The king had sought in vain to broker an end to the acrimony after Mr. Hun Sen’s foes claimed widespread cheating in the July 28 election and rejected the official results, which left Mr. Hun Sen’s Cambodia People’s Party in the majority, though weakened.The king had sought in vain to broker an end to the acrimony after Mr. Hun Sen’s foes claimed widespread cheating in the July 28 election and rejected the official results, which left Mr. Hun Sen’s Cambodia People’s Party in the majority, though weakened.
But the prime minister, who has ruled the country for 28 years, appears willing to govern Cambodia without the cooperation of the opposition. Despite threats of more of the mass protests that have been disrupting the country, he is expected to begin his new term on Tuesday in a largely procedural vote. But the prime minister, who has ruled the country for 28 years, appears willing to govern Cambodia without the cooperation of the opposition. Despite threats of more of the mass protests that have been disrupting the country, all 68 lawmakers from the ruling party voted for him on Tuesday while the 55 from the opposition continued their boycott. .
Still, Mr. Hun Sen has projected what some analysts see as unusual signs of weakness.Still, Mr. Hun Sen has projected what some analysts see as unusual signs of weakness.
He has made uncharacteristic, conciliatory gestures, including holding three recent meetings with Sam Rainsy, the leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. One lasted about five hours and centered on changes to the country’s electoral system.He has made uncharacteristic, conciliatory gestures, including holding three recent meetings with Sam Rainsy, the leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. One lasted about five hours and centered on changes to the country’s electoral system.
Analysts disagree on whether Mr. Hun Sen, who in the past was dismissive of the opposition, is biding his time or has been significantly damaged by the election.Analysts disagree on whether Mr. Hun Sen, who in the past was dismissive of the opposition, is biding his time or has been significantly damaged by the election.
In its worst showing since 1998, the Cambodian People’s Party won just 68 seats of the 123 in the National Assembly, compared with 55 for the opposition, which made its greatest gains in a decade thanks to Mr. Rainsy’s newly unified party. The opposition says it would have captured the majority in a fair election. In its worst showing since 1998, the Cambodian People’s Party won just 68 seats of the 123 in the National Assembly, compared with 55 for the opposition, which made its greatest gains in a decade thanks to Mr. Sam Rainsy’s newly unified party. The opposition says it would have captured the majority in a fair election.
David Chandler, a historian based in Australia and a leading expert on Cambodia’s politics, said Mr. Hun Sen “has no intention of diminishing his grip on the country” and has control of the major levers of power in the country. David Chandler, a historian based in Australia and a leading expert on Cambodia’s politics, said Mr. Hun Sen “has no intention of diminishing his grip on the country” and has control of the major levers of power.
“Cambodian politics are very crass,” Mr. Chandler said. “The people who run the country are the ones with the money and the guns.” “Cambodian politics are very crass,” Mr. Chandler said. “The people who run the country are the ones with the money and the guns.” But the opposition’s parliamentary gains and the losses by the Cambodia People’s Party have put Mr. Hun Sen in “slightly unfamiliar territory,” Mr. Chandler said.
But the opposition’s parliamentary gains and the losses by the Cambodia People’s Party have put Mr. Hun Sen in “slightly unfamiliar territory,” Mr. Chandler said.
“I think he feels like he’s lost a couple of chess pieces,” he said. “He’s a bit more cautious.”“I think he feels like he’s lost a couple of chess pieces,” he said. “He’s a bit more cautious.”
By contrast, Ou Virak, the president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, an independent advocacy organization in Phnom Penh, sees Mr. Hun Sen as badly wounded and fearful for the future.By contrast, Ou Virak, the president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, an independent advocacy organization in Phnom Penh, sees Mr. Hun Sen as badly wounded and fearful for the future.
The governing party’s election campaign was very personalized and built around the presumed popularity of Mr. Hun Sen, so the outcome “was a major blow to his ego,” Mr. Ou Virak said.The governing party’s election campaign was very personalized and built around the presumed popularity of Mr. Hun Sen, so the outcome “was a major blow to his ego,” Mr. Ou Virak said.
In his speeches over the past three years, Mr. Hun Sen has repeatedly mentioned the Arab Spring, an apparent preoccupation that Mr. Ou Virak said helped give insight into the prime minister’s mind-set.In his speeches over the past three years, Mr. Hun Sen has repeatedly mentioned the Arab Spring, an apparent preoccupation that Mr. Ou Virak said helped give insight into the prime minister’s mind-set.
“He is fearful, and he is looking at some of the other long-term dictators and strongmen around the world who have fallen,” Mr. Ou Virak said.“He is fearful, and he is looking at some of the other long-term dictators and strongmen around the world who have fallen,” Mr. Ou Virak said.
The opening of the National Assembly on Monday was attended by foreign dignitaries, including the American ambassador to Cambodia, William E. Todd. But soon after the ceremony, the United States Embassy in Phnom Penh issued a statement saying Mr. Todd’s attendance was “not an endorsement of any election outcome or of any political party.” The statement also called for a “transparent review of irregularities” in the July election that would help address “flaws in the electoral process.”The opening of the National Assembly on Monday was attended by foreign dignitaries, including the American ambassador to Cambodia, William E. Todd. But soon after the ceremony, the United States Embassy in Phnom Penh issued a statement saying Mr. Todd’s attendance was “not an endorsement of any election outcome or of any political party.” The statement also called for a “transparent review of irregularities” in the July election that would help address “flaws in the electoral process.”