TRACING CAMBODIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS
July 19, 2013: Jubilant supporters greet the return of opposition leader Sam Rainsy from self-imposed exile in France. Sam Rainsy fled in 2009 to avoid prison for charges he contends were politically motivated, but was pardoned weeks before a general election. July 22: Election authorities reject Sam Rainsy’s application to stand in national polls, saying it was too late to add the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader to the electoral register. July 25: The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)dominated National Assembly dismisses a plea by Sam Rainsy to be reinstated as a politician. July 28: Hun Sen’s CPP claims victory in the general electionl with 68 parliamentary seats out of 123 —
retaining power despite suffering major losses. July 29: The CNRP rejects the result and calls for an independent probe into allegations of widespread voting fraud. July 31: Sam Rainsy announces that his opposition party won a majority of 63 seats and accuses the CPP of ‘‘stealing victory’’. Aug 2: Hun Sen vows to lead the new government despite the poll dispute. Aug 5: Sam Rainsy calls for the UN to help resolve the impasse.
Aug 9: Troops and armoured personnel carriers are deployed in the capital in an apparent response to CNRP threats to launch nationwide protests. Aug 12: Preliminary results hand Hun Sen victory in the popular vote, but the opposition appeals the count. Sept 4: Sam Rainsy calls on Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to resolve the political deadlock. Sept 7: Thousands of CNRP supporters join a peaceful mass rally in Phnom Penh ahead of final official election results. Sept 8: Election authorities confirm Hun Sen’s poll win, giving the CPP 68 seats to 55 for the CNRP. The opposition again rejects the tally as fraud-tainted. Sept 16: Thousands of CNRP protesters remain in central Phnom Penh for a second day, as Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy meet for fresh talks. They agree to three points — to heed the king’s call for an end to the violence, to set up a mechanism to bring about election reform in the future and to continue negotiations. Sept 17: Thousands of CNRP supporters disperse after the three-day rally in a park in the capital.
AFP