Opposition in Cambodia ‘seek compromise with Hun Sen’

Leader of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy (centre, right) and deputy of CNRP Kem Sokha (centre, left) raise their hands in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Reuters/Phnom Penh

Cambodia’s opposition has been in talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen to find a deal to end the political crisis caused by last year’s disputed general election and a compromise may be near, two analysts briefed on the matter said.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and his deputy, Kem Sokha, had written to Hun Sen via a mediator seeking a “compromise for national reconciliation”, independent analysts Kem Ley and Heang Rithy said yesterday.

“I have seen a letter that Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha had written to Prime Minister Hun Sen, outlining four points,” said Heang Rithy, president of the Cambodian National Research Organization.

Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, was returned to power in an election last July that the opposition called fraudulent.

Heang Rithy and Kem Ley said Sam Rainsy’s Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) wanted the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to agree to a fresh election in 2015 or 2016, give it the chairmanship of some parliamentary commissions, allow it to run a television station and agree to look at electoral reforms.

The CNRP had also asked to have the deputy presidency of the National Assembly, dropping its demand for the presidency, Kem Ley said, adding that in return the opposition party would end its boycott of parliament.

 “There have been secret talks through a third party and the third party has informed us that much has been agreed on, about 80%,” said social analyst Kem Ley.

Sam Rainsy led tens of thousands of CNRP supporters and allied striking garment workers on rallies and marches against Hun Sen until a crackdown by security forces in early January, when five strikers were shot dead and the protests were halted.

He denied secret talks had taken place and said his party had not discussed any power-sharing in parliament.

“The two parties keep contacting each other and are prepared to meet at a certain level, so it’s not a secret,” Sam Rainsy said.

 He confirmed the CNRP wanted a new election and a television licence, which would help counter the exposure Hun Sen got on state television.

“There are some ideas, we’ve made some relationships, on and off. Nothing has been agreed yet. There is no result yet,” he said.