Catching Up With The Messiah…
Sam Rainsy, President of the opposition coalition CNRP (Cambodian National Rescue Party) visited the Boeung Kak Lake community (see here and here). Having spent a few years in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence for having uprooted a border post, Sam Rainsy was, with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s blessing, pardoned by King Sihamoni and returned to Cambodia 8 days before the parliamentary elections held on July 28th. The as of yet unofficial results of the poll turned out to be the first real threat to the 28 year-reign of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his CPP (Cambodian People’s Party) as they managed to retain only 68 out of their previous 90 seats against 55 for the CNRP, in what most independent observers and thousands of Cambodians regard as a fraud-ridden election process for the 123 seats parliament. In terms of votes this means 49,8% for the CPPP and 45,2 for the CNRP, according to the CPP’s official website. Close, very close…
The CNRP is questioning the results and calls for an internationally monitored investigation whereas the CPP agrees on an investigation set up by the existing NEC (National Election Committee) which is considered as extremely close to the still ruling party. Both sides are now locked into a tense political game.
Together with the demographic factor of hundreds of thousands of young voters who are not fooled by a layer of undeniable development of the country on top of a corrupt-ridden and ageing leadership, there is no question the return of Sam Rainsy orchestrated by his political ennemy has played a huge role in the outcome of the vote.
