NEC Confirms…
The National Election Committee in Cambodia has confirmed the results of the 2013 legislative elections: 68 seats (22 less compared to the previous elections) for the ruling CPP, 55 (26 more than last time) for the opposition CNRP. That is 3,227,729 votes for the CPP or 48,79% against 2,941,133 votes or 44.45% for the CNRP (the rest of the % goes to a few -now insignificant- parties). None of the officially filed complaints turned out to be a game-changer (they were mostly rejected).
It is close.
Based on numerous allegations of vote rigging, the CNRP quite obviously does not agree with the results. At a press conference this sunday, a 3-day demonstration was announced starting September 15th. It is not clear yet if it will be a sit-in, a march or a sleep-in at ‘Freedom Place’.
It certainly will increase the tension a notch. The relatively tolerant attitude until now of the authorities towards the public manifestations, be it from striking workers or the CNRP, may well fade away. This time the large amounts of police and army units supported by armoured vehicles in and around the capital might play a less passive role.
The photographs from the 2013 elections can be seen HERE on my regularly updated website…
