Cambodia's parliament holds first session since July vote

Cambodia’s parliament on Wednesday held its first session since a July general election in which Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party claimed victory but which critics called a sham because of the lack of a viable opposition.


The United Nations and Western countries have described the election as flawed after the Supreme Court last year dissolved the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) over accusations of plotting to topple the government.


King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the opening session of parliament after Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won all 125 parliamentary seats up for grabs in the July 29 vote.


“All members of parliament, who represent the whole nation, will expend more vigorous efforts helping people to enjoy equal access to religious belief, education, decent jobs,” the king said in his opening speech.


Also attending the session were representatives from China, Malaysia, Timor-Leste and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).


Absent were Australia, the European Union and the United States whose relationship with Cambodia has cooled considerably since Hun Sen and his allies launched a campaign aimed at silencing critics in the election run-up.


“Given Australia’s views on the flawed election process, Australia will not be represented at the inauguration of Cambodia’s National Assembly,” a spokeswoman for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.


EU Ambassador George Edgar said he was in Brussels and so unable to attend.


It was “significant and alarming that democratically elected governments chose to be absent at the opening of the National Assembly”, said Mu Sochua, deputy president of the CNRP.


Its leader Kem Sokha, jailed on treason charges last September, remains in pre-trial detention.