Hun Sen holds second day of talks with opposition leaders

(17 Sep 2013) Cambodia's government and its main opposition party said on Tuesday that they were closer to resolving the country's post-election political deadlock, but need more time to reach an agreement.
But the optimism comes as opposition emotions over the election were still running high, with a Buddhist monk threatening to set himself on fire to protest alleged ruling party chicanery at the polls.
While the self-immolation threat was one of the more dramatic developments since the disputed July 28 polls, the extended talks between Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy were an indication the political conflict may be resolved without violence.
The two met for three hours on Tuesday, a follow-up to four hours of talks on Monday in which they agreed to meet again for more talks, to ensure future protests are peaceful and to set up a committee for reforming the election process in the future.
Sam Rainsy's Cambodia National Rescue Party is demanding an independent probe of alleged election irregularities they say cost them victory at the polls, and is threatening to boycott the opening of the National Assembly on September 23.
Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party, which won 68 assembly seats, says that with the results already ratified, there is no legal way to challenge the election process.
The opposition won 55 seats, a significant increase from the 29 seats it held in the last assembly.
Spokesmen for both sides said they were closer to agreeing on political reforms.
Opposition spokesman Yim Sovann said those included their points of view on solving the problems the country and its major national institutions are facing.
"Now that gap is closing, but we need more time to talk because there are plenty of topics," he said.
Prak Sokhon, spokesman for the Cambodian People's Party, said the two sides had agreed on several points, and now had to talk them over with their respective party members before meeting again.
He said there was not yet 100 percent agreement, but some points had already been agreed upon.
"I beg you to exercise your patience and give more time for the two parties to talk further," he said.
They both declined to specify what they had agreed on.
The opposition has been pressing its case in the streets, most recently with a rally that began on Sunday in Phnom Penh's Freedom Park.
Hun Sen's government has been trying to discourage demonstrations by highlighting the possibility of violence, and in breakaway marches on Sunday away from the main rally site, clashes with police left one man dead and about 10 injured.
The main rally continued peacefully on Tuesday, with about 5-thousand people turning up by noon.


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