To discuss about the legitimacy of the extraordinary congress carried out by the opposition party CNRP in order to nominate their new president and vice presidents, representatives from CNRP and from the Ministry of Interior met each other on Wednesday at the headquarter of the ministry.
According to Fresh News, a trusted local online newspaper, the discussion happened for one hour and half. After the meeting, Prak Som Eun, a representative from the ministry, told reporters that his ministry still wanted to hold their position to not recognize the new president and vice presidents of the CNRP.
Regarding this issue, his ministry would like to see the CNRP "SOLVE THIS PROBLEM", and change their slogan. If not, the CNRP will face legal measures relating to the Law on Political Parties.
As for Eng Chhai Eang, a representative from the CNRP who had participated in the discussion, he told reporters that the ministry said that the congress was legal, and the amendments to the CNRP's bylaws was not a problem either. But, the problems were the nomination of the new CNRP's leaders and the slogan.
Regarding this issue, Mr. Chhai Eang said that the CNRP would like to see a written response from the ministry stating that the congress and the amendments to the bylaws were legal, instead of verbal statements. However, he and other CNRP lawmakers will discuss this matter together.
Relating to the CNRP's legitimity, Hang Puthea, spokesman for the National Election Committee (NEC), told reporters that the CNRP's congress and amendments had nothing to do with the electoral registration conducted by NEC. It is only CNRP's internal affairs.
"Nothing related to the voter list. If it's not recognized, the CNRP should redo the congress again, or do whatever is suitable for the CNRP. It's a structural problem, not the problem about CNRP itself," said Mr. Puthea.
He added that the NEC delete CNRP from the voter list only if this party is dissolved, otherwise, the NEC will keep CNRP on the voter list forever.
After Mr. Kem Sokha was nominated as the new president of the opposition party CNRP on March 2, in the same day, Prime Minister Hun Sen sent a letter to congratulate Mr. Sokha.
"On the occasion that Your Excellency was nominated as the president of the CNRP, I wish Your Excellency and your family live in a healthy and happy life," wrote Prime Minister Hun Sen in his letter to Mr. Sokha.
However, on March 22, the Ministry of Interior sent a letter to the CNRP stating that the nomination for Mr. Sokha to be the president, Pol Ham, Mu Sochua and Eng Chhay Eang, to be vice presidents of the CNRP, did not conform to Article 47 of the CNRP's bylaws - Mr. Sokha was nominated in less than 18 months after Mr. Sam Rainsy, former CNRP's, resigned in February 11.
The letter also asks the CNRP to change their slogan "Replace commune chief serving the party by commune chief serving the people".
According to the ministry, the slogan is against the 1993 Constitution, the Law on Political Parties, the Law on the Election of the Commune, the Law on the Administrative Management of Commune, and the Cambodian democratic and proportional representation principle.
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