PHNOM PENH —
Members of the European Union’s parliament are calling for the Cambodian government to conduct an investigation into allegations of fraud in July’s election.
A resolution passed by EU parliamentarians last week follows a violent crackdown on labor and opposition protests that have posed a challenge to the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Opposition leaders are calling for a recall election and for Hun Sen to step down.
“The Cambodian government is called on to accept an independent, internationally assisted investigation into allegations of vote fraud and other irregularities around the July 2013 elections,” the parliamentarians said in their resolution.
Opposition officials welcomed the resolution on Monday, but a government spokesman said it was the result of a “misunderstanding.”
The resolution also expresses concern for rights defenders, activists and others and calls for the immediate release of 23 protesters detained in crackdowns earlier this month.
It also calls for incitement charges against opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, as well as union leader Rong Chhun, to be dropped.
Rescue Party President Sam Rainsy, Vice President Kem Sokha, and Rong Chhun, who is head of the Confederation of Cambodian Unions, appeared at Phnom Penh Municipal Court last week, to face charges for inciting violence at worker protests earlier this month.
All three have denied the charges and say they will continue to call for demonstrations.
Rong Chhun told VOA Khmer last week he will continue to call for strikes until workers receive $160 per month as a minimum wage.
“This charge is not acceptable, because as a union we have full rights to join and monitor the protests of the workers who are union members,” he said.
A resolution passed by EU parliamentarians last week follows a violent crackdown on labor and opposition protests that have posed a challenge to the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Opposition leaders are calling for a recall election and for Hun Sen to step down.
“The Cambodian government is called on to accept an independent, internationally assisted investigation into allegations of vote fraud and other irregularities around the July 2013 elections,” the parliamentarians said in their resolution.
Opposition officials welcomed the resolution on Monday, but a government spokesman said it was the result of a “misunderstanding.”
The resolution also expresses concern for rights defenders, activists and others and calls for the immediate release of 23 protesters detained in crackdowns earlier this month.
It also calls for incitement charges against opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, as well as union leader Rong Chhun, to be dropped.
Rescue Party President Sam Rainsy, Vice President Kem Sokha, and Rong Chhun, who is head of the Confederation of Cambodian Unions, appeared at Phnom Penh Municipal Court last week, to face charges for inciting violence at worker protests earlier this month.
All three have denied the charges and say they will continue to call for demonstrations.
Rong Chhun told VOA Khmer last week he will continue to call for strikes until workers receive $160 per month as a minimum wage.
“This charge is not acceptable, because as a union we have full rights to join and monitor the protests of the workers who are union members,” he said.
