Cambodian opposition chief vows mass protest in capital on Sunday

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy vowed to mobilize 1 million supporters into capital Phnom Penh on Sunday as the opposition party's daily protests against Prime Minister Hun Sen's government entered the 11th day on Wednesday. "We vow to mobilize 1 million supporters into Phnom Penh on Sunday, Dec. 29 to demand Hun Sen to call a re-election or to step down," Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), told a rally of about 7,000 protesters at the capital's Freedom Park on Wednesday evening after marching through streets. "Political tsunami will come on Sunday, please come and join us." It is unlikely that the opposition could round up a million supporters into the city. In a mass protest on Sunday last week, Sam Rainsy announced that a half million of people would join the rally, but the exact number was estimated at between 20,000 and 30, 000 only. Political conflict between Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party and Sam Rainsy's opposition party has persisted since the July election results revealed that the ruling party won a majority of votes, taking 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the opposition. The opposition refused to accept the outcome, claiming serious irregularities and has boycotted parliament since then. On Monday, 54 ruling party lawmakers issued a statement, saying that the opposition's call for Hun Sen's resignation and a re-vote are a "clear and undeniable act of coup" against the current legitimate government. Hun Sen said on Friday last week that he would neither step down nor call a re-vote because he has done nothing wrong. "I have ascended to the prime minister through the constitution. If I descend, it will also be through the constitution," he said. "Therefore, I confirm that there is no re-election because no one can dissolve the National Assembly and no mechanism states about a snap election before the end of the five-year term." Last week, Defense Minister Tea Banh also warned the opposition of its outlawed protests and said the government would take legal actions against protesters if they tried to capture government buildings.