The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodian opposition parties said Tuesday that they had agreed on a joint solution to end a political deadlock and the opposition's yearlong boycott of the national legislature.
Hun Sen, opposition leader Sam Rainsy and others met for five hours behind closed doors Tuesday in the third round of talks since lawmakers from Rainsy's Cambodia National Rescue Party boycotted their parliamentary seats following last July's national elections. The opposition alleged that the polls were rigged, and demanded reforms and new elections.
"It was a success. Now you can applaud," said Hun Sen, who was seen smiling when walking out of the meeting room.
Cambodia's main opposition leader Sam Rainsy of the Cambodia National Rescue Party smiles as he waits for Prime Minister Hun Sen to resume a meeting at the Senate headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, July 22, 2012. Cambodia's ruling and opposition parties on Tuesday held a round of talks to end the yearlong political deadlock. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (Heng Sinith/AP)
Rainsy said the two leaders must seek an audience with King Narodom Sihamoni to inform the monarch about the agreement before the 55 lawmakers-elect from his party are sworn in and join the National Assembly.
"We have no choice. The only suitable choice is to end the political crisis, to end the standoff," Rainsy told reporters.
A joint statement said the parties agreed to work together in the National Assembly in order to solve important issues and to reform some institutions.
"Both parties agreed to do a reforming and strengthening to some major state institutions, especially independent institutions that could serve the benefit of the nation, the people and comply with pluralism democracy," they said in the statement.
In terms of the legislature's leadership, the two sides agreed that the president and second vice president of the National Assembly would be from the ruling Cambodian People's Party, and that the first vice president would come from the opposition CNRP.
Each party will chair five out of 10 commissions in the assembly, according to the statement.
Both parties also said they agreed to change the dates of upcoming elections, but did not say when they would be held. The next general election is scheduled for July 2018.
Tuesday's talks came after last week's arrest of seven opposition lawmakers and another party activist after violence broke out when party members tried to stage a rally at Phnom Penh's Freedom Park.
Their defense lawyer, Sam Sok Kong, said he expects all the accused to be released on bail.
Hun Sen has been in power for almost three decades and, despite Cambodia being formally democratic, his government is authoritarian and known for intimidating opponents. A strong showing by Rainsy's party in last year's elections posed the strongest challenge to Hun Sen in years.
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