I could not help but wondering how our gracious king, his majesty Norodom Sihamoni, deals with the election issue of being above the CPP's pressured political tactics when it comes to the day of the swearing in those presumed newly elected lawmakers. The controversy surrounding the July election needs to be resolved due to many irregularities - prior process, during and on the election day, itself. Too many names had been deleted regardless intentionally or otherwise; too many ghost names were added; too many Form1018 were issues willingly and illegally under the same picture, pre-filled with personal data and handed out for signature/finger print, all across precints nationwide - a process which allows one individual to vote multiple times on that election day. Truly we can called it a well organized scheme to ensure the outcome in hugh favour of the CPP. As a result, a very large percentage of the opposition voices have been disenfranchised.
Two main opposition parties have joined to protest and call into questions the legality of the election - its process and the outcome. They have decided not to participate in the first swearing in of the supposedly newly elected members of the NA. The CPP has threatened to take away seats, especially its main rival, Sam Rainsy Party, then rule alone unconstitutionally, as they always planned for all intents and purposes. However, the King has a constituional role to play in this affairs, although somewhat ceremonious, still, the King has enormous grace and influence on the fairness of this largly questionable election.
Will the King submits to the political pressure of the CPP by not agree to hear all concerns of all parties? Will our gracious King, be the King of all Khmers and remain high above any party's or personal interests to see that all Khmer voices will be fairly heard and resolved? I could not imagine the critical role and the pressure our King must have felt as he is now called into resolving this election dispute. Our King has a great opportunity here to show the people of Cambodia that he is the King of all Khmer people, not just one political group. Will His Majesty takes the risk of annoying the CPP for being the King of all Khmers?
In any event, I trust in the grace of our lord Buddha that the King will remain high above politics, free of fears and intimidation, and that he will do the right thing for the country and
for all of his subjects.
