Mass demonstrations throughout the country will be the final option for the opposition if its request for a joint committee to review election “irregularities” is not met, Cambodia National Rescue Party president Sam Rainsy said.

A video posted on an opposition party-aligned website last night shows Rainsy and CNRP deputy president Kem Sokha telling supporters at its office in Meanchey district that the committee must right the wrongs of Sunday’s ballot or people will take to the street.

“The whole world knows the National Rescue Party won,” he says. “When you go back home, use Facebook to tell youths and the whole Khmer people that we will carry out a mass demonstration.”

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday that if there is no review of the election results his party has rejected, demonstrating will be one option. “We would like to call for everyone to keep calm and let us find a way to resolve this,” he said.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said it was the right of the people to demonstrate, but added that even if the National Assembly did not sit, other government bodies, such as the Senate, could still function.

CNRP legislator Mu Sochua said yesterday that voters were invited to the party’s head office this morning to air their complaints and encouraged people to bring their voting documents as evidence of irregularities.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KEVIN PONNIAH