Election Committee To Move Off Interior Ministry Grounds
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Mirroring the more neutral makeup of the new National Election Committee, the government's election monitor will move its headquarters from inside the Interior Ministry compound to a plot of land next to the new National Assembly building, officials said Wednesday.
On Monday, the National Assembly approved increasing the NEC's membership from five to nine members: five CPP officials, two from Funcinpec and two from the Sam Rainsy Party.
Though the CPP’s Im Sousdey remains NEC president, Funcinpec's Sin Chum Bo was named NEC deputy president. Also named as NEC members were fellow Funcinpec member Klok Buddhi, CPP members Koy Vet, Meat Sati and Havan Svilay and SRP members Som Chandina and Mao Sophearith.
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said Wednesday that the body is currently evaluating the cost of building its new headquarters, which was now necessary since the NEC's membership has been increased from five to nine members.
The current NEC office was too small and too old, Tep Nitha said.
"The NEC will have its neutral headquarters," he said, adding that he hoped the new building would be complete in time for the 2008 national elections.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair elections, said the NEC would need to do more than move offices to become a political neutral body.
"There is no neutrality and independence in the NEC," said Koul Panha, noting that the Interior Ministry chose the composition of the new NEC lineup. "The NEC composition cannot ensure they can perform independent and neutral work. Political parties can still influence the NEC," he said.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said that the more politically inclusive makeup of the NEC should reduce criticism from election losers.
"It is good. Everyone participates, the losers will not complain about the [NEC's] neutrality," he said.
On Monday, the National Assembly approved increasing the NEC's membership from five to nine members: five CPP officials, two from Funcinpec and two from the Sam Rainsy Party.
Though the CPP’s Im Sousdey remains NEC president, Funcinpec's Sin Chum Bo was named NEC deputy president. Also named as NEC members were fellow Funcinpec member Klok Buddhi, CPP members Koy Vet, Meat Sati and Havan Svilay and SRP members Som Chandina and Mao Sophearith.
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said Wednesday that the body is currently evaluating the cost of building its new headquarters, which was now necessary since the NEC's membership has been increased from five to nine members.
The current NEC office was too small and too old, Tep Nitha said.
"The NEC will have its neutral headquarters," he said, adding that he hoped the new building would be complete in time for the 2008 national elections.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair elections, said the NEC would need to do more than move offices to become a political neutral body.
"There is no neutrality and independence in the NEC," said Koul Panha, noting that the Interior Ministry chose the composition of the new NEC lineup. "The NEC composition cannot ensure they can perform independent and neutral work. Political parties can still influence the NEC," he said.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said that the more politically inclusive makeup of the NEC should reduce criticism from election losers.
"It is good. Everyone participates, the losers will not complain about the [NEC's] neutrality," he said.
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