Monday, October 23, 2006

Sam Rainsy Letter to NEC's Im Suosdey asking for an additional 4-day extension for the vote registration

Translated from Khmer

Original letter in Khmer is available here

Sam Rainsy Party

To His Excellence Im Suosdey
President of the National Election Committee (NEC)

Subject: Request for additional extension of the voters’ name verification and vote registration processes in a number of communes/sangkats.

Reference: Letter No. 137/10/06 KSR dated 23 October 2006 issued by the Sam Rainsy Party

According to the subject title and the reference letter above, I am informing Your Excellency that in a number of communes/sangkats (the names of which are listed in the enclosure), even though the N.E.C. had extended the process by four additional days, there are still large numbers of people who have not yet registered to vote because:

1- Lack of forms 1018 and 1022 which caused interruptions and delays in the registration process.

2- Bad weather conditions such as rains, flooding causing inaccessible road access for several successive days, have prevented the population from going to verify their names on the voting list or from registering to vote.

3- Lack of clerical resources: in communes where there are large numbers of people registering to vote, there are too few officials working on the voters’ name verification and vote registration processes. Furthermore, there is only one stamp per office causing delay in the voters’ name verification and vote registration processes. The case is encountered for example in the Poipet commune, O Chreuv district, Banteay Meanchey province.

4- Commune and sangkat authorities refuse to certify the identity and the address of a number of people who have been displaced out the city of Phnom Penh and moved to live in a region administered by the very same commune/sangkat authorities. Therefore, these people do not have the documents required to register to vote. For example, of the about 4,000 eligible voters who have been removed from the Sambok Chab area (Phnom Penh) by the Phnom Penh municipality authorities, and resettled in Kauk Roka commune, Dangkao district, only about 10% of them have been registered to vote so far.

5- A number of commune authorities refuse to recongize people living under their authority if these people are facing land disputes. The authorities refuse to certify their identity and their address. This case is encountered at:
  • Of a population of about 1,000 eligible voters in Chamkar Chek Thmey village, Treng Trayeung commune, Phnom Sruoch district, Kompong Speu province, only about 20% of them have been registered to vote so far.
  • Several thousands of eligible voters living in Boeung Pram zone, Ampil Pram Deum district, Bavil district, Battambang province, were not able to register to vote up to now.
Based on the information provided above, I am requesting Your Excellency to extend the period for the voter’s name verification and vote registration processes by at least another four (4) days for a number of communes/sangkats where the incidents related above are encountered. I trust Your Excellency will push for all these people to receive their voting rights just like all other Cambodian citizens.

Please accept, Your Excellency, my deepest cordiality.

Phnom Penh, 23 October 2006

(Signed) Sam Rainsy

Cc:
- Cabinet of His Majesty the King
- National Assembly and Senate secretariat
- Cabinet of the Prime Minister
- Ministry of Interior
- Cambodian People Party
- Funcinpec Party
- U.N.D.P.
- File and archive

List of the communes/sangkats where the voter’s name verification and vote registration processes are asked to be extended by four more days

1- Communes in the Province of Banteay Meanchey: Poipet, Russey Kroak, Poychar, Nam Tao.

2- Communes in the Province of Battambang: Ampil Pram Deum, Kdol Ta Hen, Lvea, Maung.

3- Communes in the Province of Kampot: Prek Kreus, Russey Srok Khang Lech, Ta Ken, Trapeang Phleang, Kraing Snay, Banteay Meas Khang Keut, Andaung Khmer, Phnom Kong.

4- Communes in the Province of Kompong Speu: Borset, Po Angkrang, Po Mreal, Chungruk, Preah Nipean, Prey Nheat, Snam Krapeu, Kraing Chek, Ksem Ksan, Veal Poung, Roleang Kreul, Trapeang Kong, Voal Sar, Skous, Treng Trayeung, Moha Saing, and O.
5- Communes in the Province of Kompong Thom: Sala Visay, Srayov, Phat Sanday, Damrey Slab, Chamnar Krom, Popok.

6- Communes in the Province of Kandal: Takhmao, Deum Mean, Sambuor Meas, Prek Ambel, Treuy Sla, Khpob, Svay Prateal, Prek Koy, Ta Loun, Teuk Vil, Prek Eng, Kompong Phnom.

7- Communes in the Province of Siem Reap: Slor Kram, Svay Dangkum, Kauk Chak, Sala Kamreuk, Cheav, Dam Dek, Dan Run, Prey Chrouk, Muk Pen, Lvea, Russey Lok, Spean Thnoat, and Pongro Krom.

8- Communes in the Province of Kompong Cham: Tuol Snuol, Pream Prathnous, Prek Ta Nong, Kak, Krek, Phteas Kandal, Prek Dambauk, Prek Po, Prek Rumdeng, Russey Srok, Meanchey, Svay Khsach Phnom, Veal Vong, Sambuor Meas, Peam Chilaing, Boeung Pruol, Chi Ro No. 1, Tonle Bit, Ampil, Prola, Prek Kak, Bos Khnor, Svay Teab, Speu, Chamkar Andaung, Ta Ong, Sampong Chey, Sotib, Sdeung Chey, Sramor, Trapeang Kro, Boeung Nay, Reay Pay, Prek Krobao, Batheay.

9- Sangkats in the City of Phnom Penh: Tonle Bassac, Boeung Keng Kang 1, Phsar Deum Thkov, Boeung Keng Kang 1, Boeung Keng Kang 2, Tuol Svay Prey 1, Tuol Svay Prey 2, Tumnub Teuk, Tuol Tompoung 1, Srah Chak, Phsar Thmey 3. Phsar Kandal 1, Chaktokmouk, Meanchey, Veal Vong, O Russey 1, O Russey 2, Monorom, Mittapheap, Boeung Prolit, Tuol Sangker, Teuk Thla, Phnom Penh Thmey, Chrauy Changvar, Khmuonh, Svay Pak, Kilometre 6, Prek Leap, Chraing Chamres, Boeung Salang, Teuk La’ak 2, Teuk La’ak 3, Boeung Kak 1, Boeung Kak 2, Phsar Deum Kor, Teuk La’ak 1, Phsar Depot 1, Phsar Depot 2, Chak Angre Leu, Chak Angre Krom, Boeung Tumpun, Steung Meanchey, Chbar Ampov 2, Niroth, Prek Pra, Chbar Ampov 1, Dangkao, and Kauk Roka.

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