By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Cambodia’s Constitutional Council held a hearing on 24-25 Nov to decide on the petitions sent by the Sam Rainsy Party demanding the removal from the voting list of people suspected of being Vietnamese citizens. The council decided to remove 94 names, while leaving intact 8,542 Vietnamese-sounding names on the voting list. The council indicated that the petitions are contrary to the spirit of the law.
Bin Chhin, president of the Constitutional Council, presided on the hearing of the 5 petitions involving 8 names from Phnom Penh, 6,453 from Kandal province, 763 from Siem Reap province, 1,264 from Prey Veng province, and 58 from Svay Rieng province.
Bin Chhin sadi that following the hearing of the arguments from both sides, clarifications from witnesses, and the investigations made by officials from the council, the council has decided to remove 94 names from the voting list from Chong Khneas commune, Siem Reap province, 28 names from Kandal province of people who are already dead or moved out, and 46 names from Prey Veng province where the commune chief had already removed from the voting list.
As for the others who are left on the voting list, it was done according the decisions made by officials from the National Election Committee (NEC) who refused to remove those names once already, and also according to the investigation report. He also indicated that according to the new article 42-64 of the legislative and commune election and the change in the law, the petitions [brought forth by the opposition party] is against the spirit of the law, therefore, the council denies them, and will not allow any further protest.
Pim Samnang, SRP official from Prey Veng, the petitioner who lost the case today, said that he cannot accept this ruling by the council. However, he has not yet decided on what to do next. He will discuss the issue with his party president first. However, he indicated that the demonstration in Prey Veng will go on as planned, with the participation of more than 10,000 people.
Pim Samnang said: “While the Constitutional Council gave an unjust decision to the SRP [petitions], we are still maintaining the plan to hold a demonstration. We have not yet decided on the date of the demonstration march from Prey Veng province.”
On 12-13 Nov 2006, the NEC held a hearing to decide on the petitions sent by the opposition officials to remove the names of people suspected of being Vietnamese citizens from the voting list, however the NEC refused the removal, and the case was pursued to the Constitutional Council.
Bin Chhin, president of the Constitutional Council, presided on the hearing of the 5 petitions involving 8 names from Phnom Penh, 6,453 from Kandal province, 763 from Siem Reap province, 1,264 from Prey Veng province, and 58 from Svay Rieng province.
Bin Chhin sadi that following the hearing of the arguments from both sides, clarifications from witnesses, and the investigations made by officials from the council, the council has decided to remove 94 names from the voting list from Chong Khneas commune, Siem Reap province, 28 names from Kandal province of people who are already dead or moved out, and 46 names from Prey Veng province where the commune chief had already removed from the voting list.
As for the others who are left on the voting list, it was done according the decisions made by officials from the National Election Committee (NEC) who refused to remove those names once already, and also according to the investigation report. He also indicated that according to the new article 42-64 of the legislative and commune election and the change in the law, the petitions [brought forth by the opposition party] is against the spirit of the law, therefore, the council denies them, and will not allow any further protest.
Pim Samnang, SRP official from Prey Veng, the petitioner who lost the case today, said that he cannot accept this ruling by the council. However, he has not yet decided on what to do next. He will discuss the issue with his party president first. However, he indicated that the demonstration in Prey Veng will go on as planned, with the participation of more than 10,000 people.
Pim Samnang said: “While the Constitutional Council gave an unjust decision to the SRP [petitions], we are still maintaining the plan to hold a demonstration. We have not yet decided on the date of the demonstration march from Prey Veng province.”
On 12-13 Nov 2006, the NEC held a hearing to decide on the petitions sent by the opposition officials to remove the names of people suspected of being Vietnamese citizens from the voting list, however the NEC refused the removal, and the case was pursued to the Constitutional Council.
3 comments:
I support the removal of illegal immigrants from poll rights, however, I can not accept, if these people are legal citizens of Cambodia. There are Vietnamese who have been in Cambodia for generations, who probably fled their their country b/c of economic hardship etc. Those families who have live in Cambodia for generations are considered "Cambodian" hopefully, but as for those who came due to occupation of Cambodia in 79'-90s, I do not believe they have a right, they are illegal occupants.
Bravo, but only a small percent of the request has been removed. I want it all if it is true. There are millions illegal Vietnamese immigrant who live in Cambodia because Ah Hun Sen allowed it to happen and he would always oppose to forming the immigration law. His people and government are the puppet of ah Youn. They are corrupted. Those Youn can buy birth certificate and and change names from those corrupted village or commune chiefs to prove that they are legal and born in Cambodia.
"Article 42 - Khmer citizens shall have the right to establish associations and political parties. These rights shall be determined by law. Khmer citizens may take part in mass organizations for mutual benefit to protect national achievements and social order. Article 43 - Khmer citizens of either sex shall have the right to freedom of belief. Freedom of religious belief and worship shall be guaranteed by the State on the condition that such freedom does not affect other religious beliefs or violate public order and security. Buddhism shall be the State religion. Article 44 - All persons, individually or collectively, shall have the right to ownership. Only Khmer legal entities and citizens of Khmer nationality shall have the right to own land. Legal private ownership shall be protected by law. The right to confiscate possessions from any person shall be exercised only in the public interest as provided for under law and shall require fair and just compensation in advance".
"NEC who refused to remove those names once already, and also according to the investigation report. New article 42-64 of the legislative and commune election and the change in the law, the petitions [brought forth by the opposition party] is against the spirit of the law, therefore, the council denies them, and will not allow any further protest"
It show that the NEC by handing down the decision this way is against the Cambodian constitution of allowing foreign citizen (that is not Cambodian) to vote while creating pedeiment and problems to provent it own citizen from voting.
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