PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Last weekend's Cambodian national elections failed to meet international standards because of biases in favor of the country's ruling party, the European Union said Tuesday.
The criticism came the day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party claimed it had won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The results were expected to usher in a new term for the premier who has ruled the country for 23 years.
Martin Callanan, the head of an EU election monitoring team, said all aspects of organizing Sunday's polls were "dominated by the Cambodian People's Party," which allow "accusations of lack of impartiality to be made," he said.
Callanan said there was bias during the election campaigns, citing "a widespread use of state resources," including the use of government-registered vehicles by ruling party officials.
He also said the party dominated the media coverage "which was not consistent with international standard on free and equal access to the media."
But Callanan declined to characterize the election as unfair despite allegations of widespread vote rigging from smaller parties, including the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party. They have called on the international community to reject the results.
Tep Nitha, the election committee's secretary-general, declined to comment on the issue.
In a joint statement Monday, four small parties, including Sam Rainsy, said Hun Sen's party won through "illegal and fraudulent practices." They cited the National Election Committee's alleged removal of tens of thousands of legitimate voters from electoral lists to prevent them from casting ballots for other parties.
They also accused the electoral body of acting as "a tool for the CPP to organize a sham election and present a facade of democracy."
Khieu Kanharith, the spokesman of the ruling party, dismissed the allegations of fraud.
Callanan said his team will release its final findings on the election in October.
The CPP has claimed a landslide victory with up to 91 seats in the 123-seat National Assembly, which is the lower house of Parliament. Official results are expected in a few days.
Hun Sen has been at the center of Cambodian politics since 1985, when he became the world's youngest prime minister at age 33. He has held or shared the top job ever since, bullying and outfoxing his opponents to stay in power.
Sunday's voting was the fourth parliamentary election since the United Nations brokered a peace deal for the country in 1991, a process meant to end decades of civil unrest that included the 1975-79 genocidal reign of the Khmer Rouge.
The criticism came the day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party claimed it had won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The results were expected to usher in a new term for the premier who has ruled the country for 23 years.
Martin Callanan, the head of an EU election monitoring team, said all aspects of organizing Sunday's polls were "dominated by the Cambodian People's Party," which allow "accusations of lack of impartiality to be made," he said.
Callanan said there was bias during the election campaigns, citing "a widespread use of state resources," including the use of government-registered vehicles by ruling party officials.
He also said the party dominated the media coverage "which was not consistent with international standard on free and equal access to the media."
But Callanan declined to characterize the election as unfair despite allegations of widespread vote rigging from smaller parties, including the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party. They have called on the international community to reject the results.
Tep Nitha, the election committee's secretary-general, declined to comment on the issue.
In a joint statement Monday, four small parties, including Sam Rainsy, said Hun Sen's party won through "illegal and fraudulent practices." They cited the National Election Committee's alleged removal of tens of thousands of legitimate voters from electoral lists to prevent them from casting ballots for other parties.
They also accused the electoral body of acting as "a tool for the CPP to organize a sham election and present a facade of democracy."
Khieu Kanharith, the spokesman of the ruling party, dismissed the allegations of fraud.
Callanan said his team will release its final findings on the election in October.
The CPP has claimed a landslide victory with up to 91 seats in the 123-seat National Assembly, which is the lower house of Parliament. Official results are expected in a few days.
Hun Sen has been at the center of Cambodian politics since 1985, when he became the world's youngest prime minister at age 33. He has held or shared the top job ever since, bullying and outfoxing his opponents to stay in power.
Sunday's voting was the fourth parliamentary election since the United Nations brokered a peace deal for the country in 1991, a process meant to end decades of civil unrest that included the 1975-79 genocidal reign of the Khmer Rouge.
11 comments:
All of you concern only the power!! Fucking A Sam Rain Sy (called A Venn Ta), A Kim Sokha(called A Chhout Tek Moit), A Ranarith( called A Chhout Srey), A Keo Puth Raksmey( called A Lob Lob), A Hun Sen ( called Ah Hun Kvak)!!!! all of you don't care our nation faces with the evil neighboring that occupy illegally into our land.
Please all khmer stop vote for All idoit leader of political party in Cambodia at next election poll because They care the power and how to get the powerful only.
Stop play the stupid game by using the people for your power.
Khmer need to think our land first, no time to care with these crazy man!!!
From Khmer boring with politic in Cambodia.
Ok dude 11:25PM so we should vote for, YOU?
And what about the " our land " and selected leader, What you sugestion!
Think more mane, before you go jumping in the Mekong!
Trey Chanvar,
Thank you EU!!! but please help us be free for one, no fear, no suppression, then you can blame us after that!
Power to the people not person or groups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, it's time for the opposition leaders to use people power to protest the electoral fraud.
Of course, the electoral process was shortcoming; it was predictable by the vast majority of the voters.
These people casted their ballots based on fear,intimidation; they were afraid of reprisal. They had no other choice.
"But Callanan declined to characterize the election as unfair despite allegations of widespread vote rigging from smaller parties, including the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party. They have called on the international community to reject the results."
There, that said it all, Everything is fair and square.
It's time to go back to work for the country and put the election in the closet.
1:05,
Fair and square is like putting a gun to your mother's head and force her to give birth to you.
Shame on you Hun Sen!
Shame on you CPP!
Shame on you CPP supportes!
Fuck CPP supporters!
When Mr Callanan has a final report of the election outcome, Would you please send a copy to our king, for transparency of ruling as well as international diplomacy.I believe cambodians will appreciate for your courtesy.
Thank you!
Neang SA
Cambodia cannot afford to be weak right now , and ever ... the neighbors , the oil etc. you tell me who will you choose out of all ??? there's only one.
hey you naive! the EU just want new gov. so they can give the loan to Cambodia easily. they just want to make money out of a poor nation. pathetic!
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