Washington, DC Thursday, 30 December 2010
"Voters should be allowed to see where election money, gifts and other largesse come from and to learn how much each party is spending on the election."
Election analysts say Cambodia's new anti-corruption law should be incorporated into the polls, to prevent political parties or campaigners from buying votes or swaying the electorate with gifts.
Currently, there is not a clear policy, so some officials used “extravagant funds” during campaigns, said Hang Puthea, executive director of the Neutral Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections, a monitoring group.
The anti-corruption law, passed earlier this year, could be effective in curbing this and for showing where funds come from, he said.
Koul Panha, head of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, agreed. Voters should be allowed to see where election money, gifts and other largesse come from and to learn how much each party is spending on the election.
“We can learn how money is having an influence in the electoral process and can see the magnitude of expenses in the electoral process,” he said.
Election law does outline punishments for candidates who commit wrongdoing, but the National Election Committee has been accused weak enforcement.
The election law could be made stronger with provisions from the anti-corruption law, the election monitors said.
For now, it remains unclear how the anti-corruption law will be applied to upcoming elections in 2012 and 2013.
“We have not yet studied this,” said Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the NEC. Irregularities can be punished under election laws, he said, but there are not specific stipulations about corruption.
But the new anti-corruption law has some political activists worried. A ruling Cambodian People's Party official who spoke on condition of anonymity said some party supporters worry they will be punished under the new law.
Kem Sokha, president of the minority opposition Human Rights Party, said any law would likely only be yielded against the opposition and not the ruling party. However, he said, more people are likely to realize in the upcoming elections that gifts are not a substitute for governance, especially with issues like land grabbing and forced evictions as political issues.
“Maybe there will be change more than before,” he said.
6 comments:
From my observation,
1-First the National Election committee have to be independent from all political party. This National Election Committee must work only with all NGO who are also not political affiated.
2-They must make rules for all Candidates and all political members too to resign from all their public position before they are supporting to any party campaign. Any public servant working for any party or influencing any one to support their party has to be sacked by National Election Committee.
3-All election positions must get their position madate, salary, entilemnt with them such as car, secretary, advisor etc... Example entilement for MP, Miniter and Prime Minister, National Assembly Chairman, Opposition party leader etc..which they call manual
Without these manuals, all elected members could abuse their power such as Prime Minister, minister etc..
Areak Prey
WE need changes in Cambodia. We can't have one stupid head like HS to run more then 35 years long.
Share the fun HS. Don't be greedy your day are number - old man.
What are you talking about??? corruption, what corruption??? election is family and friends business.
Hun Sen = Mr. 99 years = youn every where in srok khmer = election is family and friends business
WE DEED THE CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
Chheam Khmer
that's right, corruption comes in many forms. they should apply the anti-corruption law anywhere and anything.
Corruption did not have power and will not exist forever, because Corruption are so irresponsibility and invisibility.
Here is how Oum Yen Tieng's Anti corruption law works:
STEP 1:
Any ministers suspected of being corrupted, will be made to sit in circle and play "Leark Kan Sehnh" (hiding the scarf)
-If the ball of scarf is dropped behind one of the suspect and he doesn't realize it, that means he is guilty...but if he doesn't admit it, he will be made to go to step 2.
STEP 2 :
- The suspect is made to play " Pav Jin Soum". If he wins, he is not guilty but if he lost, he is guilty.
And if he still doesn't want to admit it, he will be made to go to step 3.
STEP 3:
- The suspect is made to take an oath by " Thpork Kone Dai" (Hook up the finger) and swear that he is not a corrupted minister and will be promoted to a higher position after give Oum Yin Teang $ 75,000.00
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