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| Koul Panha, left, the executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, told “Hello VOA” that the country has continued to struggle since it’s first election, in 1993. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey) |
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
“There are so many irregularities and so much fear.”
Cambodia’s election process has failed to live up to international standards of “free and fair,” a leading monitor said Monday.
Koul Panha, the executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, told “Hello VOA” that the country has continued to struggle since it’s first election, in 1993, with voter intimidation, an uneven playing field for non-ruling party candidates and other problems.
“There are so many irregularities and so much fear,” said Koul Panha, who is to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Philippines later this month.
Each election cycle has also seen a decrease in the debate of “political issues,” he said.
In the interim, “state property has been used for the purposes of the [ruling Cambodian People’s Party], which affects fair elections,” he said. “And the state employees and armed forces are not neutral enough.”
Cambodia is preparing for local commune elections in 2012 and national parliamentary elections the following year.
Koul Panha said he planned to strengthen his organization’s observation of the elections, “and especially have a close look at the use of state property and the challenge of media access,” he said.
Opposition and other minority parties have long complained that the CPP uses state media and other broadcasts to further its political agenda, devoting hours to speeches by Prime Minister Hun Sen and showcasing CPP officials inaugurating projects like bridges, roads and schools.
Koul Panha also said the voter demographic is changing, with as many as a million new voters eligible this election season.
9 comments:
Well respectful,
Hean tar hean Niyeay with the PEALS,
Not lonh porng like ah Pai C Pomme.
If free and fair election has happened in Cambodia, Hun Sen would never be a Prime minister not even once.
What Hun Sen have today- the Prime ministership, the power, the money and so on... are fron manupulation meaning from stealing. He could steal because Viet is protecting him.
Those who love and support Hun Sen are those who are either ignorant or selfish and greedy and traitors just like Hun Sen.
there are supposed to be spelled:
hean tha hean niyeay with the peals-
not lunh porng doach ah phai siphan.
Ah kwack your time come soon!!!
2:04
The=deux you are use old timer pronunciation I use the modern world pronunciation siding with the up to date pronouncing,so please educate your self what that is catching to the modern would you?
Tha=in English is grandpa in khmer okay
please update ?
Ah kwack your MORANACK time come soon!
Eng SenMolyrith, P.Penh
Koul Panha,
Please don't forget to take care your health so that you can take care Khmer.
May buddha bless you with stength, and good health,
Koun Khmer
6:05AM!
I think you are the one who has to
go back to school. You better keep
quiet instead of trying to teach
somebody something you don't know.
No hard feeling ok?
Hmmmmm, I just don't know about your guys, man. Think that perfectionist will not exist or has no place in this Hun Sen cruel world. If it does, it will be the end of the world, Amargedon. So keep your priority straight and think about what you and I will do to keep voters from voting to Hun Sen and to secure the case from swapping. Hey, let me tell you, CTN shown police on screen removing the opposition posting.
CTN, you are not that great, but so so so...
Koy from EsconChon
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