Australia's Senate Calls For Democratic Elections In Cambodia In Line With U.N. Recommendations

October 29, 2012

AUSTRALIA'S SENATE CALLS FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN CAMBODIA IN LINE WITH U.N. RECOMMENDATIONS

The Australian Senate today adopted the following resolution on Cambodia calling for free and fair elections in 2013 with full participation of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, in line with recent recommendations by the United Nations.

"The [Australian] Senate:

a) Notes the recent report by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia which addresses the issue of election organisation and makes a number of recommendations in order for Cambodia’s general election in July 2013 to meet international standards for democratic elections and for urgent and long-term reforms to give Cambodians confidence in the electoral process; and

b) Calls on the Cambodian Government to hold free and fair elections in 2013 and to ensure that opposition parties are able to participate fully in Cambodian politics without physical or judicial harassment or intimidation, including opposition leader Sam Rainsy, as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur."

The motion was moved by Senator Christine Milne, leader of the Australian Greens Party, following a visit to Canberra earlier this month by a delegation of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) led by opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha.

CNRP Secretariat