Cambodian army is neutral in upcoming polls: official

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RWB AND CCIM OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS AHEAD OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAY 3 JULY 2013.

 

Cambodia National Rescue Party supporters out in force in the run-up to the general election, in Phnom Penh, on June 27, 2013.AFP

 

Reporters Without Borders and the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM) have drafted a list of recommendations for the authorities for improving respect for freedom of information in Cambodia, where the campaign for parliamentary elections on 28 July has just begun.

“Freedom of information in Cambodia has declined steadily during the past two years,” Reporters Without Borders and CCIM said. “Last week’s attempt by the information ministry to ban local retransmission of foreign radio stations’ Khmer-language programmes was very disturbing, especially as the ruling party already controls all TV stations and most radio stations and newspapers.

“We caution the authorities against any renewed attempt to suppress coverage of the electioncampaign and we urge them to guarantee an environment that allows all media and journalists to work freely. We also call on the government to make an effort to be transparent and facilitate reporting during the elections.”

The two organizations added: “We also urge information minister Kannarith Khieu to rescind his ban on publishing opinion polls in the five days before the elections, which has no legal basis, and to explain an order forbidding radios to ‘broadcast information about the activities of foreigners based in Cambodia in support of or opposition to any political party or individual’.”

On 24 June, Reporters Without Borders submitted a contribution on Cambodia to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which will examine the situation in Cambodia during the Universal Periodic Review’s 18th session, next January and February.

The Reporters Without Borders contribution voices concern about the lack of media independence and restrictions on access to information, which limit transparency during elections, as it did, for example, in the 2012 commune elections (see the Reporters Without Borders contribution below).

On the pretext of safeguarding neutrality, the information ministry issued a directive on 25 June banning local radio stations from retransmitting the Khmer-language programmes of foreign radio stations during the campaign.

The directive was rescinded five days later, following protests by the foreign broadcasters affected, such as the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the agency that oversees Radio Free Asia, and the US State Department, which described the move as a “serious violation of media freedom.”

With an eye on the 28 July elections, Reporters Without Borders urges politicians, government officials and other authorities to:

• Implement the recommendations that Cambodia accepted at the end of the 2009 Human Rights Council session.

• Draft laws on access to information and freedom of information in consultation with civil society, in order to improve media transparency and professionalism.

• End impunity for physical attacks against journalists and other media personnel and set up a commission to identify those responsible for journalist Heng Serei Oudom’s murder in 2012 and other cases of violence.

• Lift the restrictions on radio and TV broadcasting and reform the frequency allocation process so that independent and community broadcasters can operate.

• Publish the draft cyber-crime law and allow civil society to suggest changes to the draft.

• Repeal the law criminalizing denial of the Khmer genocide.

Cambodia is ranked 143rd out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Read the Reporters Without Borders contribution on Cambodia to the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review:

 

Cambodian army is neutral in upcoming polls: official

 

Source: XINHUA  |   2013-7-3

PHNOM PENH, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) is neutral during the forthcoming general election, but military personnel will cast their ballots for the party they like, deputy prime minister and defense minister Gen. Tea Banh said Wednesday.

"The RCAF statute clearly states that this body is neutral, not biased towards any political party," he told reporters. "But for individuals, they have the same right as common citizens to vote for the party they like."

Meanwhile, the minister appealed to armed forces to strengthen security and public order during the election campaign period and on the election day in order to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

Cambodia is set to hold a general election for the 123-seat parliament on July 28. The one-month election campaign kicked off last Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for the National Police, said last Wednesday that about 70,000 security personnel would be deployed on the polling day.

Eight political parties will contest the election. Three major parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by self- exiled Sam Rainsy, and the royalist Funcinpec Party headed by Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.
Sam Rainsy, Hun Sen's main rival, fled the country in late 2009 before Cambodian court sentenced him to 11 years in prison in absentia.

He is unable to return to Cambodia for the election.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's party won 90 seats in the last election in July 2008. Political analysts predict that his party will win a landslide victory in the upcoming polls.

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in office until he is 74