Monday, July 29, 2013

Cambodian opposition challenges election results

Cambodian opposition challenges election results

Associated Press | 29 July 2013
  • Hun Sen
     
    Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, casts his ballot at a polling station in Takhmau town, south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, July 28, 2013. Cambodians began voting across the country Sunday to take part in what has become a familiar ritual - the re-election of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been on the job for 28 years and says he hopes to rule for at least another decade. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia's opposition party said Monday it would challenge the results of a general election in which it made impressive gains even though the ruling party of Prime Minister Hun Sen retained power.

His Cambodian People's Party claimed victory in Sunday's polls though its 90-seat majority in the National Assembly shrunk to 68 seats. Provisional results showed the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party took the remaining 55 seats, a major boost from the combined opposition total of 29 in the last parliament.

The results were a slap in the face for Hun Sen's government, but the CNRP said Monday it would push matters further. It said in a statement that voting was marked by huge irregularities, and it demanded a joint investigation committee be established, comprising representatives from the two parties, the National Election Committee, the United Nations and local and international NGOs.

"The Cambodia National Rescue Party will not accept the election results that we have heard because there are many irregularities that occurred during the election," party leader Sam Rainsy said.

Whatever its merits, the CNRP challenge would appear to be mostly bluster. Hun Sen's ruling party has control or dominating influence over all the state bureaucracy and the courts and will almost certainly affirm the CPP victory. Past appeals have not succeeded, and it was unclear what the opposition would do if its complaints were not sustained.

Foreign countries such as the United States, which had expressed doubts before the election about its fairness, are unlikely to pursue the point with enthusiasm. They have accepted the results of past elections with much more open intimidation and violence as fair enough, and will likely regard this year's results as a major step forward.

Critics alleged that the election process was heavily rigged. Rainsy's party and nonpartisan groups charged that the ruling party used the machinery of government and security forces in an unfair manner to reward or pressure voters.

They also said that voter registration procedures were badly flawed, possibly leaving more than 1 million people disenfranchised — the point on which the CNRP is challenging the results. The independent Committee for Free and Fair Elections said Saturday that the ink with which voters were supposed to stain their fingers to prevent them from voting twice was not indelible as claimed.

The actual extent of voting irregularities was not clear, despite many anecdotal accounts spread on social media such as Twitter.

Hun Sen's party and the government-appointed National Election Committee said the election process was fair.

If the results stand, it would give the much beleaguered opposition a strong platform for future growth. However, a simple majority is sufficient for most legislative business, ensuring that the CPP can continue to administer the country much as it wishes, though with increased sensitivity to public opinion. The CPP has an overwhelming majority of local administration posts as well.

Hun Sen has been in power for 28 years and says he has no intention of stepping down soon. His authoritarian rule has given him a stranglehold over the state bureaucracy that makes challenges to his authority difficult to mount.

The general election was Cambodia's fifth since 1993, when the United Nations helped stage the country's first free polls since the 1975-79 genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge and a subsequent period of civil war and one-party rule.

A pressing question is how Hun Sen will react to events. Mercurial in temperament, historically he has accepted neither defeat nor victory with good grace.

After his party ran second in 1993, Hun Sen insisted on being named co-prime minister, then ousted his partner in government four years later in a bloody coup. After election victories in later years, he showed a pattern of cracking down on critics.

Hun Sen, 60, has a reputation as a tough and wily survivor, starting with his defection from the Khmer Rouge to Vietnam, which after invading to oust the radical regime installed him first as foreign minister and later as prime minister.

Rainsy, 64, has long been the thorn in Hun Sen's side. He spent the Khmer Rouge years in France, where he was educated in economics and political science. As a member of a royalist party, he served as finance minister in the government elected in 1993, but was kicked out from his party and his post for his outspoken anti-corruption stand.

Rainsy founded his own party in 1995, and two years later he narrowly escaped being killed in a grenade attack on a rally he was leading. The perpetrators were never brought to justice but were suspected of being linked to Hun Sen's bodyguards.

Despite his party's good showing Sunday, Rainsy will be in an uncertain state. He was not allowed to run as a candidate or even vote in the election, because he missed the registration deadlines as he stayed abroad for almost four years to avoid a jail term for convictions that he said were politically motivated. He returned July 19 only after receiving a royal pardon at the behest of Hun Sen, his longtime and bitter rival.

The pardon was an evident effort by Hun Sen to appease critics of the election process, including the United States, who suggested that Rainsy's exclusion was a major sign that the polls would not be free and fair.

The CNRP showed its combative stance Sunday night, even as it was aware of its gains.

Rainsy had issued a statement early Sunday evening claiming victory, but later retracted it.

Rainsy's wife, Tioulong Saumura, a candidate in Phnom Penh, said she did not accept the ruling party's figures. Asked if she thought the CNRP won more than 55 seats, she replied: "Of course. Almost everywhere we lead. No way we have 55 and they have 68."

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

ah/me ro leay, ah/me ngob tai houng, men chase kmas ke te rer. ke men chong kernch mok pe nerk nis teart ta. ah ngob, me ngob tang porch oiy. ah heng/me ngen nong mok kras nas. oy lorc oy, mierch ko an cherg, dol na teart me/ah ro leay. Porch me/ah chke ot koour ka'bal te rer? Kiet dol ke eng porg. me/ah chong rai...

Anonymous said...

US government say "Khmer people must raise up to throw out evil dictator Hun Sen that cheat an election 2013"

If evil dictator Hun Sen dares to use force US government, NATO, UN won't stand and watch the injustice.

Cambodia must follow Arab Spring, Jasmine revolution and must be positive that if you are keep fighting The Khmer people will win the evil.

To date, rulers have been forced from power in Tunisia,[1] Egypt (twice),[2] Libya,[3] and Yemen;[4] civil uprisings have erupted in Bahrain[5] and Syria;[6] major protests have broken out in Algeria,[7] Iraq,[8] Jordan,[9] Kuwait,[10] Morocco,[11] and Sudan;[12] and minor protests have occurred in Mauritania,[13] Oman,[14] Saudi Arabia,[15] Djibouti,[16] and Western Sahara.[17]

Anonymous said...

Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten

By “any patriot Khmers”

Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?

Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?

Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?

The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.

Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?

Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen is Gaddafi!

Hun Sen's faith = Gaddafi's faith at the end!

US drones are watching Evil Hun Sen and his families movement.

Khmer people must rise up together to fight for our home, land, farms, our future, our dignity and our Khmer nation from Vietnam slave regime Hun Sen.

Under Hun Sen for 30 years Khmer people have learn and suffer enough!

No more talk or negotiation as that only prolong Khmer people suffer as 30 years already.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Let's the 7 revolution start today as USA stand behind all Khmer people!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful!

HS is shaken and all Khmer people are behind all of you now.

Nothing can change the course of Khmer bright destiny to come!

Anonymous said...

All Khmer people must keep fighting at the end result Khmer people will win the evil manipulating dictator Hun Sen!

No more talk or negotiation with evil because that only prolong Khmer people suffer as 30 years Khmer people experienced enough!

Let's the 7 revolution start today to save our self, to save our future, to save our next generation as well as our Khmer nation and Cambodia from disappear from world map.

Anonymous said...

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
- Thomas Jefferson

Great job!

Anonymous said...

Stop Not Till the Goal is Reached: The 10 Principles for Fearless Success That Inspired Maha Sinnathamby to Build a City

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen is still not learning from Gaddafi. US government asks him to step down peacefully but he refuses so now evil Hun Sen must accept his faith as Gaddafi.

64 billion American dollars won't help Gaddafi and his families at the end.

The trusty personal bodyguards gave Gaddafi and his families to the Libyan people.
Hun Sen families have over 40 billion American dollars that is not even include his relatives and friends wealth yet.

That money is belonging to all Khmer people that living in Cambodia now.
Each Cambodian people in Cambodia can claim at least US$ 3000 from Hun Sen wealth that steal from the Khmer people so far.

Base on 14.5 million Cambodians today.

Anonymous said...

ផែនដីខ្មែរមិនអាចមាន ព្រះអាទិត្យពីររះលើ
ផែនដីតែមួយបានឡើយ។

សមេ្តចបណ្ឌិតអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន វរ្ម័នទី១ មិនមែនជាមនុស្សលោកទេ សមេ្តចជាព្រះបាទ ហ៊ុន ទៀន ចាប់ជាតិ សមេ្តចជាព្រះបាទធម្មិក សមេ្តចជាទេវតារស់មកសង្គ្រោះប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា និងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាឱ្យ សម្បូរសប្បាយ រង់រឿង និងសុខក្សេមក្សាន្ដ!!!

សមេ្តចជាព្រះអាទិត្យតែមួយ រះលើផែនដីនេះ...។

ជយោ! សមេ្តចបណ្ឌិតអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន វរ្ម័នទី១ ជាទេវតានៃកម្ពុជា!!!

បរាជ័យពួកអាសត្វឆ្កែបរទេស (!!)

បរាជ័យពួកអាសំណល់បាតសង្គម (!!)

Anonymous said...


Because Khmer people have been overwhelmingly supporting the CNRP, it is rational that this crook NEC cheated with a reasonable number to let the SEE PEE PEE won.

The percentage to win might have fixed before the election, making the CNRP an "almost winner" (Neak Biss Chneas).

I have cried out loud before the election that the CNRP's back was against the wall, there was no way to escape. The CNRP got to fight to death to get this NEC done before the election. The election needed to be postponed.

I have even called on the CNRP's leaders to stop campaigning for a few hours and discuss this NEC's issue. How can you fill your basket when someone named NEC cut a hole at the bottom of your basket? I saw the CNRP was working so hard, but may be not so smart.

The right way was that you worked that hard and push hard for that NEC change. No NEC change, the election must be postponed. Period.

What the CNRP should do with the current problem?

If you file a complaint, you got to do a follow up. The CNRP must not stop with the NO answer from the crook NEC because this answer NO you knew already.

After the NO from the NEC, you take your second option or second step. You escalate your demand, mounting the pressure until something concrete come out, and maybe the international community intervene and force a new election.

You got to know that Cmabodia's problem has always been so complex because we have an evil Vietnam behind the scene and it is the CNRP's job to explain to the world about this evil Vietnam's ill intention toward Cambodia.

I have kept writing so many times before the election that it is easy to mount a demonstration to chnage the NEC because we have the whole international community behind us and we would be successful at getting that NEC change and the CNRP will win the election.

If the "new election" was unprecedent, Cambodia may be an exception to the rule.

Has any country in the world suffered like Cambodia?

Who killed millions of Khmer people? The world will find the answer when it successfully brought up cases 003 and 004 in the KRT. And these cases 003 and 004 made the evil Vietnam and Hun Sen SO SO apprehensive.

If Vietnam and Hun Sen did not have Khmer blood on their hands, why they are so scare about cases 003 and 004?



Therfore, Khmer people deserve an exception to the rule: a new election to reflect Khmer people' wills with a new NEC.

Bun Thoeun

Anonymous said...

I hate a lots of khmer sell their souls for 5 dollars in the Election 2013.... Especially to the vietcons

They don't know that they will get more by voting for Democracy !

I don't wanna see the face of Yeay Kmouch Chen
and her husband kwan muy khak !

Anonymous said...



ពេលមនុស្សយល់ខុសគ្នាច្រើនណាស់ ក៏ប៉យើងគួរតែគិតថាអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាគួរតែឈរលើជំហ៊រខ្លួនពិតប្រាកដថាចង់បានអ្វី ហើយ ធ្វើដើម្បីអ្វី!

យ៉ាងណា​ក៏ដោយ ខ្មែរមិនត្រូវអស់សង្ឃឹមទេ ព្រោះឥដើមទុននៃ លទ្ធិប្រជាធិតេយ្យ របស់យើងកាន់តែកើនហើយ យើងត្រូវតែមានអំណត់តស៊ូរ បន្តរទៅតៀត! សូមកុំភ្លេច យួនធ្លាប់ដៀលយើងថា៖
"ខ្មែរធ្វើអ្វីៗឆេះតែមួយឆាវដូចភ្លើងចំបើងរួចក៏រលត់បាត់ ក្រោយពីនោះយួនយើងប្រើល្បិចថ្មី ចាក់ឲ្យខ្មែរឃើញយើងល្អឥតខ្ចោះ ឲ្យកើតទៅជាគ្រោះសម្រាប់ខ្មែរងើបមិនរួចជាបន្តរបន្ទាប់ នោះហើយវាជាការងាយស្រួលសម្រាប់យួន ញ៉ើង"

យើងថា៖ យួនអើយ ថ្ងៃអន្សាឯងក៏មានដែរ!!!!!

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរត្រូវតែដឹងហើយថាខ្លួនជានណា៖ ម្ចាស់ប្រទេសជាតិ គឺជាអស់លោកទាំងអស់គ្នា សួរថា៖ តើ​ "រឿងនយោបាយ ទុកឲ្យតែ​អ្នកនយោបាយគេធ្វើបានហើយ តរទៅទៀតឬទេ?" ល្មមត្រូវគិតថា៖ មិនគួរសម្ងំសុខ​ ហើយបន្ទោស មកពីអញ្ចេះ មកពីអញ្ចុះ ត្រូវតែដឹងថាបើមិននាំគ្នាចូលរួមតស៊ូរដើម្បីយកអ្វី​ ដែលកំពុងនាំគ្នាទាមទានោះទេ តើឲ្យនណាគេធ្វើឲ្យយើងទាំងស្រុងបាន? អស់លោកគួរស្ញប់ស្ញែងដែរឬ ដែលមានជាច្រើនគ្នា មិនមែនកំពុងធ្វើអ្វីទាំងនោះសម្រាប់ គ្រួសារ ផ្ទាល់សោះឡើយ គឺសម្រាប់ជាតិខ្មែរទាំងមូល! កំពុងអត់ធ្មត់រងចាំទទួលអស់លោកមកចូលរួម​​ ជាក់លាក់ណាស់ កំពុងតែចំហរទ្វារងចាំអស់លោកជានិច្ចជាកាល!

អ្នកដែលឆ្លាត សូមចែករម្លែកពេលខ្លះពីការឈ្លាតរកប្រយោជន៍ផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនមកចួលរួមនឹងគេនឹងឯង ឲ្យទាន់ពេលជាតិយើង នូវអាចសង្គ្រោះបាន!

ចាប់តាំងពីពេលនេះតរទៅ គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិចាំបាច់ ត្រូវតែចុះផ្ទាល់ ជាមួយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ អោយបានញឹកញាប់ជាអចិន្ត្រៃ បើមិនចង់ឲ្យគេថា​ អ្វីដែលកំពុងតែធ្វើនេះ វាសម្រាប់ឈ្មោះឲ្យគេហៅ៖ "ឯកឧត្ដម្ភ ឬ ឲ្យបានកៅអីសម្រាប់ស៊ីប្រាក់ខែពីរដ្ឋ!"

ឥឡូវនេះ អន្ដរជាតិ ត្រូវការ ឲ្យខ្មែរក្រោកឈរឡើងដោយខ្លួនឯងដើម្បីបញ្ជាក់ថាខ្មែរចង់បានអ្វី?

យើងត្រូវការឲ្យ អស់លោកវែកញែកពន្យល់ អន្ដរជាតិឲ្យយល់ច្បាស់ថា​៖ តើខ្មែរយើងកំពុងតែមានជម្ងឺ នយោបាយយួនវង្វក់ធ្ងន់ប៉ុណ្ណា?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, The Cambodian People have spoken and ah Hun Sen Communist Pirate Party otherwise known as CPP has lost to the CNRP already!!!