US calls for review of election ‘irregularities’
The Phnom Penh Post | 31 July 2013
The
US Department of State on Monday called on Cambodian authorities to
carry out a full investigation into “all credible reports” of election
malfeasance, saying that it was “concerned” by various issues taking
place both on, and leading up to, last Sunday’s vote.
At a press
briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki praised
Cambodians “for their active and peaceful participation” in the
elections, before going on to call for an examination of defects in the
electoral process and an investigation of irregularities – a move that
comes just after the opposition and civil society made their own such
calls on Monday.
“We have consistently called on the Royal
Government of Cambodia to address systematic flaws – systemic flaws,
such as problems in the voter registry and unequal access to the media,”
she said. “We call for a transparent and full investigation of all
credible reports of irregularities.”
Psaki went on to say that the
State Department would be “closely monitoring” information distributed
by the National Election Committee, and emphasised that any
investigation must be “viewed as credible by the Cambodian people”.
Though
the Cambodia National Rescue Party and civil society organisations have
called for an independent investigating body comprised of all
stakeholders, Sean McIntosh, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Phnom
Penh, said that “ideally, it would be the NEC” that conducted the
investigation.
However, McIntosh added that the embassy was
“talking to civil society to gather their thoughts as well, and . . .
amassing information”.
CNRP lawmaker Mu Sochua said yesterday that
the party would still be requesting an independent committee in a
letter to be sent to the NEC today, but added that she was pleased with
the US’s position.
“The US stands for democracy, electoral process
that is free and fair, and that has always been the stance of the US
and we support that,” she said.
Multiple calls to government
spokesmen Phay Siphan and Ek Tha went unanswered, while Press and Quick
Reaction Unit spokesman Tith Sothea declined to comment.
1 comment:
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?
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