France, Australia, Japan Endorse Vote at Expense of Democratic Principles
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan on October 10, 2013.
"Hun Sen presided over a fundamentally flawed election. Democratic leaders should skip the congratulations and instead insist on an independent investigation into malfeasance at the polls."
Despite numerous credible reports of an unfair election system,
serious irregularities that may have affected the outcome, and an
unwillingness by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to seriously
address complaints, the prime ministers of France, Australia, and Japan
each sent congratulatory letters to Hun Sen after CPP assembly members,
in the absence of any opposition members, named him prime minister.
“Hun Sen presided over a fundamentally flawed election,” said Brad Adams,
Asia director. “Democratic leaders should skip the congratulations and
instead insist on an independent investigation into malfeasance at the
polls.”
Independent Cambodian election monitoring groups, international
nongovernmental organizations, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur
on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia have concluded that the
election process was severely marred by significant structural flaws and
irregularities related to voter registration, voter fraud, partisan
election bodies, media bias and lack of access for the opposition,
unfair use of state resources by the Cambodian People’s Party, and
partisanship by the state security forces.
The result was an election that has created significant doubt about
whether the official results reflect the votes cast, Human Rights Watch
said. This has been heightened by the refusal of the CPP-controlled
National Election Committee and Constitutional Council to conduct
genuine investigations into even well-documented problems, including by
effectively refusing to consider complaints brought by the opposition
Cambodian National Rescue Party.
Human Rights Watch pointed out that France, Australia, and Japan are signatories to the 1991 Paris Agreements and made treaty commitments to democracy in Cambodia. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan declared on January 28 that “Fundamental to our diplomacy will be for us to develop a strategic diplomacy based on the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law.”
Human Rights Watch pointed out that France, Australia, and Japan are signatories to the 1991 Paris Agreements and made treaty commitments to democracy in Cambodia. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan declared on January 28 that “Fundamental to our diplomacy will be for us to develop a strategic diplomacy based on the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law.”
The United States, the United Kingdom, and a number of other
countries that were signatories to the 1991 Agreements have not sent
congratulations to Hun Sen.
“Are France, Japan, and Australia more interested in making friends with an authoritarian leader in power for 28 years, or in supporting the democratic aspirations of a long oppressed people?” Adams said. “Premature congratulations from elected leaders undermine the hopes of millions of Cambodians who rely on the international community to back their demands for free and fair elections.”
4 comments:
what is the real purpose of contesting the election result? is it to reform the system or is it to gain legitimacy to gov't so to please political group for their short sight temporily? if they want to make a better future of cambodia, then reform the system, if it's something else personal prejudice against the cpp, then it's not in the best interest of the entire cambodia. to make concrete political changes or changes in system and society at large, wise, competent, capable, experienced leaders or potential leaders must court public opinion, not attacking any institution itself. and an educated khmer people and citizens is a driving force for good changes.
Thank you very much Mr. Brad Adams!
Pissed Off
Thank you so much Mr Brad Adams.
The real purpose of contesting the election results is to set up a yardstick for Accountability and Transparency Rights: Essential Principles for Democracy. We may not succeed in implementing it overnight. Nevertheless, may the the Ankorian Baromey be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything that was stipulated in the Khmer Constitution.
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