Hun Xen's party overwhelmingly wins local elections through widespread election cheating and vote buying

Cambodian prime minister’s party overwhelmingly wins local elections


Sunday, June 24, 2012
By Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian election officials say Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party has won an overwhelming victory in local elections.

The National Election Committee announced final results Sunday from the June 3 polls showing that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party won 1,592 of the 1,633 commune chief posts that were at stake.

Opposition parties took the remainder of the seats.

The ruling party earlier claimed victory in the polls and the result was expected. The party has been in power for nearly three decades.

The elections for local governing councils were seen as an indicator of public opinion ahead of general elections expected in 2013.

SCORING OF CONDUCT OF ELECTION IN CAMBODIA

23 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

RED CARD should be handed out to CPP on many accounts including vote buying.

RED CARD should be handed out first to the National Election Committee for lack of impartiality.

One of the essential recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission, Cambodia, 27 July 20084 Final Report on the National Assembly Elections

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http://www.eueomcambodia.org/English/Final_Report.html

● The government of Cambodia must take credible steps to ensure that the NEC operates as a fully independent institution at all levels in order to enhance its credibility and acceptance among the electorate. Members of the NEC should be approved by a consensus among all political parties represented in the National Assembly. In particular the NEC chairperson should be a person acceptable to all political parties represented in the National Assembly. A limitation of the term in office of the chairperson and members of the NEC should be considered.

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Ruling party's ties with civil servants decried

CPP gifts distributed prior to the commune election

Thursday, 21 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The overtly visible pro-Cambodian People’s Party stance of civil servants and military officials is one of the most widespread and worrying election irregularities, election monitoring organisation Comfrel said yesterday in its final report on the recent June 3 polls.

Click here to read more...

Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Mok Ra

18 June 2012

By Mu Sochua

This is another story of travesty of justice. Cambodia justice is justice for hire. This is a pure case of political persecution and as a revenge against a very principled local opposition member who refuses to sell his vote and he even won his case when SRP filed complaint against the CPP official who is a deputy secretary general at the Ministry of Interior.

I remember vividly when the Penal Code Bill was presented by the Ministry of Justice and how the Sam Rainsy Party MPs, pointed to the danger of keeping the article in the Code. We pointed out that this particular article is purely meant to prevent and discourage any type of recording or taking photographs of officials caught in a criminal act.

In this case, Mok Ra's only evidence to protect himself is to record the conversation he had with those who intended to buy his vote.

It should be pointed out that the courts are becoming active again during this post election period.

The courts have taken action against:

1. an elected SRP commune official in Kandal with arrest;
2. further questioning Mok ra;
3. summon MP, Mu Sochua for her "rehabilitation" case.

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Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Monday, 18 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The Battambang Provincial Court has summoned an opposition party council member to appear for questioning 10 days from now in connection with the secret and illegal recording of a Cambodian People’s Party official who was caught on tape offering hundreds of dollars in exchange for support in January’s Senate elections.

Click to read more...

Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Monday, 18 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The Battambang Provincial Court has summoned an opposition party council member to appear for questioning 10 days from now in connection with the secret and illegal recording of a Cambodian People’s Party official who was caught on tape offering hundreds of dollars in exchange for support in January’s Senate elections.

On January 20, before the election, CPP official Cheam Pe A summoned Mok Ra, a council member in Battambang town’s Tuol Ta Ek commune, to a meeting in a local hotel.

He then offered Mok Ra US$700 for his support in the upcoming elections, according to a taped version of the conversation that the SRP released.

Commune council members elect members of the Senate.

Citing the recording, the SRP filed a complaint with the Battambang Provincial Election Commission against Cheam Pe A, who shot back with a lawsuit against Mok Ra.

Charges of election irregularities abound

Voters search for their names on lists posted outside a polling station in Prey Veng province yesterday. Photograph: Derek Stout/Phnom Penh Post

Meun Vibol caught on film

Monday, 04 June 2012
The Phnom Penh Post Staff

Battambang, Phnom Penh

Allegations of intimidation, ghost voting and electoral-roll sabotage marred yesterday’s commune election as citizens flocked to schools, pagodas and tent-filled streets to cast their vote.

It wasn’t yet 9am when SRP legislator Son Chhay, preparing to vote at the capital’s Neakavoan Pagoda, claimed voters across Phnom Penh had arrived at polling stations to find their names missing from the electoral roll.

“I think their names have been deleted,” he said. “At each station, you’re talking about 40 or 50 people.

“[Some] have just walked back [home] – they just don’t bother. It is a concern that a lot of people cannot display their political decision.”

The SRP was also looking into allegations of vote-buying and intimidation in the capital, Son Chhay said.

Allegations of crookedness, however, weren’t confined to Phnom Penh.

In Battambang town, SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua and 25-year-old O’Char commune candidate Sin Chan Pov Rozeth accused Cambodian People’s Party officials of intimidation, accepting improper identification documents and planning to use ghost voters.

Cambodia Opposition Leader [Sam Rainsy] Campaigns Abroad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTOVWGEZ59c

May 31, 2012
Rick Valenzuela
Voice of America

"The wind of freedom is blowing all over the world, and this wind of freedom will reach Cambodia eventually"

VIENNA - Cambodians vote on June 3rd in local elections that are a preview of national parliament polls next year. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is unable to campaign at home because of a conviction he says was politically motivated. But he is visiting countries in Europe, pressing his case for fair elections and human rights.

As Cambodia prepares for local polls, the self-exiled leader of the opposition party is in Europe, speaking with officials and overseas Cambodians.

Sam Rainsy discussed election concerns with officials from the Austrian Foreign Affairs Ministry. Under portraits of royalty, he and Bruno Bilek spoke casually in what was less than an official diplomatic meeting.

"Actually it was an exchange of views and we were speaking on Cambodia and the forthcoming elections next year. What we hope is that the elections will be free and fair and transparent and that every party and every politician has access to means for campaigning and can compete fairly and freely for seats," Bilek said.

With millions in its coffer from illegal sale of state assets, the CPP only manages to buy 44 defectors?

Members defect from SRP to CPP

Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Meas Sokchea and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

In January the Post reported on an attempt by two CPP affiliates to buy the vote of an SRP provincial councillor in the senate election.

More than 40 opposition Sam Rainsy Party members in Battambang province defected to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party yesterday because they had lost confidence in their party, defectors said.

Kieng Saran, the former SRP Sangke district president who led the group of 44 to defect to the CPP, said the party served only the interests of its exiled leader Sam Rainsy and those close to him.

“This defection is because of having no justice in the party. The doers have not received any benefits, but the benefits have been given to the persons who are not doers,” Kieng Saran said. “I defect to CPP because I am fed up with SRP.”

The CPP accused of buying votes

08 May 2012
By Hang Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch

CPP commune councilors from Oddar Meanchey province are accused of buying people to vote for them.

A NGO in Oddar Meanchey criticized activities led by some commune council candidates in Samrong city, Oddar Meanchey province, which contradict the commune election law. These candidates visited voters and they distributed money to many villagers.

An official for the Natural Resource Conservation NGO from Oddar Meanchey, who declined to provide his name, said that on 07 May, at about 07AM, Chiep Tong, a CPP commune council candidate visited villagers near Wat Samaky Meanchey Damrey Phoss pagoda (aka Dey Thmey) where he handed out money to them.

The NGO official criticized such misconduct to buy people prior to the upcoming commune election: “The CPP gathered villagers at the local level, then they gave out 15,000 riels (~$4) to each of them and they also showed them how to mark the ballot for the CPP. Under the election law, there is no stipulation about distributing money to people to buy their vote.”

បក្ស​ប្រជាជន​រង​ការ​ចោទ​ថា​ប្រើ​លុយ​ទិញ​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ពលរដ្ឋ

មន្ត្រី​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​សង្កាត់​របស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា នៅ​ខេត្ត​ឧត្ដរមានជ័យ រង​ការ​ចោទ​ថា បាន​ប្រើ​លុយកាក់​ដើម្បី​ទិញ​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ពលរដ្ឋ​ឲ្យ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ឲ្យ​ខ្លួន។

2012-05-08
ដោយ ហង្ស សាវយុត
Radio Free Asia

អង្គការ​ក្រៅ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​មួយ​នៅ​ខេត្ត​ឧត្តរមានជ័យ បាន​រិះគន់​​សកម្មភាព​របស់​បេក្ខជន​​​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ-​សង្កាត់​ខ្លះ​នៃ​ក្រុង​សំរោង ថា បាន​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​ផ្ទុយ​នឹង​ច្បាប់​ស្តី​ពី​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ-​សង្កាត់ ដោយ​ចុះ​ទៅ​តាម​មូលដ្ឋាន​ប្រជុំ​ជាមួយ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ហើយ​បាន​ចែក​លុយ​​កាក់​ទៅ​ឱ្យ​ក្រុម​អ្នក​ភូមិ​ជា​ច្រើន​នាក់។

មន្ត្រី​អង្គការ​អភិរក្ស​ផ្នែក​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ​មួយ​រូប នៅ​ខេត្ត​ឧត្តរមានជ័យ ដែល​មិន​ហ៊ាន​បញ្ចេញ​ឈ្មោះ បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​កាល​ពី​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​ច័ន្ទ ទី​៧ ខែ​ឧសភា ថា កាល​ពី​វេលា​ម៉ោង​ប្រមាណ ​៧​ព្រឹក បេក្ខជន​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​សង្កាត់​សំរោង របស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា មួយ​រូប គឺ​លោក ជៀប តុប បាន​ចុះ​ទៅ​ប្រជុំ​ជាមួយ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ​នៅ​​ម្ដុំ​វត្ត​សាមគ្គីមានជ័យ ដំរី​ផុស​ ហៅ​ដី​ថ្មី ហើយ​បាន​ចែក​ប្រាក់​ទៅ​ឱ្យ​អ្នក​ភូមិ​ទាំង​នោះ។


លោក​បាន​រិះ​គន់​ថា ការ​ធ្វើ​បែប​នោះ គឺ​ជា​ការ​ទិញ​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​មុន​ពេល​ការ​ឃោសនា​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​-​សង្កាត់​មក​ដល់៖ «គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​ហ្នឹង​គេ​ចុះ​ប្រជុំ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​តាម​តំបន់​មូលដ្ឋាន​ ដល់​អ៊ីចឹង​គេ​ចែក​លុយ​ឱ្យ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ម្នាក់ ១៥.០០០ (រៀល) ហើយ​គេ​បង្ហាញ​នៅ​ក្នុង​លក្ខណៈ​ឱ្យ​គូស​ជា​រូប​ភាព​នៃ​គណបក្ស​របស់​គេ។ ក្នុង​លក្ខណៈ​នេះ បើ​និយាយ​ឱ្យ​ចំ ច្បាប់ គ.ជ.ប. និង​ច្បាប់​បោះ​ឆ្នោត គឺ​អត់​ទាន់​មាន​មាត្រា​ណា ឬ​ប្រការ​ណា​សម្រាប់​ឱ្យ​ចែក​លុយ​កាក់​ដើម្បី​ទាញ​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ទេ»។

ពិបាកថា ដែរ

(Photo: DAP-news)

07 May 2012
Originally posted at: http://khmersme.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/%E1%9E%96%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%94%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%90%E1%9E%B6-%E1%9E%8A%E1%9F%82%E1%9E%9A/

ដូច្នេះ ចំពោះការ លើកឡើង របស់សម្តេច យើងពិបាកថា ណាស់ថា បើគ្មានការ ទិញទឹកចិត្ត ឬគំរាម កំហែងទេ វាពិតជា នៅតែមាន អ្នកគាំទ្រច្រើន ដដែល ឬយ៉ាងណា? ព្រោះមនុស្ស ក្នុង បក្ស ប្រជាជន សព្វថ្ងៃ ក៏មានអ្នក មិនសប្បាយចិត្ត ចំពោះការ ដឹកនាំរបស់ សម្តេច ជាពិសេស បក្សពួក គូកន អាម៉ីអាថោង របស់សម្តេច ដែរ។

កាលពីម្សិលមិញ សម្តេចតេជោហ៊ុន សែន នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា ប្រសិនបើ អ្នកគាំទ្រសម្តេច ធ្លាក់ចុះមកត្រឹមក្រោម៦០ភាគរយ សម្តេច នឹងលាលែង និង ចុះចេញពីតំណែងភ្លាម មិនចាំបាច់ឲ្យគេដេញ ឬនិយាយច្រំដែលៗទេ។

ប្រសាសន៍របស់សម្តេចនាពេលនេះ ពិតជាធ្វើឲ្យយើង(ខ្មែរស្មេរ)ចាប់អារម្មណ៍គួរសមដែរ ព្រោះវាមិនមែន ជាការលើកឡើងលើកទីមួយរបស់សម្តេចទេ និង ក៏ជាទម្លាប់របស់សម្តេច ក្នុងការស្ទង់ ចង់ដឹងមតិអ្នកគាំទ្រ និង អ្នកប្រឆាំងសម្តេចដែរ។លោកហូ ជីមិញ ធ្លាប់ប្រើ មធ្យោបាយនេះ កាលពីលោកនៅមានជីវិត គឺបើកកាសែតប្រឆាំងខ្លួនឯងមួយស្ថាប័ន។

ប្រសាសន៍របស់សម្តេច ក៏ធ្វើឲ្យយើងពិបាកធ្វើការវិនិច្ឆ័យថា ត្រឹមត្រូវ ឬមិនត្រឹមត្រូវដែរ ព្រោះ គ្មានរបាយការណ៍ ការស៊ើបអង្កេត ឬសម្រង់មតិឯករាជ្យណា ដែលអាចបញ្ជាក់ឲ្យយើងទទួលយកបាន។

Ban on commercial fishing lot is a CPP vote buying

A giving mood: Fishing ban a gift to all women: PM

Friday, 09 March 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

A giving mood

In a political message well-timed for election season, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday that his recent ban on commercial fishing lots was an example of positive reform by the Cambodian People’s Party and a gift to women on International Women’s Day.

In the address, Hun Sen said the issue of commercial fishing had been a long-stand­­ing problem in the King­dom and that the CPP had ef­fec­t­ively solved it with the re­cent ban, by pro­hibiting such fishing along the Mekong River and Tonle Sap lake.

“On behalf of the ruling party, I offer this gift for grand­mothers, aunts and sisters on International Women’s Day,” he said.

CCHR Case Study Fact Sheet Series - Buying Senate Election Votes

Dear all,

CCHR today releases the second fact sheet of 2012 in its "Case Study" series, a series which covers a broad range of subjects relating to human rights violations in Cambodia. This fact sheet examines the buying of senate election votes that was reported on 24 January 2012 and political corruption in Cambodia ("Buying Senate Election Votes") – please see attached in English and Khmer. The fact sheet will soon be available in both English and Khmer on CCHR's website at: CCHR Fact Sheets.

We hope that you find the fact sheet useful and interesting. If you should want to discuss the attached fact sheet, please don't hesitate to contact Ou Virak (at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org or on +855 (0) 12 404 051) or John Coughlan (at johncoughlan@cchrcambodia.org or on +855 (0) 89 583 590).

Many thanks and kind regards,

CCHR

--

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia. For more information, please visit www.cchrcambodia.org.

http://www.box.com/s/bvr3nvn6daidp548aaj4


http://www.box.com/s/y3po6jafdr05fnmslhfa

SRP accuses ruling CPP of election vote-buying

Monday, 06 February 2012
Meas Sokchea and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

In the wake of what the opposition Sam Rainsy Party has called unprecedented gains in the senate election, the party has said that “virtually every SRP councillor” was approached by ruling Cambodian People’s Party officials attempting to buy their vote in the election, a party statement issued yesterday said.

The statement said that in Kandal province, where Prime Minister Hun Sen lives and votes, SRP councillors were offered US$5,000 a vote to swing their support to the CPP.

“Many forms of intimidation were also used to frighten the opposition into voting for the CPP,” the statement said, adding that “virtually every SRP councillor in all provinces was approached by CPP officials and offered between $500 and $5,000 to sell their votes to the ruling party”.

The premier has publicly thanked the 179 SRP councillors he says voted for his party, despite the SRP’s allegations of rampant bribery including one taped vote-buying attempt in Battambang province.

Results of Senatorial Elections Prove That Corruption and Intimidation Cannot Destroy The Human Spirit

February 5, 2012

RESULTS OF SENATORIAL ELECTIONS PROVE THAT CORRUPTION AND INTIMIDATION CANNOT DESTROY THE HUMAN SPIRIT

CPP Prime Minister Hun Sen is reportedly furious with many of his government advisers and provincial governors who, before the January 29 senatorial elections, had assured him that the opposition SRP would not be able to win any senator seat. They had assured him that, in the worst scenario, the SRP would just be able to keep the two seats won by the opposition in 2006, thus leaving 55 seats for the ruling party out of the 57 seats up for grabs in 2012.

The rationale behind their reasoning and prediction was the following:

• Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is outside the country and SRP activists are demoralized and disorganized.
• Through vote buying the CPP would easily secure the support of more than 50 percent of the 2,660 SRP commune councillors who have the right to elect senators. If 1,000 to 1,500 SRP councillors effectively voted for the CPP, the SRP would be deprived of any senator seat, and the CPP would be in the “winner-take-all” position.

As a result of this reasoning, virtually every SRP councillor in all provinces was approached by CPP officials and was offered between US$500 and US$5,000 to sell their votes to the ruling party. This is a real fortune given the salary of a commune councillor that doesn’t exceed US$ 20 a month. This explained the confidence expressed by CPP officials in provoking the “betrayal” of most SRP councillors. This explained Hun Sen’s optimism.

In Kandal province where Hun Sen lives and votes, SRP councillors were offered the highest amount of money (US$ 5,000) to sell out to the CPP so that the Prime Minister would be very happy with the final election results… Many forms of intimidation were also used to frighten the opposition into voting for the CPP.

In the end, in spite of the prevailing extreme poverty and the very tempting CPP money offer, only 160 SRP councillors, out of 2,660, did sell out. The loyalty of the remaining 2,500 opposition councillors allowed the SRP to win nine additional senator seats, making Hun Sen extremely disappointed and very angry.

The provinces which resisted best to the CPP -- with zero defection -- are the following:

Kratie, Mondolkiri, Koh Kong, Banteay Meanchey, Oddor Meanchey and Pailin. The first three provinces are the scene of extremely brutal land confiscations and forced evictions. The last three provinces were strongholds of resistance forces fighting against the Vietnamese occupation army in the 1980s and the Phnom Penh regime in the 1990s (everybody remembers the battlefields of Svay Chek, Thmar Puok, Banteay Chhma, Banteay Ampil, Pailin, Anlong Veng, Trapeang Prasat, Samraong Chongkal, etc.).

In his final appeal to all SRP councillors who were going to cast their ballots, Sam Rainsy told them: “You are like volunteer soldiers going up to the frontline to defend your country. Volunteer soldiers fighting for their country always win over mercenaries who fight for money. Cambodia expects every one of you to do his duty.”

President Sam Rainsy’s patriotic appeal was largely heard. The 2,500 SRP councilors must be praised for their loyalty toward their country, showing that corruption and intimidation cannot destroy the human spirit.

SRP Members of Parliament

មួយ​ណា​ឈ្នះ​ពិត​ប្រាកដ? - Who's the real winner?

លោកស្រី ជូឡុង សូមូរ៉ា ពីគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី និងលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ពីគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា

សៅរ៍ 04 កុម្ភៈ 2012
ដោយ ៖ សរ សោភ័ណ
សារពត៍មានសេរី

អ្វី​ដែល​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ទទួល គឺ​ភក្តី​ភាព​របស់​សមាជិក សមាជិកា​របស់​ខ្លួន ក្រោម​ពាក្យ «ទិញ​មិន​លក់ សម្លុត​មិន​ខ្លាច» ហើយ​ដែល​ទឹកចិត្ត​ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ​នេះ ជម្រុញ​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី​ដណ្តើម​យក​បាន​១១​អាសនៈ​ជាមួយ​កិត្តិយស​ថ្លៃ​ថ្លា។

ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសរើស​សមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​អាណត្តិ​ទី៣​បាន​បញ្ចប់​ទៅ​ហើយ ដោយ​មេដឹកនាំ​គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ដែល​ចូល​រួម​ប្រកួត​ប្រជែង​ដណ្តើម​អាសនៈ​ក្នុង​ស្ថាប័ន​នីតិបញ្ញត្តិ​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​មួយ​នេះ​សុទ្ធ​តែ​អះអាង​រៀងខ្លួន​ថា បាន​ទទួល​ជ័យ​ជំនះ​យ៉ាង​ត្រចេះ​ត្រចង់។ ជោគ​ជ័យ​ដោយ​សារ​តែ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កាន់​អំណាច និង​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​បាន​ទទួល​អាសនៈ​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ពេញ​ចិត្ត​ទាំង​អស់​គ្នា ដូច​អ្វី​ដែល​ខ្លួន​រំពឹង​ទុក​នៅ​មុន​ពេល​បោះឆ្នោត។

គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​បាន​ប្រកាស​លទ្ធផល​បណ្តោះ​អាសន្ន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ទទួល​បាន​សម្លេង​គាំទ្រ​ ៨៨៨០ រីឯ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី​ទទួល​បាន ២៥០​សម្លេង​ពី​អង្គ​បោះឆ្នោត។ លទ្ធផល​ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​គណនា​រួច​ទៅ​ហើយ​នោះ​បង្ហាញ​ថា គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​៤៦​អាសនៈ ស្មើ​នឹង ៧៧,៨១% ហើយ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី​នឹង​បាន​១១​អាសនៈ ស្មើ​នឹង ២១,៩៣%។ លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ថ្លែង​ដោយ​មោទនៈ​ថា គណបក្ស​របស់​លោក​កើន​សម្លេង​៨០០ ពី​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ឲ្យ​ដោយ​មន្រ្តី​គណបក្ស​ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច គណបក្ស​នរោត្តម​រណប្ញទ្ធិ និង​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី ចំណែក​មន្រ្តី​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​គណបក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច​ពី​បទ​ទិញ​សន្លឹក​ឆ្នោត។ សាក្សី និង​ភស្តុតាង​មួយ​ចំនួន​ត្រូវ​បាន​លាត​ត្រដាង​ដោយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ពី​ការ​ទាក់ទាញ​ទឹកចិត្ត​លើ​សមាជិក​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​សង្កាត់​របស់​ខ្លួន​ក្នុង​តម្លៃ​មួយ។ ទោះ​ជា​ជួប​ប្រទះ​នូវ​ព្យុះ​ទិញ​ទឹកចិត្ត​បែប​នេះ​ក្តី ក៏​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី​ ដែល​អាណត្តិ​មុន​មាន​ត្រឹម​២អាសនៈ បាន​ដណ្តើម​យក​រហូត​ដល់​ទៅ​១១​អាសនៈ រី​ឯ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​ដែល​ប្រឹង​ប្រែង​គ្រប់​រូប​ភាព រាប់​ទាំង​ចំណាយ​លុយ​មិន​ស្តាយ​ស្រណោះ បាន​កើន​អាសនៈ​ត្រឹម​តែ​១​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ។

SRP says vote-buying fine not nearly enough

SRP MP Tioulong Saumura following her senate vote (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

A Cambodian People’s Party member found guilty of attempted vote-buying in last Monday’s Senate election had been let off too lightly with a fine and should face legal action, an opposition Sam Rainsy Party councillor said yesterday.

At a hearing of the Battambang Provincial Election Commission last week, CPP member Cheam Pe A was fined US$1,230 after he was caught on tape offering SRP Tuol Ta Ek commune councillor Mok Ra $700 to cast his vote for the ruling party.

SRP Battambang provincial council member Chea Chiv said he would appeal against the decision, insisting the National Election Committee should pursue Cheam Pe A in the courts and temporarily remove his right to vote.

SRP touts senate gains

Officials count votes for the national senate election yesterday at a polling station in a school in the capital’s Boeung Trabek commune. (Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post)

Monday, 30 January 2012
Meas Sokchea and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

The Sam Rainsy Party was celebrating unofficial senate election results yesterday, claiming to have increased its number of seats in the upper house from two to 11 despite the incumbent government winning an overwhelming majority of the preliminary ballot results.

Early results showed the SRP had won 21.93 per cent of the vote. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party dominated as expected, with 77.81 per cent after initial polling by the National Election Committee ahead of official results to be announced on Saturday.

Fifty-seven of the 61 seats in the Cambodian senate are being contested in the election. Two of the remaining four will be appointed by the legislative house of parliament, the National Assembly, and the others by King Norodom Sihamoni.

In a vote derided by some analysts and observers as undemocratic because its participants are limited to commune-council members rather than the public, the SRP last night claimed a modicum of success.

The CPP is NERVOUS after it was not able to buy enough votes during the senate election

វិចារណកថា ៖ គណបក្សប្រឆាំង បាត់បង់សំឡេង គាំទ្រយ៉ាងច្រើន

Monday, 30 January 2012
ដោយ ៖ ជ័យ តារា
DAP-news

High-ranking SRP leaders are very happy about increasing their number of seats from 2 to 11 in the senate and they do not think about losing hundreds of votes at all (KI-Media note: In fact, DAP reported that the SRP lost about 200 votes out of a total of about 2,700 SRP commune councilors and MPs). This situation had been criticized by independent observers (KI-Media note: Since when does the CPP mouthpiece consider opinions by independent observers?) that the SRP is too happy to the point of forgetting its loss of hundreds of votes during the senate election and this is not a laughing matter (KI-Media note: How about the CPP not being able to prevent the SRP from obtaining 11 senate seats in spite of buying 200 votes?). At the same time, Mr. Sam Rainsy, President of the party, should find ways to arrange for his return to Cambodia before the upcoming commune and national elections so that he can compete with the CPP with transparency during the upcoming election. (KI-Media note: Now, the CPP does feel comfortable holding elections without the presence of the opposition leader’s presence in the country?)

នៅក្នុងការបោះឆ្នោត ជ្រើសរើសសមាជិកព្រឹទ្ធ សភាកាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៩ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ ២០១២ បានបង្ហាញឱ្យឃើញថា គណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី ដែលជាគណបក្ស ប្រឆាំង បានបាត់បង់ សំឡេងគាំទ្រ ពីសមាជិកក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់ របស់ខ្លួន រាប់រយនាក់នៅទូទាំងប្រទេស។ ប្រការនេះ ត្រូវបានក្រុមអ្នកតាម ដានស្ថានការណ៍ នយោបាយ ក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ផ្ដល់ជា ទស្សនៈថា គណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី ត្រូវតែធ្វើការកែទម្រង់បន្ថែមទៀត ដើម្បីរក្សាការគាំទ្រពី សមាជិករបស់ខ្លួន ព្រោះការបាត់ បង់សំឡេងគាំទ្រពីសមាជិកក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់រាប់ រយនាក់ មិនមែនជារឿងធម្មតាទេ ក្នុងខណៈដែលការបោះឆ្នោតជ្រើសរើស ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់ ខែមិថុនា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ កាន់តែជិតឈានចូលមកដល់។ ក្នុងនោះគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី គួរលះបង់ ចោលនូវវប្បធម៌ បក្ខពួកនិយម គ្រួសារនិយម ហើយមេដឹកនាំនៃគណបក្សនេះ មិនត្រូវធ្វើ អ្វីៗស្រេចតែអំពើចិត្ដតទៅទៀតឡើយ។

កាលពីល្ងាចថ្ងៃទី២៩ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ គណៈកម្មាធិការជាតិ រៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោត (គ.ជ.ប) បានបង្ហាញលទ្ធផលបណ្ដោះអាសន្នថា គណបក្សប្រជាជន កម្ពុជា ទទួលបានចំនួន ៨៨៨០សំឡេង ហើយគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី ទទួលបានចំនួន ២៥០៣សំឡេង។ តាមលទ្ធផល នេះបង្ហាញឱ្យឃើញថា គណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា ត្រូវទទួលបាន៤៦អាសនៈ ហើយគណបក្ស សមរង្ស៊ីត្រូវទទួលបាន១១អាសនៈនៅក្នុងរដ្ឋសភា ប៉ុន្ដែគណបក្ស សមរង្ស៊ី បានបាត់បង់ សំឡេង គាំទ្រជិត ២០០សំឡេង នៅទូទាំង ប្រទេស ។ បើទោះបីបាត់បង់សំឡេងគាំទ្រយ៉ាង ច្រើនក៏ដោយ ក៏មេដឹកនាំនិងមន្ដ្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់គណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី បានបង្ហាញនូវសេចក្ដីរីករាយ ដោយសារ តែមានចំនួនអាសនៈ មានការកើនឡើងនៅក្នុងស្ថាប័នព្រឹទ្ធសភា ។ ប៉ុន្ដែសម្រាប់ ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយ បានវាយតម្លៃថា ការបាត់បង់សំឡេងគាំទ្រពីសមាជិកក្រុម ប្រឹក្សា ឃុំ-សង្កាត់ របស់ខ្លួន នៅក្នុងការបោះឆ្នោតព្រឹទ្ធសភា គឺគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី អាច ប្រឈមនឹងបញ្ហា ធ្លាក់ចុះសម្រាប់ការបោះឆ្នោតជ្រើសរើសក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់នា ពេលខាងមុខ ។ ប្រការ នេះតម្រូវឱ្យគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ី ធ្វើការកែទម្រង់មួយចំនួន ទៅតាមស្ថានភាពជាក់ស្ដែង ទើប អាចទប់ទល់នឹងការធ្លាក់ចុះ ប្រជាប្រិយភាពរបស់ខ្លួន ។

800 votes bought by CPP

29 Jan 2012
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Teuk Si Iv Khmer

The election for the Senate ended on Sunday afternoon and it was conducted in an atmosphere of calm. That was what Im Suosdey, president of the National Election of Cheaters (NEC), claimed during a press conference that ended not too long ago. Im Suosdey indicated that based on preliminary results, the CPP lead the SRP by a large margin (KI-Media: Wasn’t it a foregone conclusion?). A CPP representative announced that his party received 800 votes from members of other parties.

According the report provided by the NEC, commonly known as the National Election of Cheaters, the CPP received a wide margin of votes over the SRP, even though this is just a temporary result. Furthermore, a CPP representative immediately announced during a press conference held about 1 hour ago that the CPP received 797 votes from members of other parties.

The NEC report indicated that 58 votes were unaccounted for due to people not going to vote. The total number of votes counted was 11,383.

Im Suosdey commented that the atmosphere of the election was calm and the election was conducted smoothly.

CPP Cheam Pe A fined for vote buying in Battambang

Press Statement

28 January, 2012

Today, Battambang Provincial Election Committee fines Cheam Pe A, an official of the Cambodian People's Party the equivalent of US$1,250 for vote buying. The complaint was filed by the Sam Rainsy Party, the lead opposition party in Cambodia, on 21 January, 2012.

The Sam Rainsy Party considers Mr. Mok Ra, one of SRP 2,662 elected councilors who will cast their votes on 29 January senatorial election, a true fighter for democracy and a hero. He never intended to sell his conscience. He took the risk of meeting with the CPP officials with the intention of bringing evidence to support the SRP complaint.

The Cambodian People's Party was fined in previous elections for vote buying.Vote buying is an electoral fraud, it is illegal according to the Cambodian electoral law. Universally vote buying is morally unacceptable and a grave violation of the principles of democracy. It brings dishonor to the party found guilty.

We must seriously and openly condemn vote buying as it leads to the establishment of a one-party system and to dictatorship.

SRP will continue to commit itself to free, fair and clean elections as it is one of the first steps towards building true democracy.

SRP Cabinet