Cambodia's NA approves constitution amendment

01/16/2008
VNA (Hanoi)

Phnom Penh - The Cambodian National Assembly has amended two articles of the country’s Constitution to specify division pattern of administrative areas to facilitate better political participation of the civilians.

The amendment, passed by a 80-107 vote on January 15, will help improve and increase democracy, Cambodian Prime Minister told reporters after the vote.

However, the FUNCINPEC and the Sam Rainsy Party did not support the amendment, saying it would only benefit the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

The Cambodian territory is divided as capital city, special city, province, district and commune.

Sam Rainsy opposes non-universal election for provincial, municipal and city, and district levels officials

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is opposed to the law for the election of provincial, municipal, city, and district council (and governors) which allows exclusively commune councilors to vote for these positions. Sam Rainsy said that this election would not be democratic, because those who have the right to vote are only the commune councilors, and the majority of them come from the CPP. Sam Rainsy said that he already knows the results of the election: only the CPP will win such election, whereas the SRP, Funcinpec, and the NRP will not receive any vote. Sam Rainsy said that CPP will receive 80% of the new positions. Monh Saphan, Funcinpec MP, also criticized this amendment to the constitution, and he wants to see the public vote for these positions by themselves.