Civil society reactions to the court request to lift Sam Rainsy’s immunity

18 June 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hedbo
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the original article in French

Several observers fear that this affair may hamper the good progress of the July general election, by creating an atmosphere detrimental to the election campaign.

Several members of the civil society, in charge of observing the progress of the upcoming election, do not hide their concerns about the request made by the prosecutor of the Phnom Penh municipal court to lift Sam Rainsy’s immunity.

“This was done to provoke a general panic among the voters and the activists before the election,” Kul Panha, Comfrel executive director, underscored while condemning the lawsuits brought up against politicians, especially when close to the election. “The government must be the only guarantor for the holding of free and equitable election,” Kul Panha said while adding that he will follow this case very closely.

Kul Panha’s opinion is also shared by Seng Theary, the director of the Center for Social Development (CSD). To her, the fact that a member of the government brings a lawsuit against his political opponent is nothing but a political plot. “Politics is mixed up with the law still. In actual democratic countries, people do not dare lift the immunity of a MP, much less that of an opposition MP,” Seng Theary said.

Puthea Hang, executive director of NICFEC, another organization in charge of controlling the election, said that he was “very worried about the political atmosphere.” All this seems to indicate that the ruling party does not want to see any opposition party leaders participating in the general election.

Nevertheless, Tep Nitha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), sees in this affair nothing more than a “personal dispute” between Hor Namhong and Sam Rainsy. However, he conceded: “This more or less affects the progress of the election because the person involved is a candidate. But, this depends on the National Assembly and the justice system, both of which are independent from the NEC,” Tep Nitha explained.

Observer concerned about the election process

19 April 2008
By Mom Sophon
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

An election observer expressed concerns over the upcoming election process, saying that it will not be smooth because the NEC cannot increase the salary for its employees at a time when the price of goods is soaring.

Dr. Hang Puthea, executive director of the NICFEC organization, told RFA on 18 April that he is concerned about the NEC budget shortfall.

Dr. Hang Puthea said: “Normally, the process must be planned in advance, and it should be linked to the budget plan. Therefore, if there is a shortfall, I think the election will not be smooth. With the price inflation, I believe that workers and officials preparing the election, at the commune and provincial levels, will be deceived and they will be concerned about their living conditions, and at times, they may be thinking more about their living conditions rather than the work they are charged to undertake.”

In the past, the NEC announced that it needs $17 million to organize the fourth legislative mandate election, however, it is still short of $2.5 million from the total needed.

Tep Nytha, NEC secretary-general, indicated that, for the NEC employees working at the provincial or commune levels will not see any salary increase.

Tep Nytha said: “We are also concerned about this problem because in our budget plan, we included a 2% actual price increase, but if we compare to the rate of price inflation for materials needed for the election, it is more than 2%. Nevertheless, a large portion of our budget had been spent already, besides that, other spending was also done prior to the inflation. The material which saw a price increase includes: additional voting boxes, steel cases needed at the commune election booths. This also affects (the purchase of) paper. It will also affect other measures, such as transportation, this is due to the increase in the price of gasoline.”

Tep Nytha added that even with the NEC budget shortfall, the preparation for the election will not be a problem.

Keo Remy, HRP vice-president, said that even if the NEC faces budget shortfall, he still hopes that the election will be conducted well, and that it depends on the NEC officials abiding by the election law and rules.

Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, indicated that he does not have enough confidence in the NEC yet. He said that the progress for the election preparation does not depend on the salary (of NEC employees), but it depends on the neutrality of the NEC officials instead.

Election Monitor Prepares Observers, Chiefs

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
25 March 2008

Hang Puthea is the executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia.

His group has monitored Cambodian elections since 1998, and this year plans to deploy 700 observers throughout the country, Hang Puthea said Monday, as a guest on "Hello VOA."

He has also scheduled, with UNDP funds, to train village chiefs in election procedures.

Meanwhile, the NEC was preparing to do its work for the election, he said.

Legally, the NEC must be independent, but the national committee's political tendencies should be judged by the people, he said.

What's interesting, he added, is that so many people choose to exercise their right to vote.

Election Monitor Recommends NEC Focus

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
13 February 2008

A leading election monitor said Tuesday the national election body should start now focusing on election irregularities in order to ensure fair elections.

The National Election Committee should look at irregularities, complaints, threats, intimidation and campaign material collection, said Puthea Hang, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections.

“I understand that the NEC is trying to do self reform so first they should take public opinion,” he said.

The NEC has called on political parties and non-governmental agencies to prepare recommendations this month for smooth elections of acceptable standards.

Puthea Hang said agencies will hold meetings this week to submit recommendations to the NEC.

Nicfec plans to push for a regulation within the NEC that nullifies results where election procedures are ignored.

For example, if there are threats, polling stations are opened late or ballot boxes are found unlocked, the results from that area should be rejected, he said.

NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said the NEC has fully applied election laws in the past and worked to solve complaints.

The NEC will review all the recommendations from political parties and election groups, he said, adding that the deadline for recommendations is Feb. 20.

Monitor Discusses Election Day Challenges on 'Hello VOA'

Khemara Sok
VOA Khmer
Washington
29/03/2007

Click here to listen to Khemara Sok reports in Khmer (Real Media Player required)

Hang Puthea, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, took questions from "Hello VOA" callers Thursday morning to discuss the challenges election officials and observers face in thousands of polling sites nationwide.

Callers from the US and Cambodia said they were concerned about the fairness of Cambodia's impending elections, where leaders fro 1,621 communes will be chosen.

Nearly two weeks of campaigning from 12 different parties nationwide had seen a number of irregularities, Hang Puthea said, and most of those had not been solved to the satisfaction of all parties.

Hang Puthea reminded listeners that the voting was done in secret, so people should mark their ballots without fear of retaliation.

Election Monitor Addresses Campaign Issues on 'Hello VOA'

Khemara Sok
VOA Khmer
Washington
22/03/2007

Click here to listen to Khemara Sok hosts 'Hello VOA' in Khmer
(Real Media Player required)

Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections, discussed election concerns with "Hello VOA" Thursday, as campaigning entered the close of its first week.

While the first commune elections helped decentralize government power in 2002, many candidates failed to deliver on their promises, Hang Puthea said.

Whether the April 1 commune elections will be free and fair was yet to be determined, he said, but monitor groups and other aid agencies were watching closely.