By confessing "those who want to add more seats, they want to benefit from it," K.Kanharith admits that CPP will not gain from adding more NA seats

Sam Rainsy opposes the status quo in the number of NA seats

9 June 2007
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Saturday, opposition leader Sam Rainsy and a representative of the civil society have opposed the government decision to preserve the current number of 123 seats for the upcoming fourth mandate of the National Assembly (NA). Sam Rainsy and civil society representatives consider this decision as lacking correct basis, and is politically motivated.

Sam Rainsy said in his reaction (to the government decision): “This means that we (MPs) cannot track the actions and the activities of the government members, and of the executive branch.”

In May, Sam Rainsy officially requested for an increase in the number of NA seats from the current number of 123 to 130 for the upcoming NA fourth mandate. Sam Rainsy explained that this increase is necessary based on the population growth.

Sam Rainsy is concerned for Cambodian people who are currently facing more land disputes, more human rights violations, and more illegal logging, but the number of Members of Parliament still remain the same, at 123, and this number of MPs could not efficiently follow up on the corruption activities, and they could not efficiently resolve all the problems faced by the current 14 million constituents.

Koul Panha, Comfrel director, reacted by saying that the recent government decision to preserve the same number of NA seats at 123, has disappointed him.

Koul Panha said: “This decision is not based on the important services provided by MPs such as the reviewing of the government works, and helping resolve the problems faced by the constituents.”

Koul Panha believes that the number of seats at the NA should be increased from 123 to 130 so that MPs can efficiently serve their constituents.

The above reactions from the opposition leader and a representative of the civil society came after the council of ministers issued its official decision, on Friday, to preserve the number of NA seats at 123 for the fourth NA mandate, based on what the government viewed as the current social and economic situation.

Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, explained that the increase in the number of NA seats is not necessary: “That group (opposition), they want to eat the tail [they want to gain], that is why we see that they want to add more seats in places where there are many (people), they want to add (more seats) mainly in provinces where there are few seat, so when they add mote seats, they hope to gain. This is what happens, normally, those who want to add more seats, they want to benefit from it.”

During the first NA mandate, the number of seats amounted to 120, this number increases to 122 for the second mandate, and on the third mandate, this number increased to 123, the current number of seats.

Cheam Yeap, CPP MP and chairman of the economic and finance committee of the NA, said that with 14 million constituents, the number of 123 NA seats is fine.

Cheam Yeap said that the budget spent for the NA, including the salaries for MPs and for various officials, amounts to US$10 million per year.

Number of NA seats will remain at 123

Saturday, June 9, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on 08 June 2007 morning, and presided by Prime Minister Hun Sen, has voted to approve the draft law determining the number of seats for the 4th mandate of the National Assembly (NA). The draft law preserves the same number of seats at its current number of 123.

At a plenary meeting, the council of ministers agreed and approved the draft law determining the number of seats for the fourth mandate NA based on Article 7 of the law for the election of lawmakers. The council has decided to preserve the same number of seats of 123, based on its review of the current social and economic situation of Cambodia.

Recently, the Sam Rainsy Party and civil society officials called on the government to increase the number of NA seats to 135 because of the increase in the population size, therefore, the government should also increase the number of lawmakers accordingly so that there is a sufficient number of lawmakers to take care of their constituents.

Election Watchdog Discusses Parliamentary Expansion on 'Hello VOA'

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
28/05/2007

Koul Panha, executive director of the election watchdog Comfrel, told "Hello VOA" Monday that increasing the number of seats in the National Assembly could have improved the representation of the Cambodian people.

With 123 parliamentarians in the National Assembly, each one represents 100,000 people, compared to a one-to-40,000 ratio when the government began, Koul Panha said.

More seats would fall in line with the law and lower the ratio, he said, discounting the opinion that the addition of seven more parliamentarians would add a strain to the national budget.

Several callers suggested parliamentarians don't do enough to help their constituents, especially where land-grabs by the wealthy are concerned.

The National Assembly was more active now than it has been in the past, Koul Panha said, but it needed to do more.

The National Assembly is an important part of a system of checks and balances that prevents the executive branch of the government from doing whatever it wants, he said.

One caller said, given the state of the National Assembly, adding more seats would be useless.

League of Civil Society Organizations Requesting an Increase in the Number of National Assembly Seats for the 4th Legislature

Joint Statement of the League of Civil Society Organizations On Requesting an Increase in the Number of National Assembly Seats for the 4th Legislature of the National Assembly (2008 - 2013)

Phnom Penh, May 25, 2007

The league of below-mentioned civil society organizations would like to express its regret that the majority of the members of the Commission for the Determination of the National Assembly Seats have decided not to propose an increase in the number of parliamentary seats in the Royal Government of Cambodia. The league of the civil society organizations would like to recommend to the leaders of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the two national legislative bodies that they consider the possibility of raising the number of seats of the National Assembly for the 4th legislature (2008 - 2013) to 130. Based on the rate of population growth, and geographic, social and economic factors in some constituencies, there should be increase of at least seven seats at the National Assembly for: Battambang, Kampong Speu, Koh Kong, Otdar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Siem Reap and Sihanouk Ville.

The above request is based on the following requirements:

1. To increase the representativeness of the parliament in proportion to the population and in accordance with the law.

The population has increased by two million, from around 12 million in 2003 to an estimated 14.5 million in 2008. It should be noticed that the National Assembly has historically increased the number of seats from mandate to mandate. Additionally, the increase of seats is in compliance with Article 7 of the Law on the Election of the Members of the National Assembly: 'In the third year of every legislative term, the Council of Ministers shall form a Commission for the Determination of National Assembly Seats to modify the number of seats and allocate seats to each province/ municipality'. Actually, only around 112 MPs carry out all their duties, as at least 11 parliamentarians are also government officials, who are busy with government work and barely fulfill their responsibilities as MPs. There should be an amendment to the Constitution to distinguish between members of the legislative and of the executive body.

2. To increase the number of parliamentarians visiting and solving the problems of constituents.

According to reports collected from organizations’ public forums and COMFREL’s Parliamentary Watch Reports, people in each constituency need more parliamentarians to protect their interests. Although many MPs are very active in visiting citizens and intervening in and solving the problems of the people in their own constituencies, this number is not sufficient for the large proportion of people, in remote areas in particular, who need help from their representatives.

3. To balance the number of members of National Assembly commissions with the number of government institutions to be able to review the performance of ministries and government institutions.

The current number of parliamentarians is not appropriate for the work of National Assembly commissions. Since the 1st legislature of the National Assembly, the government has established more ministries and national authorities. Furthermore, the number of government members has doubled from mandate to mandate.

4. To strengthen review of income and expenditure in the national budget.

It is not reasonable to reject such a request on the basis of budgetary problems, as spending on public interest should be prioritized; an increase by at least seven parliamentarians is not going to take up much of the national budget given annual increases in the national budget. In addition, the government recently claimed high economic growth for Cambodia, using this as a reason for increasing salaries of the armed forces by 20% next year. Based on current Cambodian economic growth and the commitments of the government to increase national income from other potential national resources as well as fighting against corruption, the increase in the number of seats is not going to have any negative effect on national budget or economics.

Hence, as mentioned earlier, the league of civil society organizations insist that the government consider the possibility of increasing the number of seats in the National Assembly for the 4th and/or the next legislature of the National Assembly.

For further information, please contact:

1. Mr. THUN Saray, First Representative of COMFREL and President of ADHOC, 016 880 509
2. Dr. Kek GALABRU, Chairwoman of Board of Directors of NICFEC and President of LICHADO, 012 802 506
3. Mr. KOUL Panha, Executive Director of COMFREL, 012 942 017
4. Dr. Puthea HANG, Executive Director of NICFEC and Fine Art Association, 012 959 666
5. Mr. MAK Sarath, Coordinator of YCC, 012 992 401
6. Mrs. Oung Chanthol, Executive Director of Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, 012 840 507
7. Ms. Nay Dina, Executive Director of Khmer Institute for Democracy, 011 924 286
8. Mr. YENG Virak, Executive Director of Community Legal Education Center, 012 801 235
9. Mr. NHEK Sarin, Executive Director of Star Kampuchea, 016 273 728
10. Dr. SIN Somuny, Executive Director of Medicam, 012 579 062
11. Mr. OU Virak, Executive Director of Cambodian Center for Human Rights, 012 875 353
12. Mrs. PEUNG Yok Hiep, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Cambodia, 012 823 745
13. Mr. YOUNG Kim Eng, President of People for Development and Peace Center, 016 828 211
14. Mr. Chiv You Meng, President of Khmer Youth Association, 012 772 271
15. Mr. MOM Sarin, Executive Director of Human Rights and Community Development Organization, 011 738 975
16. Mr. SOUN Sareth, Executive Secretary of Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, 012 830 422
17. Mrs. Thida KHUS, Executive Director of Silaka, 012 838 464
18. Mrs. ROS Sopheap, Executive Director of Gender and Development for Cambodia, 012 627 857
19. Mrs. POK Nanda, Executive Director of Women for Prosperity, 012 420 093
20. Mrs. CHEA Vannath, Independent Consultant and former President of Center for Social Development, 016 831 905
21. Mr. NGIN Sao Roth, Executive Director of Cambodia Disabled People’s Organization, 016 851 841
22. Mr. YEANG Vanna, President of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization, 012 872 546
23. Mr. CHEANG Sokha, Executive Director of Youth Resources Development Program, 012 360 464
24. Mr. VA Moeun, Executive Director of Mlup Baitong, 012 782 536
25. Mr. LIM Phai, President of Urban Sector Group, 012 859 226
26. Mr. MAO Veasna, President of Students’ Movement for Democracy, 012 754 702
27. Mr. HANG Sokmakara, President of Cambodian Youth Center, 012 799 588
28. Mr. SREY Vanthon, President of Action on Disability and Development, 012 803 394
29. Mrs. YIM Nimola, President of Khmer Women’s Voice Center, 012 911 099
30. Mr. AT Thun, President of Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union, 012 998 906
31. Mr. LY Koim, President of Union Federation of Tourism in Cambodia, 012 866 682
32. Mr. CHHUN Borith, Coordinator of Khmer Youth and Social Development, 012 798 488