Dan Poynton
The Mekong Times
The European Union (EU) is sending a mission of over 130 observers from 23 EU countries to monitor the July 27 national elections, as the EU says this year’s elections are a crucial event in the country’s development.
The EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) is here on invitation by the Cambodian government, and according to an EOM statement, its main objectives are to offer a “comprehensive … impartial and independent” assessment of the election and to strengthen voters’ confidence to “participate freely.”
“We are here in a spirit of cooperation with the people of Cambodia,” said Martin Callanan, chief observer of the EOM and a British Member of the European Parliament, at a press conference in Phnom Penh Friday, he added that the mission is hoping to strengthen the election process and give the opportunity for all political parties to be able to compete freely and fairly.
The EOM statement said the EOM is being coordinated by a core team of nine experts in Phnom Penh. Forty-four Long-Term Observers (LTOs) – two for every province – were to arrive yesterday and will assess the campaign period and pre-election preparations. Two of the LTOs will be from Norway, a non-EU member
On election day, 80 Short-Term Observers (STOs) will observe voting and counting in polling stations throughout the country.
“We can visit any polling station in any province. We will not inform authorities about where we will go,” said Callanan.
The EOM will remain here for several weeks after the elections to assess the post-election period.
“We will observe the entire election process … as well as the general environment in which the election is being conducted,” said Callanan, adding that the EOM reports will be “impartial, balanced and informed.”
“All observers will be impartial and work under international and Cambodian [legal] frameworks. They cannot interfere in the election process,” he said, adding that the EU sees its long history of election observation as an important part of its work for human rights and democratization throughout the world. He said this marks the EU’s fourth election observation mission to Cambodia.
“The election is not just an event, it is a process,” said Callanan, pointing out that the EOM will be observing the entire process, including the lead-up and any complaints and appeals after the elections.
The EOM statement said the mission will assess to what extent the elections comply with international and regional election standards as well as with Cambodian domestic law.
Callanan said he has already met with a number of government officials and NGOs in Cambodia, stressing in the meetings that all candidates must be able to express themselves and use their rights “fully, freely and peacefully”.
He said he had already met a number of representatives from the parties running in the elections, and that he will have met with all the parties by the end of the campaign.
“Participating in a free and fair election is a basic human right,” he said.
Callanan would give no comment about the plight of certain individual opposition candidates and the alleged government oppression against them, including that of opposition leader Norodom Ranariddh, although he did say that the recent arrest of editor and Sam Rainsy Party candidate Dam Sith for defamation was “regrettable”.
“It is not for me to comment about whether human rights in Cambodia are improving,” said Callanan.
The EOM will issue a full report with its findings after the elections.
The EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) is here on invitation by the Cambodian government, and according to an EOM statement, its main objectives are to offer a “comprehensive … impartial and independent” assessment of the election and to strengthen voters’ confidence to “participate freely.”
“We are here in a spirit of cooperation with the people of Cambodia,” said Martin Callanan, chief observer of the EOM and a British Member of the European Parliament, at a press conference in Phnom Penh Friday, he added that the mission is hoping to strengthen the election process and give the opportunity for all political parties to be able to compete freely and fairly.
The EOM statement said the EOM is being coordinated by a core team of nine experts in Phnom Penh. Forty-four Long-Term Observers (LTOs) – two for every province – were to arrive yesterday and will assess the campaign period and pre-election preparations. Two of the LTOs will be from Norway, a non-EU member
On election day, 80 Short-Term Observers (STOs) will observe voting and counting in polling stations throughout the country.
“We can visit any polling station in any province. We will not inform authorities about where we will go,” said Callanan.
The EOM will remain here for several weeks after the elections to assess the post-election period.
“We will observe the entire election process … as well as the general environment in which the election is being conducted,” said Callanan, adding that the EOM reports will be “impartial, balanced and informed.”
“All observers will be impartial and work under international and Cambodian [legal] frameworks. They cannot interfere in the election process,” he said, adding that the EU sees its long history of election observation as an important part of its work for human rights and democratization throughout the world. He said this marks the EU’s fourth election observation mission to Cambodia.
“The election is not just an event, it is a process,” said Callanan, pointing out that the EOM will be observing the entire process, including the lead-up and any complaints and appeals after the elections.
The EOM statement said the mission will assess to what extent the elections comply with international and regional election standards as well as with Cambodian domestic law.
Callanan said he has already met with a number of government officials and NGOs in Cambodia, stressing in the meetings that all candidates must be able to express themselves and use their rights “fully, freely and peacefully”.
He said he had already met a number of representatives from the parties running in the elections, and that he will have met with all the parties by the end of the campaign.
“Participating in a free and fair election is a basic human right,” he said.
Callanan would give no comment about the plight of certain individual opposition candidates and the alleged government oppression against them, including that of opposition leader Norodom Ranariddh, although he did say that the recent arrest of editor and Sam Rainsy Party candidate Dam Sith for defamation was “regrettable”.
“It is not for me to comment about whether human rights in Cambodia are improving,” said Callanan.
The EOM will issue a full report with its findings after the elections.
