Kem Sokha invited to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina

May 16, 2012

The Honorable Sokha Kem

LeaderHuman Rights Party

Cambodia

Dear Honorable Kem:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), we are pleased to invite you to attend the 2012 International Leaders Forum (ILF) during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 3-6, 2012.

NDI has been asked by the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) to host international visitors to every Democratic National Convention since 1984. In Charlotte, the NDI-sponsored ILF will bring together current and former government officials, parliamentarians, diplomats and senior political party leaders from over 100 countries to observe the nomination process of the Democratic Party's candidate for President and Vice-President of the United States.

Throughout convention week, NDI will hold a series of special events for the international visitors. Participants will attend morning and afternoon seminars on U.S. politics, domestic policy issues, and foreign policy issues defining the presidential election. These bi-partisan panel discussions will be led by Democratic and Republican leaders, members of Congress and other prominent elected officials, journalists and opinion makers.

Every evening, NDI will host its International Leader's Hospitality Suite, where live-television broadcasts will allow participants to view the convention proceedings at the nearby Time Warner Arena. We also expect to secure a limited number of credentials for the convention hall itself, and will provide them to program participants on a rotating basis from the hospitality suite. Credentials for the convention hall will be limited, but NDI will do it best to get delegates inside the proceedings.

Also during the week, ILF participants will be able to attend Convention-related events sponsored by NDI, the DNCC, the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee and others. These events afford attendees a unique opportunity to informally exchange ideas with leaders and representatives of other countries throughout the world.

As you can imagine, there is great international interest in attending this year's convention, and because hotel and program space are limited, participants will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis. Please register by filling out this online form by June 8, 2012.

There will be a registration fee of $500 for the ILF program. Program participants will be responsible for funding their own travel and hotel expenses. Upon receipt of your registration information, we will provide you with a confirmation letter containing further details on the location and booking process at designated hotels, and other program information. Please note that this invitation is strictly non-transferable.

We hope you will be able to join us in Charlotte for what promises to be an exciting program.

Sincerely,

Madeleine K. Albright

Chairman

Kenneth Wollack

President

Learning curve steep, but debates key: NDI

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

Candidates from all 10 political parties competing in the June 3 commune elections will vie for voter support in a series of commune-level debates intended to better inform voters, debate organisers said yesterday.

The NGO National Democratic Institute, which promotes transparency and accountability in government, is organising the debates in 10 provinces that will be aired nationwide, with the aim of fostering critical debate on concrete issues.

“There is no concept of political platforms here, and it would be hard for a voter to tell the difference between each of the parties,” NDI country director Laura Thornton said yesterday on the first day of a week-long debate training for candidates.

Invitation to meet SRP MP Mu Sochua at the NDI's discussion on "A Global Voice for Women in Politics"

The National Democratic Institute

Cordially Invites You to a discussion with

Mu Sochua

A Global Voice for Women in Politics

Time

Wednesday, April 1312, 9:30 – 11 am

Location

National Democratic Institute

2030 M St., NW, 5th Floor

Washington, D.C.

Cambodian parliamentarian and former cabinet minister Mu Sochua is an unrelenting advocate for women’s rights and democracy. As minister of women’s affairs, Sochua negotiated a landmark agreement with Thailand to protect the rights of Cambodian women trafficked as sex workers. As a legislator, she drafted and secured passage of Cambodia’s domestic violence law. Sochua launched a campaign to bring nongovernmental organizations, law enforcement officials and women in rural areas into a national dialogue to protect women and girls victimized by trafficking and boost prevention efforts nationwide. Drawing on her extensive experience working with women in Cambodia and throughout Asia, Sochua will discuss why politics matter to women and how women can and should embrace politics to build inclusive, democratic communities.

RSVP

Please register for the event at www.ndi.org/events_rsvp

Direct questions to Nalika Vasudevan at 202.728.5508

or nvasudevan@ndi.org

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide by promoting citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Meeting with lawmakers organized by NDI and PSK in Kampong Speu on 28 August 2010

Click on the announcement in Khmer to zoom in

Opposition Leader Warns of Catastrophe

Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, at Voice of America, on Thursday.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
11 June 2009

Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer

Cambodia’s two opposition leaders are in the US together for the first time, and one of them warns that Cambodia is facing a catastrophe.

Sam Rainsy, leader of his self-named party, and Kem Sokha, head of the Human Rights Party, are in the US together seeking political support.

Speaking at a National Democratic Institute conference in Washington Wednesday, Sam Rainsy said the economic crisis was hitting Cambodia hard. “I can tell you that the situation is catastrophic,” he said. “If the economic crisis lasts, let’s say, one year, two years, then we will have serious problems.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government will not be able to address the economic problems, he said, “so this will bring the regime to a very critical stage.”

Echoing Sam Rainsy’s concerns, Kem Sokha said Cambodia needs to unite its democracy advocates and its messages to help people stand up for their rights, something that would not be possible without help from the international community.

The NDI meeting was attended by Cambodian-Americans, US non-governmental agencies and other institutions. Both leaders were looking for greater support from the US and other countries, and said they worry about the future of Cambodia.

They criticized donors for turning a blind eye to Cambodia’s problems with the economy, human rights, corruption and poverty.

CPP Cheam Yiep impressed by Obama's inclusiveness ... unlike the narrow-minded policy of the CPP and Hun Xen

Obama’s Speech Important Gesture: Lawmakers

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
04 June 2009

President Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East and his overtures to the Muslim world were important gestures to the world, including Cambodians, lawmakers said Thursday.

Four Cambodian legislators joined “Hello VOA” in Washington, to discuss their trip with four other lawmakers to Washington, as guests of the National Democratic Institute.

Obama spoke in Cairo, calling for “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition.”

Obama spoke at Cairo University, but his message was intended for more than one billion Muslims around the world.

Cambodia has an estimated half a million Muslims.

Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yiep, who is visiting Washington with the NDI delegation, called Obama’s speech “a great gesture.”

“His speech will be a great influence on the people of the world,” CPP parliamentarian Sik Bunhok said. “It emphasizes his goal to make friendship, reconciliation with all nations and his determination to resolve problems through peaceful means.”

Lawmakers Nin Saphon (CPP), Ho Naun (CPP), Cheam Yiep (CPP), Sik Bunhok (CPP), Eng Chhai Eang (Sam Rainsy Party), Kuoy Bunroeun (SRP), Mao Monyvann (SRP) and Yem Ponharith (Human Right Party) are visiting the US as part of NDI’s study mission, “Constituent Outreach and Oversight of the Extractive Industries.”

Eng Chhai Eang told “Hello VOA” he was “impressed with the US president’s speech,” which “shows a new US policy for a Muslim world that was not happy with the US.”

“I think President Obama wants to end the misunderstanding between the two sides,” he said. “I think this is great for the world.”

Yem Ponharith noted that US policy is “very important to the world.”

“In Cambodia,” he said, “people of all faith live in harmony.”

One caller, from Battambang province, asked what the benefit to US citizens was for the US “always warring against Muslims, such as Iraq and Iran.”

Cheam Yiep said, in his view, Barack Obama was seeking a peaceful world “that has unity, without discrimination against religion, without discrimination against race.”

Seven(?) Parliamentarians Invited for US Tour

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
30 April 2009

Seven Cambodian lawmakers from three political parties will be invited to a weeklong study trip to Washington in June, where they will meet with US representatives and learn more about US Congress.

The seven lawmakers, from the Cambodian People’s, Human Rights and Sam Rainsy parties, will travel June 1, with support and organization from the National Democratic Institute and the Institute of Representative Government.

No firm schedule has yet been fixed for the lawmakers: the CPP’s Cheam Yiep, Sik Bun Hok, Nin Saphon and Ho Naun; the SRP’s Eng Chhai Eang, Kouy Bunroeun and Mao Monyvann; and the HRP’s Yem Ponhearith.

“We are inviting a delegation of Cambodian parliamentarians to come to DC in the first week of June to participate in a study mission,” said Raissa Tatad-Hazell, a senior program manager for Asia at NDI. “We are still in the process of arranging the group’s logistics and schedule.”

NEC Lists Omitted Thousands of Voters: NDI

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 June 2008

Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer

A review of voter registration lists found the omission of thousands of legitimate voters, the National Democratic Institute said Friday.

By auditing both National Election Committee voter registration and voter deletion lists and comparing the results, the group found that 10 percent of the deleted names were those of eligible voters, about 57,000 of them.

The group noted, however, that 500,000 invalid names had been removed from the voter registry.

NDI recommended the NEC take measures to ensure eligible voters be restored to the registry. If their names are not re-instated, the voters will be excluded from July's general election.

US embassy getting ready to observe the election

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The US embassy in Cambodia indicated that it is preparing 80 of its personnel to participate in the observation of the upcoming 27 July election. Jeff Daigle, PR officer of the embassy, told RFA that the 80 observers from the US embassy will be divided into 40 groups, and they will travel all over Cambodia to observe the election. Jeff Daigle also indicated that another group of observers from the US could participate in the election observation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Parties Trained for Election Observation

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
27 May 2008

Click here to listen to the program in Khmer

Trainers for four of the competing parties for July’s general election received training themselves Monday, so that they can teach poll observation to monitors.

Some 240 members of the Cambodian People’s, Funcinpec, Sam Rainsy and Norodom Ranariddh parties received training from the National Democratic Institute, with more training to follow for each of the remaining seven parties.

These trainers will then go on to train other party activists.

Trainers were taught skills of systematic poll observation in order to prevent irregularities on Election Day, July 27, and in subsequent ballot counting.

“The presence of party polling agents enhances public confidence in the polling and counting by promoting transparency and openness,” said Jerome Cheung, NDI’s Cambodia representative.

The training will help ensure “all parties have the ability to protect their own party’s interests on Election Day and counting day,” said Sothearayuth Lee, a senior program officer for NDI.

Thousands of poll agents to guarantee fair election in Cambodia

May 22, 2008
Xinhua

Two hundred and forty trainers from Cambodia's four major political parties are preparing to train tens of thousands of poll agents who will watch the National Assembly Election Day process to ensure that votes are counted fairly and that their opponents play by the rules, a press release said Thursday.

Members of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the Funcinpec Party, the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) and the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) will attend a party poll agent training conducted by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) in Phnom Penh from May 26 to 31, an NDI press release said.

The party trainers will in turn train tens of thousands of their own party's polling agents, it added.

NDI's training will equip the political party trainers with the knowledge and skills to conduct systematic observation of the polls and report based on a standard polling agent manual and observation checklist based on the National Assembly election laws, regulations, procedures and code of conduct, the release said.

The NDI will invite all political parties that have officially registered for the National Assembly election to receive the party poll agent training, it said, adding that other political parties will be trained in a second batch.

The NDI provided a similar training prior to last year's Commune Council elections, in which more than 100,000 party poll agents watched the polling process.

Election Problems Persist, Group Warns

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
04 April 2008

Cambodia's political climate has improved since general elections in 2003, but critical problems remain, the US-based National Democratic Institute said Friday.

The group cited as cause for concern judicial intimidation of the opposition, improper removal of eligible voters from registries, and restricted access by competing parties to electronic media.

"We have seen improvement since 2003, especially with respect to the National Election Commission, but this is far from a level playing field and the context is such that one party continues to dominate the entire political system," said Peter Manikas, NDI director of Asia programs.

The National Election Committee was now operating with more transparency, and more women were involved in politics, the group noted, following a five-day visit by international delegates.

"This is free expression, so they can make comments and make some opinions before or during the election period," NEC Secretary-General Tep Nytha said. "However, NEC is now resolving their concerns."

NDI also recommended the NEC move out of the Ministry of Interior.

Seng Theary, executive director at the Center for Social Development, said the NDI recommendations echoed concerns from civil society.

She fully supported them, she said.

Hun Sen's victory speech premature

Election Group: Victory Speech Premature

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
03 March 2008

A democracy group said Friday a speech made by Prime Minister Hun Sen announcing ruling party victories in July's national polls marked typical electioneering and should not deter Cambodians from voting their conscience.

Hun Sen said Thursday the Cambodian People's Party was bound to win this year's national elections.

The outcome is ultimately up to voters, said Lee Sothearayuth, a program officer for the National Democratic Institute.

"It's not any individual, activist or politician who can define their fate, but only voters who can," he said.

At least one election monitor said the speeches could lead to suspicion of vote-tampering during the parliamentary polls.

NDI Looks for Ways to Improve Next Year's General Elections [-All that is required is to stop the CPP cheating with the NEC collusion]

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Washington
24 December 2007

National Democratic Institute (NDI) says it is looking to improve the 2008 general election process with 5 main projects.

"In general NDI wants to strengthen democracy and wants to give every people their full rights." NDI program officer Ly Sothearayuth told VOA audience as the guest of Monday Hello VOA.

Sothearayuth outlined the 5 main activities as 1) conducting debates among candidates, 2) monitoring funds of NGOs such as COMFREL and Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (NICFEC), 3) deploying more election observors to help audit the 2nd voter list in March 2008 before the July 2008 election, 4) training political activists, and 5) promoting women in politics.

Sothearayuth says people are generally brave to ask questions and express their concerns because "people are now smarter and understand the issues well."

"People are disappointed in the politicians who have made empty promises. We are hoping that in this coming election, politicians will fullfill their pledges and people will no longer be disappointed."

Cambodian people will go to the polls in July 2008 to elect members of parliaments. The party that wins the majority of the seats will select the next prime minister.

1,091 national observers accredited to watch election process of Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The National Election Committee (NEC) of Cambodia has accredited 1,091 national observers and 27 international observers to observe the 2007 annual voter list revision and registration process for the 2008 general election.

The national observers accredited by NEC come from nine organizations and the international ones from the National Democratic Institute and the Embassy of the United States, said a NEC press release received on Tuesday.

The kingdom's next general election scheduled for July 2008 will renew members of the National Assembly and establish a new government.

Group Finds Flaws in Registration Process, Voter Lists

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
04 October 2007

The voter registration process for next year's national election contains serious flaws, a democracy group has found.

The process has come under fire in recent weeks, as a deadline nears for eligible voters to register and for voters who believe they were removed from lists to get back on them.

Critics have charged the process is skewed in favor of the Cambodian People's Party, with tens of thousands of names of opposition supporters removed from lists and the burden to rectify those lists in the hands of laymen voters.

"Voters turned out less because of voter lists irregularities," Ly Sothearayuth, a senior program officer for the National Democratic Institute, said Thursday.

NDI recently completed a survey of 385 communes, where they found more than 11 percent of eligible voters had not registered.

The survey found that 20 percent of registered voters had not been given a critical identification card, Ly Sothearayuth said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."

The National Election Committee has said the voter lists needed cleaned of illegible voters—such as the deceased—and that voters have until Oct. 20 to ensure their names are posted.

But now the NEC should be focusing on getting as many people voting as possible, Ly Sothearayuth said. The burden should not be on the people, he added.

Around 7 million people will be legible to vote in the national parliamentary elections, set for July next year.

11.2 percent of Cambodia's eligible voters still not registered

September 07, 2007

More than eleven percent of Cambodia's eligible voters remain unregistered, according to a voter registration audit recently complete by a coalition of election watchdog NGOs, local media said on Friday.

Using a random sample of 682,000 voters throughout the nation, the report found that 88.8 percent of eligible voters were registered and 11.2 percent unregistered, reported Chinese- language newspaper the Commercial News.

The audit report was jointly prepared by the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute, the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), and the Center for Advanced Study.

The registration of voters is more important than deleting ghost voter names from the voter list, said NICFEC Executive Director Puthea Hang, though he added that it is a high priority for the National Election Committee (NEC) of Cambodia to do the clean-up of the list.

Meanwhile, NEC Secretary-General Tep Nytha told reporters that NEC is updating the voter list according to accurate documents and fact.

NEC had verified that commune councilors were 91 percent accurate in listing voter names, he added.

Cambodia is to hold general election in July 2008 and a new government will be set up then.

Source: Xinhua

Survey: More Than 10 Percent Unregistered for National Polls

Voters registration (Photo: Youth Council of Cambodia)

Win Thida, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
06 September 2007

A recent survey by two independent election monitors showed more than 10 percent of eligible voters had yet to register, the groups announced Thursday.

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections and the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia said about 680,000 potential voters still need to register, a number similar to that predicted by the National Election Committee.

Cambodians will vote for representatives in parliament in July next year, which in turn determines who sits in ministerial seats. A relatively low number of voters in this year's local elections has worried some observers who say voters are either confused by the process—or apathetic to it.

"We audited, first, to give a report observing the election to be independent, second, to state whether the voter lists are correct, third, for election process transparency," Nicfec Executive Director Hang Puthea said Thursday, at a press conference to announce the findings of the survey.

The voter list audit was undertaken over four days in August, with technical support from the US group National Democratic Institute.

"We think that this is the first new stage," said NDI program leader Ly Sothearayuth. "We must audit the voter lists because in the past the idea of the people participating in the election is low level."

Leaders of the Norodom Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy political parties hailed the survey as a positive step toward elections that could help foster the participation of as many voters as possible.

Voter lists have come under careful scrutiny in recent months, with some political parties citing them as a potential points for election tampering.

US Institutes reject newspaper report

Monday, August 20, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Two US institutes, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), issued a joint statement regarding a report published by a local newspaper indicating that these two institutes helped strengthen the NRP, to the envy of the SRP. These two US organizations clarified that they did not provide any financial help to any political party because it would be against Cambodian law prohibiting them to provide financial contribution to any political party in Cambodia. The two organizations said that they provide support to various political parties through setting up training seminars, and providing them with research information. All these activities were conducted under a political plurality framework, or they were conducted for each party separately. The two organizations regret to see the publication of such information.

NDI on Hello VOA about 2008 general election

NDI on 'Hello VOA'

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
24/05/2007

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

Cambodian representatives of the US's National Democratic Institute, Preap Kol and Lee Sothearayuth, joined "Hello VOA" Thursday, to discuss the state of Cambodian democracy ahead of the 2008 national elections.

Three callers participated, suggesting the election process should be better organized for 2008 than it was in April's commune elections. NEC should simplify the voting system, they said, criticizing the government election body as biased toward the ruling party.

The callers cited a deeply flawed commune election as proof the current system does not work. Many voters were unable to cast ballots, in polls that saw a turnout that was much lower than in elections past.

Preap Kol and Lee Sothearayuth both acknowledged that some improvements had been made in election organizing, but said the system still needed fixing. They both said that in the 2008 national election, NGOs should be involved in the process to help people with voter identification cards and to help eliminate the confusion that may have kept some voters from the polls in April.

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy internationally. The group provides training and assistance to pro-democracy groups and educates citizens for better participation in elections in developing countries like Cambodia.