Showing posts with label No free and fair election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No free and fair election. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Friday, August 29, 2008
Failure in The Election Complaint Resolution Process Says A Lot About The Whole Election Process
August 28, 2008
Source: SRP and HRP
Source: SRP and HRP
FAILURE IN THE ELECTION COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS
SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE WHOLE ELECTION PROCESS
SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE WHOLE ELECTION PROCESS
The way electoral complaints are handled or mishandled is an integral part of the election process that international observers are supposed to monitor. There was only one international observer left today in Cambodia. He was from the European Union Election Observation Mission.
Today was the final day of the complaint resolution process following Voting Day of July 27. None of the opposition's numerous complaints has been properly dealt with. Over the last four weeks following Voting Day, both the National Election Committee (NEC) and the Constitutional Council (CC) have dismissed all the opposition's requests for re-vote or vote recount in spite of irrefutable evidence of massive fraud. http://tinyurl.com/4eegak
This failure in the election complaint resolution process says a lot about the whole election process…
The following is an excerpt from letters that the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party have just written to signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia.
The letter to France's President of the Republic is in French http://tinyurl.com/56b3xl
The letter to Indonesia's President of the Republic is in English http://tinyurl.com/6ka6x4
France and Indonesia were co-chairs of the Paris International Conference on Cambodia which led to the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements on October 23, 1991.
"An acceptable resolution of a number of our electoral complaints should be through the holding of a re-vote or, at least, a vote recount in a limited number of constituencies (provinces or municipalities) where the opposition has come very close to winning one additional parliamentary seat according to figures provided by the NEC. However, the NEC, which is both judge and judged, has rejected practically all our complaints. Even the most important ones were only "examined" behind closed doors and very quickly dismissed as "groundless". As of today, the NEC has not allowed a single vote recount, let alone a re-vote, even when first reports of ballot counting from a given polling station conflict with each other and some of these reports seem to have been doctored. When the opposition submits a complaint with some evidence raising some doubt, why doesn't the NEC accept to jointly with the plaintiffs recount the ballots from any given ballot box from any given polling station so as to dissipate any doubt? Are they afraid that a vote recount even for a single ballot box from a single polling station – there are 15, 254 polling stations nationwide – could reveal anomalies/irregularities that are indicative of broader fraud commune-wide, province-wide and nationwide? The Constitutional Council, which is another CPP-controlled institution acting as a kind of Supreme Court, has so far upheld all the NEC's decisions to dismiss the opposition's complaints and requests. There is apparently no other reasons for the two institutions for not allowing any vote recount than the fear to see the CPP's "landslide victory" evaporate following proper verifications."
SAM RAINSY PARTY
HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY
Today was the final day of the complaint resolution process following Voting Day of July 27. None of the opposition's numerous complaints has been properly dealt with. Over the last four weeks following Voting Day, both the National Election Committee (NEC) and the Constitutional Council (CC) have dismissed all the opposition's requests for re-vote or vote recount in spite of irrefutable evidence of massive fraud. http://tinyurl.com/4eegak
This failure in the election complaint resolution process says a lot about the whole election process…
The following is an excerpt from letters that the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party have just written to signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia.
The letter to France's President of the Republic is in French http://tinyurl.com/56b3xl
The letter to Indonesia's President of the Republic is in English http://tinyurl.com/6ka6x4
France and Indonesia were co-chairs of the Paris International Conference on Cambodia which led to the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements on October 23, 1991.
"An acceptable resolution of a number of our electoral complaints should be through the holding of a re-vote or, at least, a vote recount in a limited number of constituencies (provinces or municipalities) where the opposition has come very close to winning one additional parliamentary seat according to figures provided by the NEC. However, the NEC, which is both judge and judged, has rejected practically all our complaints. Even the most important ones were only "examined" behind closed doors and very quickly dismissed as "groundless". As of today, the NEC has not allowed a single vote recount, let alone a re-vote, even when first reports of ballot counting from a given polling station conflict with each other and some of these reports seem to have been doctored. When the opposition submits a complaint with some evidence raising some doubt, why doesn't the NEC accept to jointly with the plaintiffs recount the ballots from any given ballot box from any given polling station so as to dissipate any doubt? Are they afraid that a vote recount even for a single ballot box from a single polling station – there are 15, 254 polling stations nationwide – could reveal anomalies/irregularities that are indicative of broader fraud commune-wide, province-wide and nationwide? The Constitutional Council, which is another CPP-controlled institution acting as a kind of Supreme Court, has so far upheld all the NEC's decisions to dismiss the opposition's complaints and requests. There is apparently no other reasons for the two institutions for not allowing any vote recount than the fear to see the CPP's "landslide victory" evaporate following proper verifications."
SAM RAINSY PARTY
HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Assessment by an International Observer: Cambodia'S Elections are neither free Nor fair
August 23, 2008
ASSESSMENT BY AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER:
CAMBODIA'S ELECTIONS ARE NEITHER FREE NOR FAIR
CAMBODIA'S ELECTIONS ARE NEITHER FREE NOR FAIR
No competent election observer could possibly write a report that did not note how the voting registration process pre-determined and warped the outcome of Cambodia's July 27, 2008 national election. I would add that this type of rigging process was engineered and configured by both the NEC as well as international organizations that became complicit, either knowingly or unwittingly, in a process that would ensure that opposition voters would face a range of procedural as well as behavioral obstacles. Two years ago a letter I wrote to The Cambodia Daily fired one of the first warning shots about the dangers of creating permanently disenfranchised voters (*).
Elections are not just about vote counting but are a fundamental chance for citizens to engage in a open dialogue with those who make decisions that effect the health and direction of the state.
The July 2008 General Election could not be judged as credible, free or fair.
Dr. Paul D. Scott
Election Observer
The Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia
paulscott1950@hotmail.com
(*) Letter titled "New Voter Registration Process in Danger of Being a Paper Chase" published in The Cambodia Daily, August 21, 2006. Full text at http://tinyurl.com/6h85zo
Elections are not just about vote counting but are a fundamental chance for citizens to engage in a open dialogue with those who make decisions that effect the health and direction of the state.
The July 2008 General Election could not be judged as credible, free or fair.
Dr. Paul D. Scott
Election Observer
The Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia
paulscott1950@hotmail.com
(*) Letter titled "New Voter Registration Process in Danger of Being a Paper Chase" published in The Cambodia Daily, August 21, 2006. Full text at http://tinyurl.com/6h85zo
Monday, August 04, 2008
Khmer M'chas Srok Movement rejects the result of the 2008 Election in Cambodia
Dear Compatriots
Good Reading
Masavang SEAN
Khmer M'Chas Srok
Please read the communiqué in Khmer by Khmer M'Chas Srok about the rejection of the 2008 election results in Cambodia.
Good Reading
Masavang SEAN
Khmer M'Chas Srok
Sunday, August 03, 2008
CWCI's statement on the election results
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Regards,
Men Nath,
The CWC-International
Kristiansand City, Norway
Mobile: 0047-99489608
Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom in
The Cambodia Watchdog Council International (CWCI) releases its statement on initial national election result. The result isn't free, fair and valid.
Please view the full statement below.
Please view the full statement below.
Regards,
Men Nath,
The CWC-International
Kristiansand City, Norway
Mobile: 0047-99489608
Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom inWednesday, July 30, 2008
Election better than 2003 but still short of int’l standards
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Craig Guthrie
The Mekong Times
Craig Guthrie
The Mekong Times
Although the campaign for last Sunday’s national election was more peaceful and technically better organized than the nation’s previous elections, it still fell short of a number of key international standards, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) said yesterday.
“As someone who was here in 2003, I feel that the election environment has improved a great deal,” said Glyn Ford, the EU mission representative from the European Parliament. “Nevertheless, there were some issues that caused concern.”
The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which is widely believed to have routed the opposition in Sunday’s vote, exerts an unhealthy influence over the nation’s media and election administration said the mission at the launch of its preliminary statement on the campaign.
There is evidence of other dubious maneuvers by the CPP, such as a “consistent and widespread use of state resources [to campaign],” and defections from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) to the CPP which “would support the claim that funds or high government positions were offered,” said Martin Callanan, the EU EOM’s chief observer.
He said that the EU mission has witness statements which suggest that a pattern of defections of the SRP’s leadership and key activists to the CPP in return for funds, government positions or gifts may be part of “an organized campaign.”
The CPP dominated media coverage of the elections was not consistent with international standards on free and equal access to the media, said the mission.
The National Election Committee (NEC) proved its ability to organize technically good elections, but “all aspects of the election’s administration were dominated by the CPP,” he said, adding that village and commune chiefs, the majority of whom are CPP affiliated, would often “influence” voters’ decisions.
Some 50,000 previous registered voters, or 0.6 percent of the electorate, were mistakenly deleted from the voter list, and despite the NEC’s awareness of the fact it refused to restore their names and thus disenfranchised them, said the EU in its report.
The NEC also delegated tasks to local authorities which were known not to be impartial, said Callanan.
The EU monitors found evidence that the 1018 voter ID forms were being illegally distributed by CPP-aligned village chiefs to voters, despite the fact that their ID cards showed they had different identities, effectively allowing voters to either vote twice or ineligible voters to take part.
“This is a clear contravention of Cambodia’s Election Law,” Callanan said, adding that there is no way to know how widespread the practice was as there are no records of how many 1018 forms were issued.
The mission chief said that the “Cambodian People are to be congratulated for the peaceful and orderly way in which they turned out to vote … in a clear demonstration of their commitment to democracy.”
He added that it was the decision of the Cambodian people whether to accept or reject the results, and that the size of the CPP majority in comparison to the scale of the irregularities could render them ineffectual.
“The CPP clearly has a very large majority therefore any irregularities would have to be on a very large scale to invalidate the [election] result.”
Sam Rainsy, whose SRP has jointly rejected the election results with other major opposition parties, said at the report’s launch that he was satisfied with the EU’s findings and that there has been not yet been any concrete acceptance of the elections as “free and fair” by the international community.
“In a proportional representation system like ours a single vote can cost a seat, so though 50,000 voters in a voting population of 8 million may not sound a lot, it is actually very significant,” he said, adding that he hoped to deliver more evidence of irregularities to the EU monitors.
Callanan said that the request by the SRP and other opposition parties that the election be re-held will only be credible if they can produce sufficient evidence of large-scale irregularities, adding that the EU’s full report on the entire electoral process will be released in October.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia (OHCHR) also released a statement yesterday commending the election’s atmosphere for being “for the most part peaceful and free of violence.”
However, the OHCHR did observe “an apparent campaign of pressure, threats, intimidation and inducements directed against political activists at every level in an attempt to persuade them to change parties.”
“As someone who was here in 2003, I feel that the election environment has improved a great deal,” said Glyn Ford, the EU mission representative from the European Parliament. “Nevertheless, there were some issues that caused concern.”
The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which is widely believed to have routed the opposition in Sunday’s vote, exerts an unhealthy influence over the nation’s media and election administration said the mission at the launch of its preliminary statement on the campaign.
There is evidence of other dubious maneuvers by the CPP, such as a “consistent and widespread use of state resources [to campaign],” and defections from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) to the CPP which “would support the claim that funds or high government positions were offered,” said Martin Callanan, the EU EOM’s chief observer.
He said that the EU mission has witness statements which suggest that a pattern of defections of the SRP’s leadership and key activists to the CPP in return for funds, government positions or gifts may be part of “an organized campaign.”
The CPP dominated media coverage of the elections was not consistent with international standards on free and equal access to the media, said the mission.
The National Election Committee (NEC) proved its ability to organize technically good elections, but “all aspects of the election’s administration were dominated by the CPP,” he said, adding that village and commune chiefs, the majority of whom are CPP affiliated, would often “influence” voters’ decisions.
Some 50,000 previous registered voters, or 0.6 percent of the electorate, were mistakenly deleted from the voter list, and despite the NEC’s awareness of the fact it refused to restore their names and thus disenfranchised them, said the EU in its report.
The NEC also delegated tasks to local authorities which were known not to be impartial, said Callanan.
The EU monitors found evidence that the 1018 voter ID forms were being illegally distributed by CPP-aligned village chiefs to voters, despite the fact that their ID cards showed they had different identities, effectively allowing voters to either vote twice or ineligible voters to take part.
“This is a clear contravention of Cambodia’s Election Law,” Callanan said, adding that there is no way to know how widespread the practice was as there are no records of how many 1018 forms were issued.
The mission chief said that the “Cambodian People are to be congratulated for the peaceful and orderly way in which they turned out to vote … in a clear demonstration of their commitment to democracy.”
He added that it was the decision of the Cambodian people whether to accept or reject the results, and that the size of the CPP majority in comparison to the scale of the irregularities could render them ineffectual.
“The CPP clearly has a very large majority therefore any irregularities would have to be on a very large scale to invalidate the [election] result.”
Sam Rainsy, whose SRP has jointly rejected the election results with other major opposition parties, said at the report’s launch that he was satisfied with the EU’s findings and that there has been not yet been any concrete acceptance of the elections as “free and fair” by the international community.
“In a proportional representation system like ours a single vote can cost a seat, so though 50,000 voters in a voting population of 8 million may not sound a lot, it is actually very significant,” he said, adding that he hoped to deliver more evidence of irregularities to the EU monitors.
Callanan said that the request by the SRP and other opposition parties that the election be re-held will only be credible if they can produce sufficient evidence of large-scale irregularities, adding that the EU’s full report on the entire electoral process will be released in October.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia (OHCHR) also released a statement yesterday commending the election’s atmosphere for being “for the most part peaceful and free of violence.”
However, the OHCHR did observe “an apparent campaign of pressure, threats, intimidation and inducements directed against political activists at every level in an attempt to persuade them to change parties.”
Fair Elections (-sic!) ... With Irregularities
Fair Elections, With Irregularities: Observers
By Reporters, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Cambodia and Washington
29 July 2008
By Reporters, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Cambodia and Washington
29 July 2008
Khmer audio on EU, Japan observers, by Seng Ratana
Khmer audio on Nicfec monitoring, by Chun Sakada
Khmer audio on Human Rights warnings, by Taing Sarada
Khmer audio on International Reactions, by Taing Sarada
Khmer audio on Nicfec monitoring, by Chun Sakada
Khmer audio on Human Rights warnings, by Taing Sarada
Khmer audio on International Reactions, by Taing Sarada
International monitors, observers and rights groups stopped short of calling Sunday's polls unfree or unfair this week, though at least one mission said the parliamentary election did not meet international standards.
Japan's monitoring mission supported the election as credible, while EU observers said many irregularities, including intimidation, vote-buying and unfair use of the media by the ruling party marred the election standards.
"The [Japanese] mission members witnessed no violent activities, intimidation or irregularities that may undermine the overall credibility of the election," the Japanese Embassy said in a statement. "The Mission considers that the 2008 National Assembly election has shown[n] an impression internally and externally for its democratic advancement in the Kingdom of Cambodia."
Irregularities took place ahead of and on Election Day, said Martin Callanan, chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission. The CPP used state resources and government property to campaign and swayed voters with money and gifts, he said.
Election booths allowed the use of unauthorized identification forms, and about 50,000 voter names were omitted from registries, he told VOA Khmer.
Asked whether the elections were free and fair, Callanan said he had no role in that decision, which was up to the Cambodian people to decide.
Voters turned out in a "peaceful and orderly way" on Sunday, Callanan added in a statement. "It is disappointing that this commitment was not reflected in the overall electoral process, which fell short of a number of key international standards."
The Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia said Tuesday the election had been "administered well and largely free of intimidation and violence."
But the election was also "marred" by a number of irregularities, including the omission of a "significant" number of voter names for registries.
In sample observations of 378 polling stations, the group said, at least a quarter of them "reported more than five cases of voters who had proper identity documents but could not find their names on the voters list."
"Since many voters who could not find their names on the list did not bother to enter the polling station, this figure likely under-represents the true scale of the problem," Nicfec said.
A US spokesman said that while their appeared to be "some irregularities," the "vast majority" of Cambodians were able to express their will.
"Of course we are concerned about the irregularities that were spoken out today by some of the parties and right now we are coordinating with the impartial and neutral observers from the embassy and from the other international observing of another country to see if can understand what those were,” US Embassy spokesman John Johnson told VOA Khmer.
"We are aware that some political parties have raised questions about the electoral process, and it appears that there were some irregularities which prevented some Cambodians from expressing their will, although the vast majority was able to do so," Johnson added in an e-mail. "There are existing mechanisms by which these parties can address their concerns and we encourage them to work within this framework. However, we remain concerned about the irregularities and are coordinating with Embassy and other neutral observers to further our understanding of them."
Mar Sophal said, chief of monitoring for the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said around 60,000 voter names were omitted from voter registries.
National Election Committee Secretary-General Tep Nitha said 58,500 names were deleted from voter registries ahead of the elections, but that number had been exaggerated by some.
"If they say there are 2 million names missing, it could be an exaggerated number from a political party or NGOs," he said.
Ahead of the elections, Human Rights Watch had cautioned observers to monitor the elections carefully.
Cambodia had a "real history" of Election-Day problems, as well as irregularities ahead of the polls, Sophie Richardson, an advocacy director for the group based in Washington, told VOA Khmer Friday.
Ahead of the elections, monitors noted that the campaign period had seen seven murders and 56 cases of physical abuse.
The UN's rights office issued a statement Tuesday claiming it found "no credible evidence" of political motivation in the killings.
Japan's monitoring mission supported the election as credible, while EU observers said many irregularities, including intimidation, vote-buying and unfair use of the media by the ruling party marred the election standards.
"The [Japanese] mission members witnessed no violent activities, intimidation or irregularities that may undermine the overall credibility of the election," the Japanese Embassy said in a statement. "The Mission considers that the 2008 National Assembly election has shown[n] an impression internally and externally for its democratic advancement in the Kingdom of Cambodia."
Irregularities took place ahead of and on Election Day, said Martin Callanan, chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission. The CPP used state resources and government property to campaign and swayed voters with money and gifts, he said.
Election booths allowed the use of unauthorized identification forms, and about 50,000 voter names were omitted from registries, he told VOA Khmer.
Asked whether the elections were free and fair, Callanan said he had no role in that decision, which was up to the Cambodian people to decide.
Voters turned out in a "peaceful and orderly way" on Sunday, Callanan added in a statement. "It is disappointing that this commitment was not reflected in the overall electoral process, which fell short of a number of key international standards."
The Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia said Tuesday the election had been "administered well and largely free of intimidation and violence."
But the election was also "marred" by a number of irregularities, including the omission of a "significant" number of voter names for registries.
In sample observations of 378 polling stations, the group said, at least a quarter of them "reported more than five cases of voters who had proper identity documents but could not find their names on the voters list."
"Since many voters who could not find their names on the list did not bother to enter the polling station, this figure likely under-represents the true scale of the problem," Nicfec said.
A US spokesman said that while their appeared to be "some irregularities," the "vast majority" of Cambodians were able to express their will.
"Of course we are concerned about the irregularities that were spoken out today by some of the parties and right now we are coordinating with the impartial and neutral observers from the embassy and from the other international observing of another country to see if can understand what those were,” US Embassy spokesman John Johnson told VOA Khmer.
"We are aware that some political parties have raised questions about the electoral process, and it appears that there were some irregularities which prevented some Cambodians from expressing their will, although the vast majority was able to do so," Johnson added in an e-mail. "There are existing mechanisms by which these parties can address their concerns and we encourage them to work within this framework. However, we remain concerned about the irregularities and are coordinating with Embassy and other neutral observers to further our understanding of them."
Mar Sophal said, chief of monitoring for the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said around 60,000 voter names were omitted from voter registries.
National Election Committee Secretary-General Tep Nitha said 58,500 names were deleted from voter registries ahead of the elections, but that number had been exaggerated by some.
"If they say there are 2 million names missing, it could be an exaggerated number from a political party or NGOs," he said.
Ahead of the elections, Human Rights Watch had cautioned observers to monitor the elections carefully.
Cambodia had a "real history" of Election-Day problems, as well as irregularities ahead of the polls, Sophie Richardson, an advocacy director for the group based in Washington, told VOA Khmer Friday.
Ahead of the elections, monitors noted that the campaign period had seen seven murders and 56 cases of physical abuse.
The UN's rights office issued a statement Tuesday claiming it found "no credible evidence" of political motivation in the killings.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Carrot & the Club
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)Cambodians gear up for election
Cambodians have been returning to their home villages to voteSaturday, 26 July 2008
BBC News
"Cambodian politicians and party activists know the CPP will use violence if necessary" - Brad Adams, Human Rights WatchMillions of Cambodians are preparing to vote in an election widely expected to return Prime Minister Hun Sen to office, with a firmer grip on power.
His Cambodian People's Party holds 73 assembly seats out of 123, and analysts say his majority is likely to increase.
The prime minister, who has ruled since 1985, has gained huge approval for taking tough stance in an ongoing dispute with neighbouring Thailand.
The countries are arguing over land surrounding an ancient monument.
Both nations have massed troops near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple - which belongs to Cambodia.
Each claims the land surrounding the temple, and the dispute has raised nationalist fervour in Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
"People are more focused on the border issue at Preah Vihear temple than on the election," Hang Puthea, who heads an election-monitoring body, told AFP news agency.
Cambodia is due to hold talks with Thailand on the issue on Monday.
No more coalition?
Eleven parties are contesting polls, but most analysts believe the CPP will secure another five-year term in power.
Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has achieved high economic growth - helped by revenue from the garment and tourist industries.
But the country is also experiencing soaring inflation and there is growing discontent over endemic corruption - both of which could favour opposition leader Sam Rainsy.
The Sam Rainsy Party - which has a strong power base in Phnom Penh, but is weaker in rural areas - currently holds 24 seats in the 123-seat parliament.
The CPP, with 73 seats, has been ruling in a coalition with royalist party Funcinpec, which holds 26 seats.
But a 2006 constitutional amendment means the CPP requires only a simple majority - rather than a two-thirds majority - to rule in its own right.
So all the indications are the CPP will be returned to office, with no need for a coalition partner.
Poll violence
Tens of thousands of Cambodia's eight million registered voters have left the cities to vote in their home villages.
Campaigning has stopped and a ban on alcohol has been enforced to ensure a peaceful poll - the fourth since decades of civil war ended.
Previous elections have been hit by violence. Scores of people - mainly opposition supporters and activists - were killed or beaten in the run-up to elections in 1998.
This one has passed off comparatively smoothly, but rights groups have flagged up ruling party control of the media and intimidation of opposition activists as continuing problems.
"Cambodian politicians and party activists know the CPP will use violence if necessary - which means the ruling party doesn't need to do so," said Brad Adams, of US-based Human Rights Watch.
Both international and domestic monitors will be on hand to monitor the polls - which open at 0700 (0000 GMT) and close eight hours later.
Cambodians "cool off" for general election
Cambodians leave Phnom Penh city for their hometown July 26, 2008 for voting day tomorrow. Thousands of migrant workers left the Cambodian capital on Saturday for their home towns and villages to cast their votes in a general election overshadowed by a dispute with Thailand over a 900-year-old temple. REUTERS/Chor SokuntheaSat Jul 26, 2008
By Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Thousands of migrant workers left the Cambodian capital on Saturday for their home towns and villages to cast their votes in a general election overshadowed by a dispute with Thailand over a 900-year-old temple.
Buses and pick-up trucks leaving Phnom Penh were packed as the Southeast Asian nation enjoyed a "cooling off" day on the eve of voting in a poll almost certain to give another five-year term to Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the past 23 years.
All alcohol sales were banned for 48 hours from midnight on Friday, as was campaigning, to let voters get home and calm down after a month of often vitriolic electioneering.
"This shows people's strong enthusiasm to vote," Tep Nitha, Secretary-General of the National Election Committee, told a news conference.
Campaigning was more orderly than Cambodia's previous exercises in a democracy created by the United Nations in the early 1990s to bring an end to more than two decades of war and upheaval, including the Khmer Rouge "Killing Fields".
However, all parties quickly became embroiled in the row over the Preah Vihear temple, which has led to build-ups of troops and artillery on both sides of the border, and raised fears of a border war.
The temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment separating the two countries, is claimed by both sides but was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.
Cambodia's successful bid to have the ruins listed as a World Heritage site this month inflamed nationalist passions in Bangkok, where street campaigners are trying to overthrow the government. Thailand's foreign minister was forced to resign.
Despite the depth of feeling in both countries, many of Cambodia's 8.1 million voters said they were concentrating on more practical matters, such as choosing a government to oversee a booming economy now threatened by soaring inflation.
"This is a very important day. We have to choose a good leader to create more jobs for us," Svay Sokha, a 24-year-old garment worker, told Reuters as she and her friends waited for a bus to the eastern province of Kampong Thom.
Many of the 300,000 young men and women working in Phnom Penh's garment export sector favour opposition leader Sam Rainsy, a French-educated former finance minister.
However, Hun Sen's former communist but now firmly free-market Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is virtually assured victory, thanks in large part to near double-digit annual economic growth in the past five years.
In the countryside, most voters also favour the CPP as the force that finally put paid to the Khmer Rouge, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people during Pol Pot's time in power from 1975-79.
Most analysts expect the CPP to win an outright majority in the 123-seat parliament.
Human rights groups say six party activists were killed in the month before polling day -- four from the CPP and two from the Sam Rainsy Party. The numbers are lower than the run-up to the 1998 and 2003 elections.
However, New York-based Human Rights Watch said the CPP's dominance of the broadcast media, as well as harassment of opposition party members, ensured that "conditions are not in place for free and fair elections".
Buses and pick-up trucks leaving Phnom Penh were packed as the Southeast Asian nation enjoyed a "cooling off" day on the eve of voting in a poll almost certain to give another five-year term to Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the past 23 years.
All alcohol sales were banned for 48 hours from midnight on Friday, as was campaigning, to let voters get home and calm down after a month of often vitriolic electioneering.
"This shows people's strong enthusiasm to vote," Tep Nitha, Secretary-General of the National Election Committee, told a news conference.
Campaigning was more orderly than Cambodia's previous exercises in a democracy created by the United Nations in the early 1990s to bring an end to more than two decades of war and upheaval, including the Khmer Rouge "Killing Fields".
However, all parties quickly became embroiled in the row over the Preah Vihear temple, which has led to build-ups of troops and artillery on both sides of the border, and raised fears of a border war.
The temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment separating the two countries, is claimed by both sides but was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.
Cambodia's successful bid to have the ruins listed as a World Heritage site this month inflamed nationalist passions in Bangkok, where street campaigners are trying to overthrow the government. Thailand's foreign minister was forced to resign.
Despite the depth of feeling in both countries, many of Cambodia's 8.1 million voters said they were concentrating on more practical matters, such as choosing a government to oversee a booming economy now threatened by soaring inflation.
"This is a very important day. We have to choose a good leader to create more jobs for us," Svay Sokha, a 24-year-old garment worker, told Reuters as she and her friends waited for a bus to the eastern province of Kampong Thom.
Many of the 300,000 young men and women working in Phnom Penh's garment export sector favour opposition leader Sam Rainsy, a French-educated former finance minister.
However, Hun Sen's former communist but now firmly free-market Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is virtually assured victory, thanks in large part to near double-digit annual economic growth in the past five years.
In the countryside, most voters also favour the CPP as the force that finally put paid to the Khmer Rouge, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people during Pol Pot's time in power from 1975-79.
Most analysts expect the CPP to win an outright majority in the 123-seat parliament.
Human rights groups say six party activists were killed in the month before polling day -- four from the CPP and two from the Sam Rainsy Party. The numbers are lower than the run-up to the 1998 and 2003 elections.
However, New York-based Human Rights Watch said the CPP's dominance of the broadcast media, as well as harassment of opposition party members, ensured that "conditions are not in place for free and fair elections".
Cambodia braces for national election Sunday
Jul 26, 2008
DPA
DPA
Phnom Penh - The Cambodian National Election Committee (NEC) said the run-up to Sunday's election had been the least stricken by violence the country had seen, a representative said Saturday.
That statement came despite a history of violence and unrest during elections, which began again in 1993 and are held every five years.
NEC representative Em Sophath told a press conference that his organization had received fewer than half the complaints it had investigated at the last national election in 2003 since the one- month campaign period began.
'Even the opposition Sam Rainsy Party campaigned until midnight before (the election curfew),' Sopath said, referring to the 48-hour blackout on political news enforced by the NEC which began Saturday.
However, earlier in the day, prominent New York-based human rights group Human Rights Watch issued a statement claiming threats, intimidation and unequal media access had hurt the Cambodian opposition.
'Elections in Cambodia under existing conditions devalue the process,' Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch Asia director said.
'Election observers from genuine democracies would never accept at home the CPP's grip on the media or the fear and intimidation faced.'
Despite an ongoing police investigation, it blamed the CPP for the murder of opposition journalist Khim Sambo earlier this month, saying the killing 'appears to have been timed? to have the maximum chilling effect.'
It also accused the CPP of making 'lucrative offers of high-paying government positions' to coerce key opposition officials to defect and threatening those who did not prior to the vote.
However it conceded there had been a decrease in violence compared to previous elections.
The CPP, already in control of 73 seats, is touted to take up to 80 of 123 seats nationally Sunday and thousands of international observers have arrived to monitor polls.
That statement came despite a history of violence and unrest during elections, which began again in 1993 and are held every five years.
NEC representative Em Sophath told a press conference that his organization had received fewer than half the complaints it had investigated at the last national election in 2003 since the one- month campaign period began.
'Even the opposition Sam Rainsy Party campaigned until midnight before (the election curfew),' Sopath said, referring to the 48-hour blackout on political news enforced by the NEC which began Saturday.
However, earlier in the day, prominent New York-based human rights group Human Rights Watch issued a statement claiming threats, intimidation and unequal media access had hurt the Cambodian opposition.
'Elections in Cambodia under existing conditions devalue the process,' Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch Asia director said.
'Election observers from genuine democracies would never accept at home the CPP's grip on the media or the fear and intimidation faced.'
Despite an ongoing police investigation, it blamed the CPP for the murder of opposition journalist Khim Sambo earlier this month, saying the killing 'appears to have been timed? to have the maximum chilling effect.'
It also accused the CPP of making 'lucrative offers of high-paying government positions' to coerce key opposition officials to defect and threatening those who did not prior to the vote.
However it conceded there had been a decrease in violence compared to previous elections.
The CPP, already in control of 73 seats, is touted to take up to 80 of 123 seats nationally Sunday and thousands of international observers have arrived to monitor polls.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Cambodia's 'unfair' election - 26 Jul 08
Cambodians head to the polls this weekend, however, Human Rights Watch says conditions are not in place for free and fair elections.
Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister, is widely expected to retain power. But the watchdog group says his party's grip on the media, and use of harrassment and intimidation undermine the credibility of the poll.
Nationalist sentiment is running high over a border dispute with Thailand. However, many Cambodians also want to see an end to rampant corruption and solutions to rising living costs.
Eleven parties are competing, including the new "Human Rights Party".
Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) continues to dominate. He has effectively been in power since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.
But many of Cambodia's younger voters may be looking for a change of rule, as Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Phnom Penh.
Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister, is widely expected to retain power. But the watchdog group says his party's grip on the media, and use of harrassment and intimidation undermine the credibility of the poll.
Nationalist sentiment is running high over a border dispute with Thailand. However, many Cambodians also want to see an end to rampant corruption and solutions to rising living costs.
Eleven parties are competing, including the new "Human Rights Party".
Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) continues to dominate. He has effectively been in power since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.
But many of Cambodia's younger voters may be looking for a change of rule, as Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Phnom Penh.
Cambodia prepares for election [amid allegations of voter intimidation]
Eleven parties are contesting the polls, but the ruling Cambodia's People's Party is expected to win [AFP]Saturday, July 26, 2008
Al Jazeera
Allegations of voter intimidation are being made a day ahead of parliamentary elections in Cambodia.
Eleven parties are competing in Sunday's national poll, the fourth since decades of civil war ended.
Voters are expected to back the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) for another five-year term and return Hun Sen, the prime minister, who has been in power for 23 years.
Campaigning has been marred by accusations of intimidation and vote buying amid a heightened nationalist sentiment over a border dispute with Thailand.
Few believe Sam Rainsy, the former finance minister and main opposition leader, will beat Hun Sen.
Sam Rainsy Party is expected to maintain its strength in the capital, but not in rural Cambodia, where most voters live.
'CPP will win'
Talks between Thailand and Cambodia on Monday have failed to end a military stand-off over the disputed Preah Vihear temple on their border, lrecently isted by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
Hang Puthea, head of the election monitoring group Nicfec, said campaigning had been largely overshadowed by concerns over the temple.
"People are more focused on the border issue at Preah Vihear temple than on the election," he told AFP.
Boonsrang Niumpradit, Thailand's supreme commander, the result of the talks was to allow soldiers to stay in their current positions at the temple, but avoid any confrontation.
Hun Sen has accused Thailand of ignoring international law and threatening regional peace by sending troops into the disputed zone around the temple.
Poor track record
Chea Vannath, an independent political analyst, said: "There is no doubt that CPP will win the election."
At least 8.1m people are registered to vote at 15,000 polling stations, under the supervision of more than 13,000 domestic and international observers.
Previous polls held in Cambodia, have been hit by violence. Scores of people - mainly opposition supporters and activists - were killed or beaten in the run-up to elections in 1998.
Election monitors say political violence has diminished greatly compared to past polls, however, unequal access to the media is being criticised.
The main government controls almost all of Cambodia's broadcast media, while the CPP maintains a vast network in rural Cambodia, inherited from the party's communist days.
At least 35 per cent of Cambodia's 14m people live on less than 50 US cents a day.
However, economic growth has averaged about 11 per cent over the past three years, creating a sense of optimism in a country that recently emerged from decades of civil war in 1998.
Analysts say the main question going into the polls is whether CPP will be able to increase the 71 seats it already holds in the 23-member parliament.
Eleven parties are competing in Sunday's national poll, the fourth since decades of civil war ended.
Voters are expected to back the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) for another five-year term and return Hun Sen, the prime minister, who has been in power for 23 years.
Campaigning has been marred by accusations of intimidation and vote buying amid a heightened nationalist sentiment over a border dispute with Thailand.
Few believe Sam Rainsy, the former finance minister and main opposition leader, will beat Hun Sen.
Sam Rainsy Party is expected to maintain its strength in the capital, but not in rural Cambodia, where most voters live.
'CPP will win'
Talks between Thailand and Cambodia on Monday have failed to end a military stand-off over the disputed Preah Vihear temple on their border, lrecently isted by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
Hang Puthea, head of the election monitoring group Nicfec, said campaigning had been largely overshadowed by concerns over the temple.
"People are more focused on the border issue at Preah Vihear temple than on the election," he told AFP.
Boonsrang Niumpradit, Thailand's supreme commander, the result of the talks was to allow soldiers to stay in their current positions at the temple, but avoid any confrontation.
Hun Sen has accused Thailand of ignoring international law and threatening regional peace by sending troops into the disputed zone around the temple.
Poor track record
Chea Vannath, an independent political analyst, said: "There is no doubt that CPP will win the election."
At least 8.1m people are registered to vote at 15,000 polling stations, under the supervision of more than 13,000 domestic and international observers.
Previous polls held in Cambodia, have been hit by violence. Scores of people - mainly opposition supporters and activists - were killed or beaten in the run-up to elections in 1998.
Election monitors say political violence has diminished greatly compared to past polls, however, unequal access to the media is being criticised.
The main government controls almost all of Cambodia's broadcast media, while the CPP maintains a vast network in rural Cambodia, inherited from the party's communist days.
At least 35 per cent of Cambodia's 14m people live on less than 50 US cents a day.
However, economic growth has averaged about 11 per cent over the past three years, creating a sense of optimism in a country that recently emerged from decades of civil war in 1998.
Analysts say the main question going into the polls is whether CPP will be able to increase the 71 seats it already holds in the 23-member parliament.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
"The US gov't does not view the election process [in Cambodia] as being free and fair": US Congressman Chris Van Hollen
US Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D.-Md.)By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
23 July 2008
A US Congressman expressed concern for Cambodia's election, claiming the process has not been free and fair.
Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat in the House of Representatives for Maryland, told VOA Khmer this year's election process in Cambodia had been full of violence and inequality.
"The United States government does not view the election process as being free and fair," he said.
The outcome will not be legitimate without a fair process, he said. The process so far had been painted with "abuse" and "strong-arm tactics," he said.
US Embassy spokesman John Johnson said that the election process in Cambodia has been getting better since the election in 1993.
Most observers agree that the process has been smoother this time around, but parties have still complained of intimidation and violence, and the campaign period was marred by the murder of an opposition journalist earlier this month.
Van Hollen said he was very sorry for the death of Moneasekar Khmer reporter Khim Sambor and his son and called for Cambodian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Those who committed the crime, "who engaged in political violence like this," must be held accountable, he said.
US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Robert A. Sieple, said he hoped the election process in Cambodia will not be a cause violence or lead to the arrest of non-ruling party activists.
Om Yentieng, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, told VOA Khmer recently the elections were improving in Cambodia and had been equal for all political parties.
Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat in the House of Representatives for Maryland, told VOA Khmer this year's election process in Cambodia had been full of violence and inequality.
"The United States government does not view the election process as being free and fair," he said.
The outcome will not be legitimate without a fair process, he said. The process so far had been painted with "abuse" and "strong-arm tactics," he said.
US Embassy spokesman John Johnson said that the election process in Cambodia has been getting better since the election in 1993.
Most observers agree that the process has been smoother this time around, but parties have still complained of intimidation and violence, and the campaign period was marred by the murder of an opposition journalist earlier this month.
Van Hollen said he was very sorry for the death of Moneasekar Khmer reporter Khim Sambor and his son and called for Cambodian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Those who committed the crime, "who engaged in political violence like this," must be held accountable, he said.
US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Robert A. Sieple, said he hoped the election process in Cambodia will not be a cause violence or lead to the arrest of non-ruling party activists.
Om Yentieng, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, told VOA Khmer recently the elections were improving in Cambodia and had been equal for all political parties.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Every party face election obstacles ... except the CPP: No surprise there!
SRP election campaign (Photo: AP)Outside Parties Report Campaign Obstacles
By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
15 July 2008
[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues 2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the first in a two-part series examining the difficulties faced by each of the 11 competing parties.]
All of the parties outside the ruling coalition have reported irregularities and obstacles.
Less than two weeks away from Election Day, only the ruling Cambodian People's Party and its coalition partner Funcinpec say they face zero obstacles to their campaigns. Nine other parties, large and small, have complained of irregularities and other constraints plaguing their efforts.
Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Muth Chantha said the party has faced difficulties in the distribution of leaflets and knock-downs of political signs, from the capital to the provinces.
His activists have not been able to distribute platform information in Phnom Penh markets, Muth Chantha said, a complaint shared by other parties, especially the Human Rights, Sam Rainsy and the Khmer Democratic parties.
The greatest challenge, though, has been the absence of the party's leader, he said.
"The first challenge for us is the absence of Prince Norodom Ranariddh," Muth Chantha said. "It means we aren't equally armed in the campaign."
Human Rights Party Vice President Keo Remy said the main challenges to his party were "threats."
Activists have been threatened in Kampong Cham, Prey Veng and Kampong Speu provinces, as well as in the capital, Keo Remy said, including threats from village chiefs.
Violence, injuries and verbal threats have all been reported by his activists, he said.
SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann said that in the face of such irregularities, the party has minimum liberties.
"We don't expect the election will be free and fair," he said. "And we don't have confidence in the National Election Committee."
Ny Chakrya, chief investigator for the rights group Adhoc, noted that the pressure of campaign irregularities has mostly come against parties outside of the government.
"Even though we have not noted many irregularities compared to previous elections, the ruling party has tried to disturb the opposition, like knocking down political signs, and this requires efficient action by the NEC."
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said that there are irregularities, but they are the same reported in previous elections: sign knock-downs, threats, vote-buying.
"But there aren't any political threats, and now we are investigating some cases for which we've received complaints," he said.
CPP lawmaker Chiem Yeap said the ruling party faced no challenges in the campaign. It had facilities to conduct a campaign across the country, presenting its political platform for voters and holding meetings.
One challenge was that Funcinpec had attacked the CPP "like the opposition," he said.
Prince Sisowath Sereyrath, second deputy of Funcinpec, said the party had no problems in the first weeks of the campaign, "because we do not attack any parties."
"Of course, technical problems are unavoidable," he said. Funcinpec instead faced budget problems, he said.
Small parties too face budget constraints as they campaign.
All of the parties outside the ruling coalition have reported irregularities and obstacles.
Less than two weeks away from Election Day, only the ruling Cambodian People's Party and its coalition partner Funcinpec say they face zero obstacles to their campaigns. Nine other parties, large and small, have complained of irregularities and other constraints plaguing their efforts.
Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Muth Chantha said the party has faced difficulties in the distribution of leaflets and knock-downs of political signs, from the capital to the provinces.
His activists have not been able to distribute platform information in Phnom Penh markets, Muth Chantha said, a complaint shared by other parties, especially the Human Rights, Sam Rainsy and the Khmer Democratic parties.
The greatest challenge, though, has been the absence of the party's leader, he said.
"The first challenge for us is the absence of Prince Norodom Ranariddh," Muth Chantha said. "It means we aren't equally armed in the campaign."
Human Rights Party Vice President Keo Remy said the main challenges to his party were "threats."
Activists have been threatened in Kampong Cham, Prey Veng and Kampong Speu provinces, as well as in the capital, Keo Remy said, including threats from village chiefs.
Violence, injuries and verbal threats have all been reported by his activists, he said.
SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann said that in the face of such irregularities, the party has minimum liberties.
"We don't expect the election will be free and fair," he said. "And we don't have confidence in the National Election Committee."
Ny Chakrya, chief investigator for the rights group Adhoc, noted that the pressure of campaign irregularities has mostly come against parties outside of the government.
"Even though we have not noted many irregularities compared to previous elections, the ruling party has tried to disturb the opposition, like knocking down political signs, and this requires efficient action by the NEC."
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said that there are irregularities, but they are the same reported in previous elections: sign knock-downs, threats, vote-buying.
"But there aren't any political threats, and now we are investigating some cases for which we've received complaints," he said.
CPP lawmaker Chiem Yeap said the ruling party faced no challenges in the campaign. It had facilities to conduct a campaign across the country, presenting its political platform for voters and holding meetings.
One challenge was that Funcinpec had attacked the CPP "like the opposition," he said.
Prince Sisowath Sereyrath, second deputy of Funcinpec, said the party had no problems in the first weeks of the campaign, "because we do not attack any parties."
"Of course, technical problems are unavoidable," he said. Funcinpec instead faced budget problems, he said.
Small parties too face budget constraints as they campaign.
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