Some PECs are involved in corruption

13 May 2008
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here tor ead the original article in Khmer

Officials involved with the election and a number of people have accused officials belonging to a number of provincial election committees (PEC) of being involved in corruption and clannishness in the selection of PEC workers.

Hang Puthea, NICFEC executive director, said that his organization received complaints from people in Kampong Cham saying that Kampong Cham PEC officials selected workers involved on the 27 July general election among their relatives only.

Hang Puthea said: “Officials (who were employed by the PEC in the past) who have past experience are not accepted to continue their work, but they selected among their relatives instead.”

A number of former officials involved in the election preparation for the Takeo PEC who are residing in Bati and Daun Keo districts, told RFA on 13 May that Takeo PEC officials selected workers without transparency: “In there, they all belong to their group, bribes and plans have already been planned in advance.”

In response to the above accusation, Nuon Saren, a PEC official from Takeo, clarified that he did not think he was involved in corruption or clannishness: “How can it be corruption, I am like this, I don’t understand this issue.”

Tep Nytha, NEC secretary-general, said that if PEC officials selected workers based on clannishness, they will receive warning from the NEC, and if these officials receive bribes, they will fired and they must restitute the bribe money back.

Tep Nytha indicated also that, according to the NEC goal, the selection of officials serving at the provincial level, these persons must have the capability, and it does not depend on wheter the person used to work (in the election) in the past.

Tep Nytha indicated also the PEC must select 700 workers for the entire country, and these workers will be involved for a period of 3 months.

Nevertheless, a number of political party officials have accused the NEC of being biased toward the ruling party. On 12 May, RFA received complaints from 2 persons from Takeo provinces, the pair were former officials involved in supplies of the Takeo PEC and they sent their letters to the NEC president accusing the Takeo PEC on being clannishness in the selection of workers. However, the NEC denied by saying that it did not receive these complaints yet.

Kompong Chhnang provincial governor to complain about Sam Rainsy for violating the law

22 March 2007
By Ros Sokhit
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A high ranking CPP official from Kompong Chhnang province is planning to bring his complaint against Sam Rainsy, the president of the Sam Rainsy Party – the second largest political party in Cambodia, to the Provincial Election Committee (PEC). The official accused Sam Rainsy of violating the election campaign law for the 2nd mandate commune election.

Touch Marim, the Kompong Chhnang provincial governor and the president of the CPP provincial chapter, told RFA today that he had already prepared his complaint letter against Sam Rainsy for the latter’s violation of the election campaign law. Touch Marim accuses Sam Rainsy of insulting the government and the government officials in the entire province, when Sam Rainsy’s came to Kompong Chhnang on 20 March to campaign.

Touch Marim is severely attacking Sam Rainsy in front of 500 CPP supporters who have gathered at the Kompong Chhnang provincial stadium. He said that the goal of his complaint against Sam Rainsy was to force him to properly follow the election campaign law.

Touch Marim said: “We want him (Sam Rainsy) to follow the law, and not to make this kind of mistake. If he did it incorrectly, it will be anarchy in the election, there will be no justice.”

In response to the governor’s complaint, Sam Rainsy said that he does not pay attention to this at all because the issues he raised are all true, and he raised those issues to defend the interest of all the people. Sam Rainsy said that only corrupt officials are not happy with these issues.

Sam Rainsy said: “I, Sam Rainsy, has nothing to worry about. I am a Member of Parliament. I must defend the interest of the people. Therefore, whatever I talked about, I only talk about the truth, I talk to defend the interest of the people.”

Mrs. Nuon Channy, Kompong Chhnang PEC president, said that she has not yet received the complaint from the governor, but she said that when she will receive it, she will resolve it according to the PEC law based mainly on reconciliation.