Showing posts with label Party number assignment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Party number assignment. Show all posts
Monday, June 02, 2008
NEC reveals election ballot order
The 11 parties on the election ballot (Photo: Koh Santepheap)Monday, 02 June 2008
Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times
The National Election Committee (NEC) on Friday released the order in which political parties will be listed on the ballot papers for July’s national election, drawing bold predictions from politicians.
The random draw was presided over by religious leaders.
The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) is to be listed first, followed by the Khmer Democratic Party in the second spot, the League for Democratic Party third and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) fourth.
The little-known Khmer Anti-Poverty Party is to be at No. 5, the Khmer Republican Party at No. 6, the Society of Justice Party seventh, the Funcinpec Party at No. 8, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) ninth, the Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party at No. 10 and the Human Rights Party at No. 11.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, currently in self-exile in Malaysia, said on local radio he was glad the NRP is to be listed first, suggesting the NRP’s good fortune was due to Karma.
“[It is] because my party is loyal to the nation, people, throne and Buddhist religion,” he said. “I suffered a lot because of serving the nation and victimized people, defending Cambodia from violation by neighboring countries and illegal immigrants.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen, CPP vice-chairman, said during a speech yesterday that his listing augured well as the number four represents the four Buddhist desires for longevity, prosperity, health and strength and the four attributes of a pure nature: compassion, pity, joy at another’s happiness and sincerity.
In addition, the premier said the number four represents the Year of the Rabbit, “an animal which is very smart and lucky,” the four elements, the four-faced god Preah Prum, the Hindu god Preah Vishnu with his four hands and the Chaktomukh (four-face) river junction.
Lastly, the “number four represents the fourth mandate … [and] the rectangular strategy which has four targets: growth, employment, equity and equality,” Hun Sen said.
Keo Puth Rasmey, president of the Funcinpec Party, which is to be listed eighth, expressed satisfaction at a good “geometric omen.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy was also upbeat. “Cambodian people always say that the number nine is a good number,” he said. “It represents the Nov 9, 1953 [Cambodian] Independence Day and Nov 9, 1995 SRP birthday.”
HRP President Kem Sokha, to be listed 11th, reasoned that the number 11 is “double number one, which means that the HRP will win two times.”
The random draw was presided over by religious leaders.
The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) is to be listed first, followed by the Khmer Democratic Party in the second spot, the League for Democratic Party third and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) fourth.
The little-known Khmer Anti-Poverty Party is to be at No. 5, the Khmer Republican Party at No. 6, the Society of Justice Party seventh, the Funcinpec Party at No. 8, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) ninth, the Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party at No. 10 and the Human Rights Party at No. 11.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, currently in self-exile in Malaysia, said on local radio he was glad the NRP is to be listed first, suggesting the NRP’s good fortune was due to Karma.
“[It is] because my party is loyal to the nation, people, throne and Buddhist religion,” he said. “I suffered a lot because of serving the nation and victimized people, defending Cambodia from violation by neighboring countries and illegal immigrants.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen, CPP vice-chairman, said during a speech yesterday that his listing augured well as the number four represents the four Buddhist desires for longevity, prosperity, health and strength and the four attributes of a pure nature: compassion, pity, joy at another’s happiness and sincerity.
In addition, the premier said the number four represents the Year of the Rabbit, “an animal which is very smart and lucky,” the four elements, the four-faced god Preah Prum, the Hindu god Preah Vishnu with his four hands and the Chaktomukh (four-face) river junction.
Lastly, the “number four represents the fourth mandate … [and] the rectangular strategy which has four targets: growth, employment, equity and equality,” Hun Sen said.
Keo Puth Rasmey, president of the Funcinpec Party, which is to be listed eighth, expressed satisfaction at a good “geometric omen.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy was also upbeat. “Cambodian people always say that the number nine is a good number,” he said. “It represents the Nov 9, 1953 [Cambodian] Independence Day and Nov 9, 1995 SRP birthday.”
HRP President Kem Sokha, to be listed 11th, reasoned that the number 11 is “double number one, which means that the HRP will win two times.”
Ballot order sparks obscure interpretations
Monday, 02 June 2008
Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times
Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times
The order political parties will be listed on the July national election ballot papers was released by the National Election Committee (NEC) Friday, sparking a flurry of interpretations of the order’s significance.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) was designated fourth, a digit some construed as auguring waves of Vietnamese immigration. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday scotched the rumors, offering his own humorous interpretations of the ballot order by way of a reply.
“Funcinpec’s position of No. 8 represents a bad-luck number as it is a symbol of handcuffs,” he said in a veiled reference to Prince Ranariddh’s conviction for breach of trust.
He also cast aspersions on Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang’s alleged gambling habit. “As for the SRP’s position of No. 9, this is a curved figure which denotes a rude gambler.”
The Human Rights Party (HRP)’s position of No. 11 represents “the teeth of a rat,” said the premier, noting that the rat “is a harmful animal good at destroying crops,” apparently quoting a local radio broadcast. HRP President Kem Sokha has previously been sued by former colleagues at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) for corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust.
Muth Chantha, Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) spokesman, was widely suspected of making the anti-CPP interpretation; something he denied.
“No comparison was made,” he said. “Hun Sen based his reaction on the words of his spy with poor-eye-sight.”
Eng Chhay Eang, SRP secretary-general, said the premier was allowed to interpret the ballot order as he wished. “If such remarks are not allowed, it is a restriction of human freedom. We are not worried or afraid of such commentary,” he said. “The order is not important. The important point is the relations with voters. When voters are confident in any political party, they will vote for the party no matter what number on the ballot the party is.”
For once Hun Sen seemed to agree with the opposition, saying ballot order “is just for identifying the order of each party. It does not determine the destiny of each party [which] depends on voters and it will be clearly known after the election outcomes are revealed.”
Despite his own outburst, Hun Sen appealed to all supporters of political parties, including his own CPP, to avoid comment on any ballot listing except that of their own party to “avoid violence or verbal war.” He stressed that the order had been chosen at random.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said a party’s ballot order may be used in election campaigning. However, he asked that if such a discussion causes problems, “all political parties should stop using it.”
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) was designated fourth, a digit some construed as auguring waves of Vietnamese immigration. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday scotched the rumors, offering his own humorous interpretations of the ballot order by way of a reply.
“Funcinpec’s position of No. 8 represents a bad-luck number as it is a symbol of handcuffs,” he said in a veiled reference to Prince Ranariddh’s conviction for breach of trust.
He also cast aspersions on Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang’s alleged gambling habit. “As for the SRP’s position of No. 9, this is a curved figure which denotes a rude gambler.”
The Human Rights Party (HRP)’s position of No. 11 represents “the teeth of a rat,” said the premier, noting that the rat “is a harmful animal good at destroying crops,” apparently quoting a local radio broadcast. HRP President Kem Sokha has previously been sued by former colleagues at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) for corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust.
Muth Chantha, Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) spokesman, was widely suspected of making the anti-CPP interpretation; something he denied.
“No comparison was made,” he said. “Hun Sen based his reaction on the words of his spy with poor-eye-sight.”
Eng Chhay Eang, SRP secretary-general, said the premier was allowed to interpret the ballot order as he wished. “If such remarks are not allowed, it is a restriction of human freedom. We are not worried or afraid of such commentary,” he said. “The order is not important. The important point is the relations with voters. When voters are confident in any political party, they will vote for the party no matter what number on the ballot the party is.”
For once Hun Sen seemed to agree with the opposition, saying ballot order “is just for identifying the order of each party. It does not determine the destiny of each party [which] depends on voters and it will be clearly known after the election outcomes are revealed.”
Despite his own outburst, Hun Sen appealed to all supporters of political parties, including his own CPP, to avoid comment on any ballot listing except that of their own party to “avoid violence or verbal war.” He stressed that the order had been chosen at random.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said a party’s ballot order may be used in election campaigning. However, he asked that if such a discussion causes problems, “all political parties should stop using it.”
Friday, May 30, 2008
Drawing of political party number on election ballot
30 May 2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
In the morning of Friday 30 May, the National Election Committee (NEC) conducted a random drawing for a number identifying each political party registered for the general election.
The outcome of the drawing is to set an ordering number for each of the eleven parties on the election ballot. According to Im Suosdey, the NEC president, “each political party, identified by a number, will be more easily memorized by the voters who have difficulties reading and they will have to check a party of their choice.” Two monks presided on the drawing: Bour Kry, the Dhammayud patriarch, and Nuon Nget, the kingdom monks director.
The outcome of the drawing is as follows:
The outcome of the drawing is to set an ordering number for each of the eleven parties on the election ballot. According to Im Suosdey, the NEC president, “each political party, identified by a number, will be more easily memorized by the voters who have difficulties reading and they will have to check a party of their choice.” Two monks presided on the drawing: Bour Kry, the Dhammayud patriarch, and Nuon Nget, the kingdom monks director.
The outcome of the drawing is as follows:
- Norodom Ranariddh Party
- The Khmer Democratic Party
- The Democracy League
- The CPP
- The Anti-Poverty Party
- The Khmer Republican Party
- The Social Justice Party
- Funcinpec
- Sam Rainsy Party
- Hang Dara Democratic Movement
- Human Rights Party
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