30 May 2007By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia (a station labeled insolent by Hun Sen)
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The SRP President proposes to the UN Special Envoy in charge of Human Rights in Cambodia to organize the upcoming 2008 legislative election as the UNTAC did in 1993.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy met with Yash Ghai, the UN Special Envoy in charge of Human Rigths in Cambodia, in the afternoon of 30 May at the office of the UN Human Rights in Cambodia, located in Phnom Penh. Sam Rainsy said that he and the Cambodian people want to see the same type of election as the one supervised by UNTAC (in 1993), because following that UNTAC election, Cambodian people encountered numerous difficulties, especially, the bias towards the ruling party. Sam Rainsy said that this call is the wish of the Cambodian people, as well as those of a number of political parties.
Sam Rainsy said: “Since 1993 on, the election became more difficult and more complicated, and they are more biased towards the ruling party, these types (of election) only benefit the ruling party. Those who want to express their unhappiness, their pains, in particular those who lost their lands, who saw their homes being confiscated, they not only lost their lands and their homes, but they also lost their rights to vote.”
On Wednesday afternoon, RFA could not obtain any reaction from CPP officials on this issue.
Tep Nytha, the secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), said that the proposal for the UN to hold the election is the right of each political party, but the election must abide by the election law which is approved by the National Assembly.
Kul Panha, Comfrel’s executive director, said that, regarding the upcoming 2008 general election, the UN should provide a large number of experts to participate in the upcoming general election, in order to improve the election process.
However, Kul Panha said that the proposal to hold 1993-type election may not work because of the large expenses involved.
Kul Panha said: “Nevertheless, I think that we probably need a lot of participation from the UN, (in particular) for staff members who have good expertise in organizing the election, they can come to help so that our election can be better. However, it all depends on the size (of help provided by the UN), for the ’93 size (of staff provided by the UN), most likely this proposal will not work. (But) the election in Cambodia must be improved.”
Cambodia will hold its fourth general election in 2008, the first general election was organized in 1993 under the supervision of UNTAC. Subsequent elections always saw the winning of the current ruling party (CPP), and after each election, several parties have accused the winning party (CPP) of cheating the votes, and there were always threats pronounced against the voters (by the CPP).
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy met with Yash Ghai, the UN Special Envoy in charge of Human Rigths in Cambodia, in the afternoon of 30 May at the office of the UN Human Rights in Cambodia, located in Phnom Penh. Sam Rainsy said that he and the Cambodian people want to see the same type of election as the one supervised by UNTAC (in 1993), because following that UNTAC election, Cambodian people encountered numerous difficulties, especially, the bias towards the ruling party. Sam Rainsy said that this call is the wish of the Cambodian people, as well as those of a number of political parties.
Sam Rainsy said: “Since 1993 on, the election became more difficult and more complicated, and they are more biased towards the ruling party, these types (of election) only benefit the ruling party. Those who want to express their unhappiness, their pains, in particular those who lost their lands, who saw their homes being confiscated, they not only lost their lands and their homes, but they also lost their rights to vote.”
On Wednesday afternoon, RFA could not obtain any reaction from CPP officials on this issue.
Tep Nytha, the secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), said that the proposal for the UN to hold the election is the right of each political party, but the election must abide by the election law which is approved by the National Assembly.
Kul Panha, Comfrel’s executive director, said that, regarding the upcoming 2008 general election, the UN should provide a large number of experts to participate in the upcoming general election, in order to improve the election process.
However, Kul Panha said that the proposal to hold 1993-type election may not work because of the large expenses involved.
Kul Panha said: “Nevertheless, I think that we probably need a lot of participation from the UN, (in particular) for staff members who have good expertise in organizing the election, they can come to help so that our election can be better. However, it all depends on the size (of help provided by the UN), for the ’93 size (of staff provided by the UN), most likely this proposal will not work. (But) the election in Cambodia must be improved.”
Cambodia will hold its fourth general election in 2008, the first general election was organized in 1993 under the supervision of UNTAC. Subsequent elections always saw the winning of the current ruling party (CPP), and after each election, several parties have accused the winning party (CPP) of cheating the votes, and there were always threats pronounced against the voters (by the CPP).
