Original report from Phnom Penh
20 May 2009
The National Election Committee said Wednesday a vote-buying complaint by the opposition party against members of the ruling party was invalid, upholding a ruling by a lower committee.
Two Sam Rainsy Party commune council members say they were offered between $800 and $1,000 over the phone in exchange for their votes during May 17 provincial, district and municipal elections.
The NEC said evidence provided was insufficient to support the charge.
More than 11,000 commune council members nationwide voted Sunday for 3,261 national council seats, in an effort to decentralize government and development. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party took 75 percent of the seats, according to initial results.
SRP commune councilors Var Sam and Bun Kheth had accused Ly Raman, adviser for the Ministry of Cults and Religions, and Leng Phaly, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Planning, of a vote-buying.
The case was dismissed by the Phnom Penh Election Committee May 6.
The NEC upheld the decision after May 15 hearing, NEC President Im Suosdey said.
“This decision is publicly tried and declared before the accused and plaintiff,” he said. “The decision is the last decision.”
“The accused, Ly Raman and Leng Phaly, made phone calls to Var Sam and Bun Kheth, speaking of vote-buying,” he said. “It is just a relationship through a phone call. It is not a concrete activity to confirm that vote-selling and vote-buying really happened.”
A CD submitted by the plaintiffs was “not enough” evidence to prove vote-buying took place, he said.
Ly Sovichea, who represented the Sam Rainsy Party, said the CD, along with testimony, should have been enough.
Defense attorney Lin Nhok called the decision “just.”
Two Sam Rainsy Party commune council members say they were offered between $800 and $1,000 over the phone in exchange for their votes during May 17 provincial, district and municipal elections.
The NEC said evidence provided was insufficient to support the charge.
More than 11,000 commune council members nationwide voted Sunday for 3,261 national council seats, in an effort to decentralize government and development. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party took 75 percent of the seats, according to initial results.
SRP commune councilors Var Sam and Bun Kheth had accused Ly Raman, adviser for the Ministry of Cults and Religions, and Leng Phaly, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Planning, of a vote-buying.
The case was dismissed by the Phnom Penh Election Committee May 6.
The NEC upheld the decision after May 15 hearing, NEC President Im Suosdey said.
“This decision is publicly tried and declared before the accused and plaintiff,” he said. “The decision is the last decision.”
“The accused, Ly Raman and Leng Phaly, made phone calls to Var Sam and Bun Kheth, speaking of vote-buying,” he said. “It is just a relationship through a phone call. It is not a concrete activity to confirm that vote-selling and vote-buying really happened.”
A CD submitted by the plaintiffs was “not enough” evidence to prove vote-buying took place, he said.
Ly Sovichea, who represented the Sam Rainsy Party, said the CD, along with testimony, should have been enough.
Defense attorney Lin Nhok called the decision “just.”
10 comments:
Corruption in the Scum Rainsy political party is “pervasive” and “entrenched.”
The Scum Rainsy political party must cease and desist from these frivolous allegations.
PPU
PPU is the sound people make when they smell something stink like shit.
To AH PPU, stop being stupid.
Cambodia is run by Khmer Rouge.
Cambodia is run by criminals.
Cambodia is a lawless country.
Cambodia is a corrupted country.
Cambodia is have no real democracy.
If you're supporting the Scum Rainsy Party, you're holding the candles into a strong crosswind,which will ineluctably put you in a glide path in the precipice of colossal failure. Imagine that.
PPU
To PPU, You do not like the Sam Rainsy Party. Tell us what you do like.
10:52 PM
I'm very unenthralled of your comment. It must be one of your idiosyncrasies. Well, don't play dumb with me.
PPU
PPU
Why you don't you like Sam? Did he do something to you personally?
PPU
Now you sound very serious, and care about Cambodia and her people. Could you tell me about what did you do over there, what is the name of the school you had attended, and when did you graduated?
In Cambodia,
If you attempt to buy vote, you are not guilty.
Unless, you did paid some money to the guy
that you did try to buy.
It's not my statement.
Ít's the statement of NEC of Cambodia.
Which mean... by deduction
If you attempt to kill someone and you fail,
you are not guilty.
Unless you did reach your goal of killing.
VIVA CPP's Mind !
Yesterday VOA evening news is really interesting.
Khmer Canadian
11:52 PM
I like to fly below the radar.
I never like schooling; I taught myself. Oh, by the way, I'm a swift learner.
PPU
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