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| Opposition leader Sam Rainsy told thousands of supporters to prepare for demonstrations unless the electoral deadlock is resolved. © TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/Getty Images |
International news, Aug 9 2013
With the potential for mass demonstrations rising following Cambodia’s disputed election and the government moving
hundreds of security forces into Phnom Penh, Amnesty International is calling for Cambodian authorities and other political leaders to prevent violence.
“Cambodian authorities and other political leaders in Cambodia must ensure that the post-election tension does not erupt into violence,” said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director
“Many Cambodians have called for changes – political leaders should do all they can to ensure that these are achieved peacefully and with full respect for human rights,” she said.
Disagreement between the country’s two main political parties over results of the 28 July election and over investigations into alleged irregularities has led to a tense and unpredictable situation.
Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Sam Rainsy on Tuesday told thousands of supporters to prepare to stage mass demonstrations unless the deadlock is resolved. Long-standing Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen has said his party may hold counter-demonstrations.
Ahead of the potential demonstrations, the government yesterday moved in hundreds of members of the security forces into the capital Phnom Penh.
“The Cambodian people, including supporters of political parties, must be given the space to express their views and they must be allowed to enjoy their right to peaceful assembly,” said Isabelle Arradon.
“Political leaders must call on their supporters not to commit violence and human rights abuses against others, including on grounds of political opinion and ethnicity.”
“The Cambodian security forces, which have a chequered record when policing demonstrations, must refrain from using excessive or unnecessary force against demonstrators. They must not make tense situations even more volatile by failing to respect human rights.”
Background
Both the ruling CPP and the opposition CNRP have claimed victory in the election. The CNRP has insisted on a multi-party committee involving the UN and civil society groups to investigate alleged election fraud, but Cambodia’s National Election Committee says the UN and others can only observe any such investigation.
The run-up to the election saw a reduction in violence compared to past polls, despite CPP warnings of war should the opposition win. The limited freedom of media remained concerning, though social media offered a new outlet for some. Improved respect for freedom of expression and assembly allowed for mostly peaceful and public campaigning.
On election day itself, many voters complained that they could not find their names on voter lists – a problem predicted by a number of organizations. There were concerning reports also of derogatory language used against those perceived to be Vietnamese, which may have created an intimidating atmosphere at some polling stations. CNRP leaders have couched concerns about Viet Nam’s influence in Cambodia in language viewed by many as inflammatory.
Since the election, there have been a number of reports of opposition supporters in different locations facing harassment for their activism around the election.
Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org.nz/news/cambodia-post-election-tension-must-not-lead-violence
6 comments:
Iif you have nothing to hide then it shouldnt matter who is involved in the investigation to resolve voting fraud Which claimed by the people. CPP continues to deny the people's request because they have been committing voting fraud and got away with it for the past four term. This time, they are caught red handed. The mass protest is the only way to make sure the voices of the people are heard but the loyal arm forces of the CPP will ineveitably use against the people undoubtedly no matter if protest peaceful. For our nation and our people may god bless you all.
ខ្មែរ ត្រូវតែរួបរួមគ្នា ហើយ ប្រកាន់ជំហរ របស់ខ្លួនឲ្យបាន! មិនត្រូវរេម្ដងទៅនេះម្ដងទៅនោះបានជាដាច់ខាត! មើលចុះ បរទេសកំពុងតែមើលមកឃើញ សម្បត្តិដ៏ស្ដុកស្ដំរបស់យើង បើយើងបែកបាក់គ្នា នុះយើងមិនអាចការពារវាបានទេ! តែក៏ត្រូវជ្រើសរើសរួបរួមជាមួយក្រុមដែលអាចផ្ដល់ផលប្រយោជន៍អោយខ្មែរដែរទើបបាន!
គ្មានអ្នកណាគេជួយយើងបាន បើយើងមិនច្បាស់លាស់ខ្លួនឯង! មិនត្រូវចាញ់ល្បិចកល់ញស់ញង់ សូមពិចារណាឲ្យបានល្អិតល្អន់ ត្រូវតែតស៊ូរ ហើយអត់ធ្មត់ បើពុំដូច្នោះទេ កូនខ្មែរមិនអាចមានអនាគតល្អបានទេ!
We all know that in Cambodia, Hun Sen is the law, and the West and UN should understand this. Otherwise it is getting nowhere and Hun Sen will have what he wants even by force.
Please understand that only the authorities can cause the violence
because they control everything.
Please the UN and the International Community seriously order them don't use armored vehicles and others and troops
on the street to harm and kill the demonstrators as before many times.
Counter protest should happen at a different time but for what? The political party, Cpp, backed by Vietnam must not use innocent Cambodians to clash or even kill each other for political gain in their demonstration against the Cnrp protest if they are the political party for Cambodia's best interest.
ការសង្ឃឹមអំពីជ័យជម្នៈរបស់គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ
គឺជាការសង្ឃឹមខ្យល់លើមេឃតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ!
ពួកនេះសុទ្ធតែជាពួកកាន់មាត់បាវអោយចោរ
និងជាអ្នកជួយទប់ជើងគ្រែអោយអា ហ៊ន សែន!
ហើយពួកប្រឆាំងផ្កាប់មុខទាំងនេះគឺគ្មានបំណងធ្វើការ
ផ្លាស់ប្តូរពិតប្រាកដទេ ក្រៅពីកៅអី និងងារជាឯកឧត្ដមតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
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