Shane Worrell and Meas Sokchea, The Phnom Penh Post, 14 August 2013
A joint investigation into election irregularities may have gone back to square one after the government appeared to have blocked NGO participation in an inquiry, saying yesterday that they could only play a role of observer.
“If [NGOs] just join to listen or observe, it’s no problem,” senior Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yeap said when asked whether the groups would be permitted to actively partake in the investigation.
After fruitful discussions between civil society groups and Interior Minister Sar Kheng last Friday, NGOs looked to have had an active role to play in the committee.
Cambodia Center for Human Rights president Ou Virak, one of the civil society representatives who met with Kheng, said he was disappointed to have heard of the backtracking.
“It’s going back to square one. It’s very frustrating,” he said. “Where do we go from here?”
Virak said both parties should come back to the table, allow the NEC to moderate investigations and involve NGOs as much as possible.
“That’s the more acceptable solution.”
Yeap said he and two other high-ranking CPP officials had been tasked with talking to the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party about the committee, which, he added, must involve the National Election Committee – a body the CNRP maintains is ruling-party controlled.
“NEC has the right under the law to be responsible for this … but it is not necessary to use the United Nations to control us,” Yeap said, referring to calls for international involvement.
NEC secretary-general Tep Nytha, however, said yesterday that both parties could “form a committee by themselves; it is their business”.
CNRP chief whip Son Chhay said he had not heard direct comments from Yeap saying NGOs would be excluded from the committee, but said that the CPP seemed to be “turning everything upside down”.
“Now they’re changing everything. But I don’t know what he said – he did promise to call us.”
With time ticking down on a 72-hour window to object to the NEC’s preliminary election results released on Monday, CNRP officials from across the country met yesterday afternoon to discuss their next move.
Chhay said the CNRP would submit complaints today, “even though we don’t trust the NEC”.
The announcement of the results, coming before an investigating committee was formed, prompted CNRP deputy president Kem Sokha to declare on Monday that the election body would be responsible for any mass demonstrations that erupt.
Chhay said he and Sokha visited the offices of the EU yesterday morning to allay fears things could get out of control.
“They seem concerned about a protest,” he said. “But it’s important the CPP solve this irregularity.”
Uncertainty in the post-election period continued yesterday, highlighted by claims from trade unions and labour-rights groups that 30 per cent of some garment factories’ staffs were absent from work, a result of “fear-mongering and power games of political parties”.
“We strongly condemn the unnecessary and unwelcomed military presence in the country’s capital,” a statement says.
The union groups also said they were disappointed by the NEC’s “lack of will” to allow an independent investigation into “widespread election irregularities”.
About 100 people from some 20 civil society organisations will hold a ceremony at the capital’s Wat Phnom today to pray for a peaceful resolution.
With CNRP president Sam Rainsy’s rhetoric from the US this week including more threats of a mass demonstration, many wonder what will happen when he touches down in Cambodia on Thursday.
But it’s talking – not a demonstration – that is the priority for the CNRP, Chhay said.
“We are the peacemakers. In contrast, it’s the other side that has the army.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHHAY CHANNYDA
5 comments:
The NGO and UN must play full role in this investigations, regardless the Cambodia law if apply.
However NEC must agree with CNRP because NEC had broken the law by removed over one million names from the voter lists and 200,000 names duplication votes. By law NEC should be neutrally.
In the past 20 years NEC had been stole the people votes from opposition’s parties and gave to Hun Sen party that is why Hun Sen won the elections all the times.
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.
The NEC has the right under the law to be responsible for this unless NEC is an independent body
not a CPP slave or servant as such.
If you want us to trust you and no need to have the UN control or international involvement, the NEC
should be reformed immediately per the national and international asked.
If you are clean, proper and brave you should agree to form a special independent committee or reform the
NEC at once. Don't be shameless as the thick skin and coward people. If coward just step down and get out from power and let the brave and clean people lead our country for the Cambodians well being.
Are the NGOs used by the Cpp to stand in front of the cameras?
The NEC is also used by the Cpp. The NEC could not do anything independently even it wants to... Since it is politically connected before its existence and controlled by Hun Sen to fix the out come. This institution needs to be drastically reformed ASAP before this impasse arise again in the next election. Cambodian people are paying a price for the Cpp unwillingness to move forward in resolving the election irregularities and providing justice for the people. It is this political party ruled by Hun Sen that shames our country around the world and puts our nation and future at risk of losing territories and depriving our bright future. No one should condone this behavior of the Cpp party to continuo its injustice in society; by staying down staying low is to give the Cpp the power to abuse the Cambodian people even more... And most importantly put our future generations at risk of losing and falling behind.
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