Showing posts with label CPP election fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CPP election fraud. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Friday, June 01, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
SRP claims multiple campaign violations
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party has produced documents it alleges prove that almost 100 employees of the part-state-owned Electricity Du Cambodge have been registered to vote twice and urged by a senior staff member to do so.
At a press conference yesterday, SRP spokesman Yim Sovann showed a list of 98 people, who he claimed were civil servants in the state/private enterprise, with separate voter registration numbers for communes in both Kampong Cham and Pursat provinces.
“This irregularity proves that Cambodian People’s Party has used civil servants in the system to serve its political interests that this act is an illegal act,” Yim Sovann said.
Yim Sovann provided a photocopied letter from a man only identified as Sovann, deputy president of the working team, that urged the people on the list to vote twice in upcoming June 3 commune elections, which he said had been leaked by a pro-SRP employee.
Monday, May 21, 2012
«គ្មានការរំខានទេពេលឃោសនាបោះឆ្នោតប៉ុន្តែមានការប្រើប្រាស់ធនធានរដ្ឋខុសច្បាប់» - No campaign harassment, but illegal used of state assets [by the CPP]
 |
| គណបក្សសម រង្ស៊ី ហែក្បួន ធ្វើយុទ្ធនាការ ឃោសនា រកសំឡេងឆ្នោត សម្រាប់ការ បោះឆ្នោត ឃុំសង្កាត់ ដែលបានឈានចូល មកដល់ថ្ងៃ ទី២ហើយ ថ្ងៃសៅរ៍នេះ RFI/Siv Channa |
19/05/2012
ដោយ គី សុខលីម
Radio France Internationale
ថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ទី១៩ខែឧសភានេះគឺជាថ្ងៃទី២នៃការឃោសនាបោះឆ្នោតឃុំសង្កាត់ដែលមានរយៈពេល១៥ថ្ងៃ។ រហូតមកដល់ថ្ងៃទី២នេះ អង្គការសង្កេតការណ៍បោះឆ្នោតនិងគណបក្សនយោបាយដែលបានចុះឃោសនាបានអះអាងដូចគ្នាថាបរិយាកាសឃោសនាបានប្រព្រឹត្តទៅដោយគ្មានការរំខាន។ ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលជាការកត់សម្គាល់គឺថា មានការប្រើប្រាស់ធនធានទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិនិងធនធានមនុស្សរបស់រដ្ឋដើម្បីធ្វើការឃោសនា។ ហើយនេះគឺវាផ្ទុយទៅនឹងច្បាប់របស់រដ្ឋ។
ការឃោសនារកសំឡេងឆ្នោតសម្រាប់ការបោះឆ្នោតឃុំសង្កាត់បានឈានចូលមកដល់ថ្ងៃទី២ហើយនៅថ្ងៃសៅរ៍នេះ។ លោក គល់ បញ្ញា នាយកប្រតិបត្តិនៃអង្គការសង្កេតការណ៍បោះឆ្នោត Comfrel បានបញ្ជាក់ប្រាប់តាមទូរស័ព្ទនៅថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ទី១៩ឧសភានេះថា រហូតមកដល់ពេលនេះ លោកពុំទាន់មានរបាយការណ៍ពីអំពើហិង្សានយោបាយនៅឡើយទេ។ ស្ថានភាពឃោសនាបានប្រព្រឹត្តិឡើងក្រោមបរិយាកាសល្អប្រសើរ។
ចាប់តាំងពីម្សិលមិញមក គណបក្សចំនួន១០បានចាប់ផ្តើមដង្ហែក្បួនឃោសនាតាមផ្លូវនានាក្នុងទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញនិងតាមបណ្តាខេត្តទូទាំងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
With millions in its coffer from illegal sale of state assets, the CPP only manages to buy 44 defectors?
Members defect from SRP to CPP
Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Meas Sokchea and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post
Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Meas Sokchea and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post
In January the Post reported on an attempt by two CPP affiliates to buy the vote of an SRP provincial councillor in the senate election.
More than 40 opposition Sam Rainsy Party members in Battambang province defected to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party yesterday because they had lost confidence in their party, defectors said.
Kieng Saran, the former SRP Sangke district president who led the group of 44 to defect to the CPP, said the party served only the interests of its exiled leader Sam Rainsy and those close to him.
“This defection is because of having no justice in the party. The doers have not received any benefits, but the benefits have been given to the persons who are not doers,” Kieng Saran said. “I defect to CPP because I am fed up with SRP.”
The CPP accused of buying votes
08 May 2012
By Hang Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
CPP commune councilors from Oddar Meanchey province are accused of buying people to vote for them.
A NGO in Oddar Meanchey criticized activities led by some commune council candidates in Samrong city, Oddar Meanchey province, which contradict the commune election law. These candidates visited voters and they distributed money to many villagers.
An official for the Natural Resource Conservation NGO from Oddar Meanchey, who declined to provide his name, said that on 07 May, at about 07AM, Chiep Tong, a CPP commune council candidate visited villagers near Wat Samaky Meanchey Damrey Phoss pagoda (aka Dey Thmey) where he handed out money to them.
The NGO official criticized such misconduct to buy people prior to the upcoming commune election: “The CPP gathered villagers at the local level, then they gave out 15,000 riels (~$4) to each of them and they also showed them how to mark the ballot for the CPP. Under the election law, there is no stipulation about distributing money to people to buy their vote.”
បក្សប្រជាជនរងការចោទថាប្រើលុយទិញទឹកចិត្តពលរដ្ឋ
2012-05-08
ដោយ ហង្ស សាវយុត
Radio Free Asia
អង្គការក្រៅរដ្ឋាភិបាលមួយនៅខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ បានរិះគន់សកម្មភាពរបស់បេក្ខជនក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់ខ្លះនៃក្រុងសំរោង ថា បានប្រព្រឹត្តផ្ទុយនឹងច្បាប់ស្តីពីការបោះឆ្នោតក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់ ដោយចុះទៅតាមមូលដ្ឋានប្រជុំជាមួយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ហើយបានចែកលុយកាក់ទៅឱ្យក្រុមអ្នកភូមិជាច្រើននាក់។
មន្ត្រីអង្គការអភិរក្សផ្នែកធនធានធម្មជាតិមួយរូប នៅខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ ដែលមិនហ៊ានបញ្ចេញឈ្មោះ បានមានប្រសាសន៍កាលពីរសៀលថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ទី៧ ខែឧសភា ថា កាលពីវេលាម៉ោងប្រមាណ ៧ព្រឹក បេក្ខជនក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសង្កាត់សំរោង របស់គណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា មួយរូប គឺលោក ជៀប តុប បានចុះទៅប្រជុំជាមួយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ នៅម្ដុំវត្តសាមគ្គីមានជ័យ ដំរីផុស ហៅដីថ្មី ហើយបានចែកប្រាក់ទៅឱ្យអ្នកភូមិទាំងនោះ។
លោកបានរិះគន់ថា ការធ្វើបែបនោះ គឺជាការទិញទឹកចិត្តប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនៅមុនពេលការឃោសនាបោះឆ្នោតក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់មកដល់៖ «គណបក្សប្រជាជនហ្នឹងគេចុះប្រជុំប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនៅតាមតំបន់មូលដ្ឋាន ដល់អ៊ីចឹងគេចែកលុយឱ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋម្នាក់ ១៥.០០០ (រៀល) ហើយគេបង្ហាញនៅក្នុងលក្ខណៈឱ្យគូសជារូបភាពនៃគណបក្សរបស់គេ។ ក្នុងលក្ខណៈនេះ បើនិយាយឱ្យចំ ច្បាប់ គ.ជ.ប. និងច្បាប់បោះឆ្នោត គឺអត់ទាន់មានមាត្រាណា ឬប្រការណាសម្រាប់ឱ្យចែកលុយកាក់ដើម្បីទាញទឹកចិត្តប្រជាពលរដ្ឋទេ»។
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Friday, February 20, 2009
Global Integrity: Corruption, corruption, corruption everywhere in Cambodia
Reporter's Notebook: Cambodia
Report from a leading local journalist
By Global Integrity (USA)
Like many Cambodians that day, he complained that the SRP lost seats in the National Assembly because of rampant election fraud. He cited anecdotal evidence consisting of the names of voters that had allegedly been deleted from rolls, and the falsification of documents allowing unregistered CPP supporters to vote.
To Cheam Ny, the election fraud was part and parcel of a much larger and endemic culture of corruption -- a culture that seems unlikely to change without a change in the government itself. "The CPP officials have committed corruption so they can't eliminate corruption," argues Ny, who is calling for a reelection to right the wrongs of the past.
A Promise Broken
Many government critics say they have little hope that an anti-corruption law — now 15 years in the making — will be adopted, citing a long string of broken promises by the CPP. However, the government says that their fourth mandate is the right time for a change. After the CPP won 90 out of the 123 seats on the National Assembly, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced at a cabinet meeting that a long-awaited anti-corruption draft legislation had been completed. He said that The National Assembly would approve it in its first session of the new government, on Sept. 24, 2008.
But two days later, government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters that the passage of the law would be delayed until after a new penal code could be approved. The drafting and debating of the penal code has long been given as an excuse for delays in tackling corruption.
CPP lawmaker and National Assembly Banking and Finance Commission Chairman Cheam Yeap, who audits the government's revenues and expenditures, said he would encourage his party to submit the anti-corruption draft law and he would work with the Assembly to hasten its adoption, calling it a "priority."
"If we have the anti-corruption law according to international standards we can eliminate corruption," Yeap said. "We will implement the law immediately after [King Sihamoni] signs it. This is a hot issue for the CPP," he said. He added that it is important for the ruling party to approve the law to draw support from the people.
Thieves Can't Catch Thieves
But critics question what incentive the government actually has to fulfill its promises. SRP President Sam Rainsy said the CPP would not approve the law.
"They made this empty promise so that they have time to commit corruption; it is a strategy to delay. It has been 10 years already. Thieves can't catch thieves," Rainsy said. "They cannot approve the corruption law. They will lose their income and their opportunities."
The NGO Pact's Anti-Corruption Program Director Sek Borisoth also expressed his doubts. He concluded that the announcement of the delay in considering the new anti-corruption law was made just before the formation of the new government, as the opposition party refused to join the Assembly's session. "I am afraid this announcement has to do with politics," he said.
A Worsening Problem
Whether or not they will pass the law is in question. What is not questionable, however, is the existence of endemic corruption at all levels of society, from school children who pay bribes to teachers, to the wealthy who grab land and steal natural resources with impunity. Rainsy ticked off a few of the more common circumstances in which high-level corruption occurs: illegal logging; government contract bidding without transparency; government assistance to companies that form unfair monopolies; inflated expenses in the national budget. He blames increasing corruption on the long-term control of Hun Sen, who has been in power for 33 years.
A World Bank report on governance released on June 25, 2008, suggests that Cambodia's corruption problem may have worsened since 1996. In Asia, Cambodia ranks better than Myanmar and North Korea but worse than Laos and Vietnam. The report also shows that Cambodia's voice and accountability index — a measure of the extent to which the population can participate in the selection of their political decision makers and the freedom with which their media is able to operate — has improved only slightly from 1996 to 2007. Cambodia now ranks above Vietnam, Laos, China, North Korea and Myanmar, but below Thailand, Malaysia and Fiji.
The government vigorously disputed the report. Khieu Kanharith dismissed it as "unprofessional and politically biased." He complained that it does not mention the fact that the government has punished more than 50 government officials found guilty of corruption.
Another recent report highlights how the country's privileged few are frequently able to benefit unjustly from their positions. A June 2007 Global Witness report titled Cambodia Family Trees states that a kleptocratic elite runs the country and generates much of its wealth via the improper seizure of public assets, particularly natural resources.
Stripping the Forest for the Tree
The forestry sector provides a particularly vivid illustration of this asset-stripping process at work. A particular concern is the damage illegal loggers are causing to Prey Long in Kompong Thom province, the largest lowland evergreen forest in mainland Southeast Asia.
"Cambodia's most powerful logging syndicate is led by relatives of Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials," the report says.
Evidence in the report suggests that some of these senior officials also are directly responsible for corruption within the institutions they head. The report also cites evidence that Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun and Forestry Administration (FA) Director Ty Sokhun have illegally sold 500 or more jobs in the Forest Administration. Officials have calculated that selling jobs netted Chan Sarun more than US$2.5 million in bribes.
The desire to recoup the costs of purchasing these positions appears to account for increasingly corrupt behavior by many FA officials. Corruption and collusion in forestry crimes are covered by existing Cambodian law and punishable by prison sentences and fines. However, no senior official has yet been either charged or disciplined in connection with the sale of jobs or illegal logging in Prey Long.
Sek Borisoth, director of Pact, a Cambodian NGO working to increase transparency in government, agrees with the Global Witness report, adding that over the past decade there have been no major improvements in the government's anti-corruption efforts in Cambodia. When the government has punished corrupt officials, it has involved only light sentences or secret settlements, he said.
The report itself has been banned from dissemination in Cambodia. Khieu Kanharith said that it fails to mention how Tumring areas now generate income for villagers. He accuses the report of political bias against the government, because the NGO's Cambodian staff is affiliated with the opposition party.
Judiciary Corruption
Corruption is endemic within the justice system as well. The courts often come under criticism for their lack of independence and graft. In one recent scandal, former Appeal Court President Ly Vuoch Leng was dismissed from her position in August 2007 for her alleged involvement in the controversial Chair Hour II hotel human trafficking case. In exchange for large bribes, the Appeal Court released two hotel owners who were accused of trafficking young girls from the provinces to a brothel in the capital city.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court Deputy Director Ke Sakhorn said at the time that the investigation showed how Ly Vuoch Leng accepted $30,000 to release the men. More than a year later she is still under investigation. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, however, and therefore still sits on the ruling party central committee, Ke Sakhorn explained. Cheam Yeap said that she received her punishment when she was dismissed from her position.
Left unmentioned, however, was any possibility of a criminal prosecution in court.
Report from a leading local journalist
By Global Integrity (USA)
"The CPP officials have committed corruption so they can't eliminate corruption" - 51-year-old farmer Cheam NyShortly after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won the July elections by a landslide, a 51-year-old farmer named Cheam Ny stood in protest at the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Headquarters. His goal: the end of corruption in Cambodia.
"Thieves can't catch thieves" - Opposition leader Sam Rainsy
Like many Cambodians that day, he complained that the SRP lost seats in the National Assembly because of rampant election fraud. He cited anecdotal evidence consisting of the names of voters that had allegedly been deleted from rolls, and the falsification of documents allowing unregistered CPP supporters to vote.
To Cheam Ny, the election fraud was part and parcel of a much larger and endemic culture of corruption -- a culture that seems unlikely to change without a change in the government itself. "The CPP officials have committed corruption so they can't eliminate corruption," argues Ny, who is calling for a reelection to right the wrongs of the past.
A Promise Broken
Many government critics say they have little hope that an anti-corruption law — now 15 years in the making — will be adopted, citing a long string of broken promises by the CPP. However, the government says that their fourth mandate is the right time for a change. After the CPP won 90 out of the 123 seats on the National Assembly, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced at a cabinet meeting that a long-awaited anti-corruption draft legislation had been completed. He said that The National Assembly would approve it in its first session of the new government, on Sept. 24, 2008.
But two days later, government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters that the passage of the law would be delayed until after a new penal code could be approved. The drafting and debating of the penal code has long been given as an excuse for delays in tackling corruption.
CPP lawmaker and National Assembly Banking and Finance Commission Chairman Cheam Yeap, who audits the government's revenues and expenditures, said he would encourage his party to submit the anti-corruption draft law and he would work with the Assembly to hasten its adoption, calling it a "priority."
"If we have the anti-corruption law according to international standards we can eliminate corruption," Yeap said. "We will implement the law immediately after [King Sihamoni] signs it. This is a hot issue for the CPP," he said. He added that it is important for the ruling party to approve the law to draw support from the people.
Thieves Can't Catch Thieves
But critics question what incentive the government actually has to fulfill its promises. SRP President Sam Rainsy said the CPP would not approve the law.
"They made this empty promise so that they have time to commit corruption; it is a strategy to delay. It has been 10 years already. Thieves can't catch thieves," Rainsy said. "They cannot approve the corruption law. They will lose their income and their opportunities."
The NGO Pact's Anti-Corruption Program Director Sek Borisoth also expressed his doubts. He concluded that the announcement of the delay in considering the new anti-corruption law was made just before the formation of the new government, as the opposition party refused to join the Assembly's session. "I am afraid this announcement has to do with politics," he said.
A Worsening Problem
Whether or not they will pass the law is in question. What is not questionable, however, is the existence of endemic corruption at all levels of society, from school children who pay bribes to teachers, to the wealthy who grab land and steal natural resources with impunity. Rainsy ticked off a few of the more common circumstances in which high-level corruption occurs: illegal logging; government contract bidding without transparency; government assistance to companies that form unfair monopolies; inflated expenses in the national budget. He blames increasing corruption on the long-term control of Hun Sen, who has been in power for 33 years.
A World Bank report on governance released on June 25, 2008, suggests that Cambodia's corruption problem may have worsened since 1996. In Asia, Cambodia ranks better than Myanmar and North Korea but worse than Laos and Vietnam. The report also shows that Cambodia's voice and accountability index — a measure of the extent to which the population can participate in the selection of their political decision makers and the freedom with which their media is able to operate — has improved only slightly from 1996 to 2007. Cambodia now ranks above Vietnam, Laos, China, North Korea and Myanmar, but below Thailand, Malaysia and Fiji.
The government vigorously disputed the report. Khieu Kanharith dismissed it as "unprofessional and politically biased." He complained that it does not mention the fact that the government has punished more than 50 government officials found guilty of corruption.
Another recent report highlights how the country's privileged few are frequently able to benefit unjustly from their positions. A June 2007 Global Witness report titled Cambodia Family Trees states that a kleptocratic elite runs the country and generates much of its wealth via the improper seizure of public assets, particularly natural resources.
Stripping the Forest for the Tree
The forestry sector provides a particularly vivid illustration of this asset-stripping process at work. A particular concern is the damage illegal loggers are causing to Prey Long in Kompong Thom province, the largest lowland evergreen forest in mainland Southeast Asia.
"Cambodia's most powerful logging syndicate is led by relatives of Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials," the report says.
Evidence in the report suggests that some of these senior officials also are directly responsible for corruption within the institutions they head. The report also cites evidence that Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun and Forestry Administration (FA) Director Ty Sokhun have illegally sold 500 or more jobs in the Forest Administration. Officials have calculated that selling jobs netted Chan Sarun more than US$2.5 million in bribes.
The desire to recoup the costs of purchasing these positions appears to account for increasingly corrupt behavior by many FA officials. Corruption and collusion in forestry crimes are covered by existing Cambodian law and punishable by prison sentences and fines. However, no senior official has yet been either charged or disciplined in connection with the sale of jobs or illegal logging in Prey Long.
Sek Borisoth, director of Pact, a Cambodian NGO working to increase transparency in government, agrees with the Global Witness report, adding that over the past decade there have been no major improvements in the government's anti-corruption efforts in Cambodia. When the government has punished corrupt officials, it has involved only light sentences or secret settlements, he said.
The report itself has been banned from dissemination in Cambodia. Khieu Kanharith said that it fails to mention how Tumring areas now generate income for villagers. He accuses the report of political bias against the government, because the NGO's Cambodian staff is affiliated with the opposition party.
Judiciary Corruption
Corruption is endemic within the justice system as well. The courts often come under criticism for their lack of independence and graft. In one recent scandal, former Appeal Court President Ly Vuoch Leng was dismissed from her position in August 2007 for her alleged involvement in the controversial Chair Hour II hotel human trafficking case. In exchange for large bribes, the Appeal Court released two hotel owners who were accused of trafficking young girls from the provinces to a brothel in the capital city.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court Deputy Director Ke Sakhorn said at the time that the investigation showed how Ly Vuoch Leng accepted $30,000 to release the men. More than a year later she is still under investigation. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, however, and therefore still sits on the ruling party central committee, Ke Sakhorn explained. Cheam Yeap said that she received her punishment when she was dismissed from her position.
Left unmentioned, however, was any possibility of a criminal prosecution in court.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Khmer Intelligence News - 10 October 2008
10 October 2008
Police's involvement in journalist Khim Sambo's murder (3)
The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, October 3, 2008, gave some clues that might be helpful for any serious investigation into the recent murder in Phnom Penh of opposition journalist Khim Sambo. Press correspondent Vincent Maclsaac writes in his report, « In the June 28-29 weekend edition of the daily Khmer Conscience, which is affiliated with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (…), Khim Sambo (…) [mocked] the behaviour of a senior police officer described by many as "one of the most dangerous men in Cambodia". He reported on an incident that allegedly occurred (…) on June 25 at a casino complex at a border crossing with Vietnam in the town of Bavet in Svay Rieng province. After losing his shirt at Le Macau Casino and Hotel, the officer borrowed [money] from the casino, lost that, borrowed more - and lost again. When the casino manager refused to lend any more, he had him arrested by the junior [police] officers accompanying him, Khim Sambo reported (…). Several [sources] - all of whom requested anonymity, citing concern for personal security - said that Khim Sambo was writing about Cambodian National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy. »
Khim Sambo, 47, and his 21-year-old son Sarinpheatra were shot dead in broad daylight by unknown killers on July 11, 2008.
On May 18, 1996, journalist Thun Bun Ly was also shot dead in similar circumstances after mocking in opposition newspaper Khmer Ideal a few days before his death the wife of a powerful political leader.
Read South China Morning Post's whole article at http://tinyurl.com/3ed232
New evidence of massive election fraud on July 27, 2008 (2)
Over the last few weeks new evidence of fraud at the July 27, 2008 national election has been exposed. Fraud was systemic because the election was totally controlled by the ruling CPP through the National Election Committee (NEC). The evidence shown is related to manipulation of voter lists leading to a massive disenfranchisement of legitimate non-CPP voters and a broad mobilization of illegitimate voters to cast ballots for the CPP by using ghosts' names. These are two manoeuvres with far-reaching implications that most international election observers did not see because they took place before Voting Day and outside the polling stations.
As a result of the fraud, the last poll has obviously distorted the will of the Cambodian people.
Evidence of fraud is contained in three main documents:
As of today, only the government of North Korea has sent a message of congratulations to the CPP and to Cambodia's new/old leaders following their landslide election victory on July 27, 2008. Democratic governments have refrained from doing so, possibly because of doubts about the election's integrity (see evidence of fraud exposed above) and reservations about the controversial "package vote" on September 25 whereby the legislative and executive branches of the government had their respective leaderships elected at the same time, through the same single vote!
Read a relevant press article in Khmer published today at http://tinyurl.com/3kcqkk
No position for Ranariddh (2)
Even though the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) has finally recognized and accepted the results of the July 27 election and declared that it is no longer an opposition party, Prince Norodom Ranariddh was not given any position in the new government. The NRP ex-President had thought that he could be appointed President of the Constitutional Council (replacing Ek Sam Ol) or Royal Palace Minister (replacing Kong Sam Ol). But the first position is a highly strategic one for the CPP and must be occupied by a CPP stalwart, and any pretender to the second position must have the support of the King, which does not seem to be the case for Prince Ranariddh.
Hor Namhong gave false information about Princess Nanette and Prince Sisowath Methavy (2)
French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, July 23, 1989, quoted [then Prince now] King Father Norodom Sihanouk as declaring, "Hor Nam Hong, former commander of a Khmer Rouge concentration camp [Boeng Trabek detention camp], is responsible for the death, after atrocious tortures, of many former members of the anti-American Resistance, such as my cousin Prince Sisowath Methavy, and his spouse [Princess Nanette], the elder sister of my wife [now Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk]."
Princess Sisowath Nanette arrived at Boeng Trabek camp in October 1977, directly from France, to join her husband Prince Sisowath Methavy who had returned to Cambodia since 1976, only one year after the Khmer Rouge take over. Following a short stay in Chraing Chamres, Prince Methavy was sent to Boeng Trabek camp in February 1977. Princess Nanette actually lived in Boeng Trabek camp for only six months before she and her husband were taken away to be executed in April 1978. This is confirmed by many surviving prisoners from the three sections of Boeng Trabek camp (B30, B31 and B32), who all confirm that they last saw Princess Nanette and her husband around the Cambodian New Year that took place in April 1978.
In an interview published in Khmer-language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea, April 23, 2008, Hor Nam Hong says the Sisowath couple lived with him "until the end of 1978" before being taken away and killed by the Khmer Rouge. However, surviving witnesses say that the Khmer Rouge had stopped taking away and killing Boeng Trabek prisoners since August-September 1978, when living conditions suddenly started to improve as the Pol Pot regime tried to mobilize all Cambodian forces to counter increasing pressure from Vietnamese troops.
The late CPP Justice Minister Chem Sgnuon, who was detained at Boeng Trabek camp until Vietnamese troops arrived in January 1979, used to tell many people how cruel Hor Nam Hong was when he was the Khmer Rouge-appointed camp chief. Chem Snguon avoided talking with Hor Nam Hong because of this bitter past.
The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, October 3, 2008, gave some clues that might be helpful for any serious investigation into the recent murder in Phnom Penh of opposition journalist Khim Sambo. Press correspondent Vincent Maclsaac writes in his report, « In the June 28-29 weekend edition of the daily Khmer Conscience, which is affiliated with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (…), Khim Sambo (…) [mocked] the behaviour of a senior police officer described by many as "one of the most dangerous men in Cambodia". He reported on an incident that allegedly occurred (…) on June 25 at a casino complex at a border crossing with Vietnam in the town of Bavet in Svay Rieng province. After losing his shirt at Le Macau Casino and Hotel, the officer borrowed [money] from the casino, lost that, borrowed more - and lost again. When the casino manager refused to lend any more, he had him arrested by the junior [police] officers accompanying him, Khim Sambo reported (…). Several [sources] - all of whom requested anonymity, citing concern for personal security - said that Khim Sambo was writing about Cambodian National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy. »
Khim Sambo, 47, and his 21-year-old son Sarinpheatra were shot dead in broad daylight by unknown killers on July 11, 2008.
On May 18, 1996, journalist Thun Bun Ly was also shot dead in similar circumstances after mocking in opposition newspaper Khmer Ideal a few days before his death the wife of a powerful political leader.
Read South China Morning Post's whole article at http://tinyurl.com/3ed232
New evidence of massive election fraud on July 27, 2008 (2)
Over the last few weeks new evidence of fraud at the July 27, 2008 national election has been exposed. Fraud was systemic because the election was totally controlled by the ruling CPP through the National Election Committee (NEC). The evidence shown is related to manipulation of voter lists leading to a massive disenfranchisement of legitimate non-CPP voters and a broad mobilization of illegitimate voters to cast ballots for the CPP by using ghosts' names. These are two manoeuvres with far-reaching implications that most international election observers did not see because they took place before Voting Day and outside the polling stations.
As a result of the fraud, the last poll has obviously distorted the will of the Cambodian people.
Evidence of fraud is contained in three main documents:
- "What election observers did not see in a rigged election" at http://tinyurl.com/6gw3rz
- "Voter list cleaning (by the NEC) and political opponent cleansing (by the CPP)" at http://tinyurl.com/45mfpu
- "International election observers must open their eyes" at http://tinyurl.com/52t3eg
As of today, only the government of North Korea has sent a message of congratulations to the CPP and to Cambodia's new/old leaders following their landslide election victory on July 27, 2008. Democratic governments have refrained from doing so, possibly because of doubts about the election's integrity (see evidence of fraud exposed above) and reservations about the controversial "package vote" on September 25 whereby the legislative and executive branches of the government had their respective leaderships elected at the same time, through the same single vote!
Read a relevant press article in Khmer published today at http://tinyurl.com/3kcqkk
No position for Ranariddh (2)
Even though the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) has finally recognized and accepted the results of the July 27 election and declared that it is no longer an opposition party, Prince Norodom Ranariddh was not given any position in the new government. The NRP ex-President had thought that he could be appointed President of the Constitutional Council (replacing Ek Sam Ol) or Royal Palace Minister (replacing Kong Sam Ol). But the first position is a highly strategic one for the CPP and must be occupied by a CPP stalwart, and any pretender to the second position must have the support of the King, which does not seem to be the case for Prince Ranariddh.
Hor Namhong gave false information about Princess Nanette and Prince Sisowath Methavy (2)
French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, July 23, 1989, quoted [then Prince now] King Father Norodom Sihanouk as declaring, "Hor Nam Hong, former commander of a Khmer Rouge concentration camp [Boeng Trabek detention camp], is responsible for the death, after atrocious tortures, of many former members of the anti-American Resistance, such as my cousin Prince Sisowath Methavy, and his spouse [Princess Nanette], the elder sister of my wife [now Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk]."
Princess Sisowath Nanette arrived at Boeng Trabek camp in October 1977, directly from France, to join her husband Prince Sisowath Methavy who had returned to Cambodia since 1976, only one year after the Khmer Rouge take over. Following a short stay in Chraing Chamres, Prince Methavy was sent to Boeng Trabek camp in February 1977. Princess Nanette actually lived in Boeng Trabek camp for only six months before she and her husband were taken away to be executed in April 1978. This is confirmed by many surviving prisoners from the three sections of Boeng Trabek camp (B30, B31 and B32), who all confirm that they last saw Princess Nanette and her husband around the Cambodian New Year that took place in April 1978.
In an interview published in Khmer-language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea, April 23, 2008, Hor Nam Hong says the Sisowath couple lived with him "until the end of 1978" before being taken away and killed by the Khmer Rouge. However, surviving witnesses say that the Khmer Rouge had stopped taking away and killing Boeng Trabek prisoners since August-September 1978, when living conditions suddenly started to improve as the Pol Pot regime tried to mobilize all Cambodian forces to counter increasing pressure from Vietnamese troops.
The late CPP Justice Minister Chem Sgnuon, who was detained at Boeng Trabek camp until Vietnamese troops arrived in January 1979, used to tell many people how cruel Hor Nam Hong was when he was the Khmer Rouge-appointed camp chief. Chem Snguon avoided talking with Hor Nam Hong because of this bitter past.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Most Authoritative Expert On Cambodia: Frauds Were Systematic And Massive. SRP Probable Winner In A Fair And Free Election
September 21, 2008
Source: SRP
Source: SRP
MOST AUTHORITATIVE EXPERT ON CAMBODIA :
FRAUDS WERE SYSTEMATIC AND MASSIVE.
SRP PROBABLE WINNER IN A FAIR AND FREE ELECTION
FRAUDS WERE SYSTEMATIC AND MASSIVE.
SRP PROBABLE WINNER IN A FAIR AND FREE ELECTION
Excerpts from Editorial in the latest issue (August-September 2008) of Espace Cambodge-Infos, a French-language publication that enjoys the support of François Ponchaud, a respected lifelong French-born but Khmer-fluent missionary, who is probably the most authoritative expert on Cambodia known as "the Catholic priest who brought the Cambodian genocide to the attention of the world" (Alan Channer).
"Election frauds were systematic and massive, to use an opposition's expression, which corresponds to the reality as observed on the spot (…). The SRP, the only viable opposition party, [would be] the probable winner had the elections been fair and free. However, because all the political, police, military and economic power is concentrated in the hands of the CPP, a victory of the opposition would have probably degenerated into civil war because those who are currently in power are not at all prepared to give up their source of immense profits."
To read the whole original text in French please click at http://tinyurl.com/4o5dkf
"Election frauds were systematic and massive, to use an opposition's expression, which corresponds to the reality as observed on the spot (…). The SRP, the only viable opposition party, [would be] the probable winner had the elections been fair and free. However, because all the political, police, military and economic power is concentrated in the hands of the CPP, a victory of the opposition would have probably degenerated into civil war because those who are currently in power are not at all prepared to give up their source of immense profits."
To read the whole original text in French please click at http://tinyurl.com/4o5dkf
Thursday, September 18, 2008
CPP Votes Inflated By Foreigners Illegally Voting In Cambodia
September 18, 2008
Source: SRP
Source: SRP
CPP VOTES INFLATED BY FOREIGNERS ILLEGALLY VOTING IN CAMBODIA
The following is an example of a commune where a very large number of foreigners are illegally registered as voters. Actually they outnumber Khmer-born citizens. For historical and political reasons the CPP has given those foreigners illegal documents to fraudulently vote for the ruling party.
For a foreign-born person to legally obtain Cambodian citizenship, the 1994 Nationality Law requires that that person receive a Royal Decree from His Majesty the King explicitly and namely granting him/her Cambodian citizenship. None of the foreign-born persons on the voter list we present below, has ever received such a Royal Decree. The corresponding polling station is in Chong Khneas commune, Siem Reap district, Siem Reap province.
The official voter list can seen by clicking at http://tinyurl.com/3j6w7e
Other examples like Chong Khneas commune can be found in Kandal, Prey Veng, Kompong Chhnang, Pursat and Svay Rieng provinces.
More evidence of methodical election rigging by the CPP nationwide can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/4eegak
SRP Cabinet
For a foreign-born person to legally obtain Cambodian citizenship, the 1994 Nationality Law requires that that person receive a Royal Decree from His Majesty the King explicitly and namely granting him/her Cambodian citizenship. None of the foreign-born persons on the voter list we present below, has ever received such a Royal Decree. The corresponding polling station is in Chong Khneas commune, Siem Reap district, Siem Reap province.
The official voter list can seen by clicking at http://tinyurl.com/3j6w7e
Other examples like Chong Khneas commune can be found in Kandal, Prey Veng, Kompong Chhnang, Pursat and Svay Rieng provinces.
More evidence of methodical election rigging by the CPP nationwide can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/4eegak
SRP Cabinet
Sam Rainsy may be sued by Hun Sen again
(Photo: DR, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)Hun Sen cannot take the insult of “an Assembly of thieves, ghosts and Yuons”
18 Sept 2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French
Sam Rainsy could be sued again for insulting the CPP MPs.
“Next time, Sam Rainsy will have to think twice before advancing such claims,” Hun Sen reacted to the claim made by the opposition leader who criticized the July election “rigging” by calling the future National Assembly: “an Assembly of thieves, ghosts and Yuons (i.e. Viets)”. “This is not a threat, but what you said is an unforgivable insult. The National Assembly should think about bringing a lawsuit in this case,” Hun Sen said nervously by raising the possibility of a lawsuit to be brought up by the 90 CPP MPs labeled by Sam Rainsy.
Sam Rainsy was already ordered by the NEC to pay 10 million riels ($2,500) for insulting the top three CPP leaders, the verdict was later upheld by the Constitutional Council.
At the same time, Hun Sen also revealed that the opposition had sent an emissary to negotiate the vice-presidency position for 4 Parliament committees out of a total of 9 committees. “It is a shame to ask the thieves to share power,” Hun Sen reacted. The latter also said that he is not concerned about the upcoming first session of the National Assembly in spite of the boycott threats by the SRP and the HRP because there is no fixed quorum set for the first Parliament session.
18 Sept 2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French
Sam Rainsy could be sued again for insulting the CPP MPs.
“Next time, Sam Rainsy will have to think twice before advancing such claims,” Hun Sen reacted to the claim made by the opposition leader who criticized the July election “rigging” by calling the future National Assembly: “an Assembly of thieves, ghosts and Yuons (i.e. Viets)”. “This is not a threat, but what you said is an unforgivable insult. The National Assembly should think about bringing a lawsuit in this case,” Hun Sen said nervously by raising the possibility of a lawsuit to be brought up by the 90 CPP MPs labeled by Sam Rainsy.
Sam Rainsy was already ordered by the NEC to pay 10 million riels ($2,500) for insulting the top three CPP leaders, the verdict was later upheld by the Constitutional Council.
At the same time, Hun Sen also revealed that the opposition had sent an emissary to negotiate the vice-presidency position for 4 Parliament committees out of a total of 9 committees. “It is a shame to ask the thieves to share power,” Hun Sen reacted. The latter also said that he is not concerned about the upcoming first session of the National Assembly in spite of the boycott threats by the SRP and the HRP because there is no fixed quorum set for the first Parliament session.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
NA's Legitimacy Contingent On Opposition's Participation
Monday, September 08, 2008
Opinion by Sam Rainsy
Letter sent to The Cambodia Daily
Opinion by Sam Rainsy
Letter sent to The Cambodia Daily
Related to the story "Opposition Asks King for Separate Swearing-In" (Sept 4, page 29), I wish to specify that the reasons for our demand are twofold:
Everybody realizes that the new Assembly cannot validly convene without participation from the opposition. Article 76 of the Constitution states, "The National Assembly consists of al least 120 members."
At its first meeting after any legislative election, the Assembly has to first proclaim the validity of ail its members' mandate. Therefore, with only 94 sworn in members (CPP + Funcinpec + NRP) present at its first meeting on Sept 24 or 25, while 29 other members-elect (SRP+HRP) will have yet to be sworn in, the Assembly on that day will hold an illegitimate session and will not have the power to make any valid decisions, including the decision to proclaim the validity of ail its members. Because the Constitution is the country’s supreme law, no provisions from any other laws can supercede the above Article 76.
What's more, the CPP also intends, at that very first Assembly meeting, to proceed with the simultaneous election of the Assembly speaker and the prime minister through a single ballot called a "package vote." The tact that the legislative and executive branches of the government will have their respective leaderships elected at the same time, through the same single vote, clearly proves that there is no separation of powers and no system of checks and balances, which is the very essence of a functioning democracy.
The opposition does not want to legitimize Cambodia's crumbling façade of democracy or to appear in an irresponsible and ludicrous show that may lead to a dangerous political crisis.
Sam Rainsy,
SRP President
- The 29 National Assembly members-elect from the opposition have legitimately won their parliamentary seats without a shadow of a doubt. The same cannot be said for the 90 members-elect from the ruling CPP given the number and the seriousness of election irregularities that have not been properly addressed. Taking part in a swearing-in ceremony with them would mean that we would recognize their legitimate presence in the new Assembly, whereas we have serious arguments to prove that a number of them have actually stolen seats from us. Our arguments are exposed on our Web site, http://tinyurl.com/4eegak, which is updated on a daily basis.
- Opposition parliamentarians-elect will be sworn in and will become full-fledged Assembly members only after the first "plenary" session of the CPP-dominated Assembly has been held Sept 24 or 25. We want the ruling party to bear the full responsibility of its decision to ignore the opposition's electoral grievances and Assembly-related demands.
Everybody realizes that the new Assembly cannot validly convene without participation from the opposition. Article 76 of the Constitution states, "The National Assembly consists of al least 120 members."
At its first meeting after any legislative election, the Assembly has to first proclaim the validity of ail its members' mandate. Therefore, with only 94 sworn in members (CPP + Funcinpec + NRP) present at its first meeting on Sept 24 or 25, while 29 other members-elect (SRP+HRP) will have yet to be sworn in, the Assembly on that day will hold an illegitimate session and will not have the power to make any valid decisions, including the decision to proclaim the validity of ail its members. Because the Constitution is the country’s supreme law, no provisions from any other laws can supercede the above Article 76.
What's more, the CPP also intends, at that very first Assembly meeting, to proceed with the simultaneous election of the Assembly speaker and the prime minister through a single ballot called a "package vote." The tact that the legislative and executive branches of the government will have their respective leaderships elected at the same time, through the same single vote, clearly proves that there is no separation of powers and no system of checks and balances, which is the very essence of a functioning democracy.
The opposition does not want to legitimize Cambodia's crumbling façade of democracy or to appear in an irresponsible and ludicrous show that may lead to a dangerous political crisis.
Sam Rainsy,
SRP President
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Hun Xen Leng Bay Khom - "Hun Xen plays [cheating] Mancala": A Poem in Khmer by Yim Guechsè
Click on the poem to zoom inPoem in Khmer by Yim Guechsè (on the web at http://kamnapyimguechse.blogspot.com)
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Friday, September 05, 2008
Opposition takes vote fight abroad
Thursday, 04 September 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng and Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Vong Sokheng and Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post
Overseas tour aims to bring international attention to fraud
THE Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party have stepped up their opposition to the results of this year's national election, despite official results confirming the dominance of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
Sam Rainsy and HRP head Kem Sokha departed on a whirlwind tour of Europe and North America Wednesday night in a bid to publicise their claims that the CPP engineered its landslide victory through the manipulation of voter lists prior to the July 27 poll.
"The poll did not represent the people's will, [and] we have the necessary documents and witnesses to substantiate our complaints," said Sam Rainsy at a pre-departure press conference at HRP headquarters.
"I believe that foreigners will not sell themselves to the CPP if we take clear documents to show them."
Kem Sokha said the fraud committed in 2008 went beyond the irregularities observed in 2003.
"In the 2003 election, the irregularities were not as great as now, especially since a large mass of voters was deleted from the lists," he told the Post, adding that the pair would speak to officials in Paris, Brussels, New York and Washington.
"I think the signatories of the [1991] Paris Peace Accords need to know that the election was not fair," he said.
Both parties have also confirmed they will proceed with their boycott of the swearing-in of the new National Assembly on September 24, but would join the Assembly the following day.
"Our members will not attend the swearing in of the National Assembly, but will instead be sworn in on September 25. We will not be sworn in with the two thief parties [CPP and Funcinpec]," said Sam Rainsy. "[We] will ask the King to be sworn in on the 25th."
But government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said neither tactic would have any effect on the validity of the election results.
"Even if they make their complaints to the EU and UN, it will not change the result," he said, predicting the opposition parties would drop their boycott threats for fear of losing seats.
"If they don't attend the first session of the NA, they will lose face," he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MEAS SOKCHEA
THE Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party have stepped up their opposition to the results of this year's national election, despite official results confirming the dominance of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
Sam Rainsy and HRP head Kem Sokha departed on a whirlwind tour of Europe and North America Wednesday night in a bid to publicise their claims that the CPP engineered its landslide victory through the manipulation of voter lists prior to the July 27 poll.
"The poll did not represent the people's will, [and] we have the necessary documents and witnesses to substantiate our complaints," said Sam Rainsy at a pre-departure press conference at HRP headquarters.
"I believe that foreigners will not sell themselves to the CPP if we take clear documents to show them."
Kem Sokha said the fraud committed in 2008 went beyond the irregularities observed in 2003.
"In the 2003 election, the irregularities were not as great as now, especially since a large mass of voters was deleted from the lists," he told the Post, adding that the pair would speak to officials in Paris, Brussels, New York and Washington.
"I think the signatories of the [1991] Paris Peace Accords need to know that the election was not fair," he said.
Both parties have also confirmed they will proceed with their boycott of the swearing-in of the new National Assembly on September 24, but would join the Assembly the following day.
"Our members will not attend the swearing in of the National Assembly, but will instead be sworn in on September 25. We will not be sworn in with the two thief parties [CPP and Funcinpec]," said Sam Rainsy. "[We] will ask the King to be sworn in on the 25th."
But government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said neither tactic would have any effect on the validity of the election results.
"Even if they make their complaints to the EU and UN, it will not change the result," he said, predicting the opposition parties would drop their boycott threats for fear of losing seats.
"If they don't attend the first session of the NA, they will lose face," he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MEAS SOKCHEA
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Thumbprints of 20,000 voters back fraud claim
Sam Rainsy Party Deputy Secretary General Mu Sochua walks into the Constitutional Council building on Tuesday. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post
Sam Rainsy Party submits vast body of evidence to Constitutional Council in effort to substantiate allegations of electoral fraud by the ruling CPP
THE thumbprints of 20,000 disenfranchised voters were submitted to the Constitutional Council Tuesday as part of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party's drive to substantiate its allegations that the July 27 ballot is invalid due to systematic electoral fraud.
"We have presented evidence and witnesses to the Constitutional Council and we will answer all of their questions," Kong Sam On, a lawyer acting for the SRP, told reporters waiting in the Senate compound, near to where the Council convenes.
Kong Sam On said that the Constitutional Council had summoned party officials for questioning in relation to the complaints.
"We hope that a hearing will happen within the next two weeks," he added.
Constitutional Council spokesman Pen Thol told the Post that the Council has yet to rule on the opposition's complaints.
However, he said the Council intended to rule on the complaints prior to the announcement of the official election results by the National Election Committee (NEC) which are due September 17.
SRP President Sam Rainsy told reporters that he is scheduled to fly to foreign countries that are signatories to the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, saying that when they signed the accords they committed themselves to helping guarantee free and fair elections in Cambodia.
"Electoral fraud is still a huge problem and stripped many voters of the right to cast their ballots," Sam Rainsy said, adding that international pressure could highlight the government's actions.
"We hope that independent countries will condemn the NEC for playing a role in stealing votes for the CPP."
King Norodom Sihamoni is scheduled to preside over the inauguration and swearing-in of the new National Assembly on September 24, but Sam Rainsy said that the opposition parties were not interested in the formation of a new government.
"I am not interested in other issues at the moment, and I am focusing on the Constitutional Council," he said.
Despite continued threats by the opposition to boycott the swearing-in ceremony, the ruling Cambodian People's Party has pledged to go ahead, issuing warnings that opposition lawmakers not present at the event could forfeit their seats in the Assembly.
THE thumbprints of 20,000 disenfranchised voters were submitted to the Constitutional Council Tuesday as part of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party's drive to substantiate its allegations that the July 27 ballot is invalid due to systematic electoral fraud.
"We have presented evidence and witnesses to the Constitutional Council and we will answer all of their questions," Kong Sam On, a lawyer acting for the SRP, told reporters waiting in the Senate compound, near to where the Council convenes.
Kong Sam On said that the Constitutional Council had summoned party officials for questioning in relation to the complaints.
"We hope that a hearing will happen within the next two weeks," he added.
Constitutional Council spokesman Pen Thol told the Post that the Council has yet to rule on the opposition's complaints.
However, he said the Council intended to rule on the complaints prior to the announcement of the official election results by the National Election Committee (NEC) which are due September 17.
SRP President Sam Rainsy told reporters that he is scheduled to fly to foreign countries that are signatories to the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, saying that when they signed the accords they committed themselves to helping guarantee free and fair elections in Cambodia.
"Electoral fraud is still a huge problem and stripped many voters of the right to cast their ballots," Sam Rainsy said, adding that international pressure could highlight the government's actions.
"We hope that independent countries will condemn the NEC for playing a role in stealing votes for the CPP."
King Norodom Sihamoni is scheduled to preside over the inauguration and swearing-in of the new National Assembly on September 24, but Sam Rainsy said that the opposition parties were not interested in the formation of a new government.
"I am not interested in other issues at the moment, and I am focusing on the Constitutional Council," he said.
Despite continued threats by the opposition to boycott the swearing-in ceremony, the ruling Cambodian People's Party has pledged to go ahead, issuing warnings that opposition lawmakers not present at the event could forfeit their seats in the Assembly.
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: My Dropping
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Khmer Intelligence News - 19 August 2008
19 August 2008
Ranariddh plots to topple Hun Sen (2)
CPP and Funcinpec leaders have in their possession a tape recording a recent phone conversation between self-exiled prince Norodom Ranariddh and Sao Rany, a prominent member of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) and a high-ranking official of the Interior Ministry. In the conversation the two politicians discussed about a plot to topple Hun Sen from power with the support of Vietnam and a faction of the CPP hostile to the current Prime Minister.
Thaksin prepares his comeback with the support of Hun Sen (2)
Former Thai Prime Minister and business tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra has recently signed an official deal with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to purportedly develop the Cambodia's south-western maritime province of Koh Kong.
In fact, Thaksin wants to secure very convenient Cambodian-based facilities to prepare his political comeback in Thailand. Hun Sen is well aware of Thaksin's hidden agenda but the pair have many things in common.
The current tension between Cambodia and Thailand about Preah Vihear temple is in part due to false assurances given by Thaksin to Hun Sen in the past about border delineation. A possible additional reason for the tension is pressure exerted by Vietnam on Hun Sen to prove his loyalty toward Hanoi (see news above: "Ranariddh plots to topple Hun Sen"). From this perspective the current tension is reminiscent of the anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh in January 2003 which were organized by the most pro-Vietnamese elements within the Cambodian government.
Real results of Cambodia's recent elections (2)
Independent observers recognize that the July 27, 2008 national election in Cambodia was marred with two serious irregularities: the issuing of forged voter identification documents to illegitimate voters in order to inflate votes for the ruling CPP, and the disenfranchisement of a significant portion of the electorate in order to reduce votes for the opposition (see KI News, 20 May 2008: "CPP's new strategy: disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters").
Reasonably adjusted for these two forms of fraud, the election results would be as follows:
To check methodology and estimates and to enter different estimates/assumptions for sensitivity analysis, please click at http://tinyurl.com/63zuyc
Hundreds of CPP commune chiefs could be jailed for forgery (2)
Just before and on Voting Day, CPP commune chiefs throughout the country illegally issued an unprecedented number of 1018 forms which are substitute ID document and serve as voting card valid in a specific commune. There is evidence showing that the CPP methodically issued those 1018 forms to illegitimate voters in order to inflate its votes. Illegitimate voters are under-aged people, non-registered citizens, migrant workers unable to return to vote in the commune where they were originally registered, and foreigners with no voting rights. Through forged 1018 forms the CPP gave illegitimate voters the identity of "ghost voters" who are officially on the voter list but do not exist or are not present. These "ghost voters" are deceased people, twice-registered voters and voters who have permanently moved away from the commune.
In what was presented as a "cleaning-up" process that started in 2007, "ghost voters" were deliberately kept on the voter registry while names of legitimate voters known as non-CPP supporters were deliberately deleted from the voter registry. The CPP-controlled National Election Committee killed two birds with one stone: On the one hand it built up a reserve of hundreds of thousands of "ghost voters" for the CPP, and on the other hand it disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters (see news above: "Real results of Cambodia's recent elections") .
All the forged 1018 forms were certified, with signatures and official stamps, by CPP commune chiefs from all over the country.
The uncontrolled issuing of the 1018 forms did have a significant impact on the election results: As few as 4 fraudulent (1018-form-related) votes for the CPP per polling station could deprive the opposition of one parliamentary seat.
Article 49 of the Criminal Law states, "Any elected official or civil servant [who is involved in the forgery of public documents] shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five to fifteen years."
See examples of 1018 forms by clicking at http://tinyurl.com/6cmh94
_________________________
20 May 2008
CPP's new strategy: disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters (2)
It has become obvious now that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is implementing a new strategy, which was successfully tested in 2007, to secure another election victory even before Voting Day on 27 July 2008. In the voter list "clean up" process conducted by the CPP-controlled National Election Committee (NEC), some 600,000 names have been deleted from the voter registry. Names which should be deleted (ghost voters, foreigners with no voting right) have been kept on the list whereas names of real and legitimate votes have been deleted because related to those identified by CPP-affiliated village chiefs as non-CPP supporters.
Over the last five years, from the 2002 commune elections to the 2007 commune elections, the CPP has dramatically lost ground. In 2007 as in 2002, the CPP collected 61 percent of the popular votes. But there is a big difference between the two elections: in 2007, the voter turnout was only 65 percent whereas it was 87 percent in 2002, meaning that support for the CPP computed on the basis of the whole electorate dropped from 53 percent in 2002 to 39 percent in 2007. It was only through a massive disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters that the CPP could maintain its positions. The CPP is resorting to the same strategy in 2008.
[End]
CPP and Funcinpec leaders have in their possession a tape recording a recent phone conversation between self-exiled prince Norodom Ranariddh and Sao Rany, a prominent member of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) and a high-ranking official of the Interior Ministry. In the conversation the two politicians discussed about a plot to topple Hun Sen from power with the support of Vietnam and a faction of the CPP hostile to the current Prime Minister.
Thaksin prepares his comeback with the support of Hun Sen (2)
Former Thai Prime Minister and business tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra has recently signed an official deal with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to purportedly develop the Cambodia's south-western maritime province of Koh Kong.
In fact, Thaksin wants to secure very convenient Cambodian-based facilities to prepare his political comeback in Thailand. Hun Sen is well aware of Thaksin's hidden agenda but the pair have many things in common.
The current tension between Cambodia and Thailand about Preah Vihear temple is in part due to false assurances given by Thaksin to Hun Sen in the past about border delineation. A possible additional reason for the tension is pressure exerted by Vietnam on Hun Sen to prove his loyalty toward Hanoi (see news above: "Ranariddh plots to topple Hun Sen"). From this perspective the current tension is reminiscent of the anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh in January 2003 which were organized by the most pro-Vietnamese elements within the Cambodian government.
Real results of Cambodia's recent elections (2)
Independent observers recognize that the July 27, 2008 national election in Cambodia was marred with two serious irregularities: the issuing of forged voter identification documents to illegitimate voters in order to inflate votes for the ruling CPP, and the disenfranchisement of a significant portion of the electorate in order to reduce votes for the opposition (see KI News, 20 May 2008: "CPP's new strategy: disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters").
Reasonably adjusted for these two forms of fraud, the election results would be as follows:
- CPP: 2.99 million votes (instead of 3.49 million); 75 National Assembly seats (instead of 90).
- SRP: 1.84 million votes (instead of 1.32 million); 36 seats (instead of 26).
- HRP: 0.55 million votes (instead of 0.40 million); 7 seats (instead of 3).
- NRP: 0.48million votes (instead of 0.34 million); 2 seats (unchanged).
- FUNCINPEC: 0.43 million votes (instead of 0.30 million); 3 seats (instead of 2).
- Six other parties combined: 0.23 million votes (instead of 0.16 million); 0 seat (unchanged).
To check methodology and estimates and to enter different estimates/assumptions for sensitivity analysis, please click at http://tinyurl.com/63zuyc
Hundreds of CPP commune chiefs could be jailed for forgery (2)
Just before and on Voting Day, CPP commune chiefs throughout the country illegally issued an unprecedented number of 1018 forms which are substitute ID document and serve as voting card valid in a specific commune. There is evidence showing that the CPP methodically issued those 1018 forms to illegitimate voters in order to inflate its votes. Illegitimate voters are under-aged people, non-registered citizens, migrant workers unable to return to vote in the commune where they were originally registered, and foreigners with no voting rights. Through forged 1018 forms the CPP gave illegitimate voters the identity of "ghost voters" who are officially on the voter list but do not exist or are not present. These "ghost voters" are deceased people, twice-registered voters and voters who have permanently moved away from the commune.
In what was presented as a "cleaning-up" process that started in 2007, "ghost voters" were deliberately kept on the voter registry while names of legitimate voters known as non-CPP supporters were deliberately deleted from the voter registry. The CPP-controlled National Election Committee killed two birds with one stone: On the one hand it built up a reserve of hundreds of thousands of "ghost voters" for the CPP, and on the other hand it disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters (see news above: "Real results of Cambodia's recent elections") .
All the forged 1018 forms were certified, with signatures and official stamps, by CPP commune chiefs from all over the country.
The uncontrolled issuing of the 1018 forms did have a significant impact on the election results: As few as 4 fraudulent (1018-form-related) votes for the CPP per polling station could deprive the opposition of one parliamentary seat.
Article 49 of the Criminal Law states, "Any elected official or civil servant [who is involved in the forgery of public documents] shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five to fifteen years."
See examples of 1018 forms by clicking at http://tinyurl.com/6cmh94
_________________________
20 May 2008
CPP's new strategy: disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters (2)
It has become obvious now that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is implementing a new strategy, which was successfully tested in 2007, to secure another election victory even before Voting Day on 27 July 2008. In the voter list "clean up" process conducted by the CPP-controlled National Election Committee (NEC), some 600,000 names have been deleted from the voter registry. Names which should be deleted (ghost voters, foreigners with no voting right) have been kept on the list whereas names of real and legitimate votes have been deleted because related to those identified by CPP-affiliated village chiefs as non-CPP supporters.
Over the last five years, from the 2002 commune elections to the 2007 commune elections, the CPP has dramatically lost ground. In 2007 as in 2002, the CPP collected 61 percent of the popular votes. But there is a big difference between the two elections: in 2007, the voter turnout was only 65 percent whereas it was 87 percent in 2002, meaning that support for the CPP computed on the basis of the whole electorate dropped from 53 percent in 2002 to 39 percent in 2007. It was only through a massive disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters that the CPP could maintain its positions. The CPP is resorting to the same strategy in 2008.
[End]
Friday, August 15, 2008
Afflicted by CPP blindness and bias, the NEC can't see any election fraud
NEC Dismisses Complaints of Voter Fraud
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
14 August 2008
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
14 August 2008
The opposition party on Thursday criticized as partial and political the National Election Committee's denial of its voter fraud complaints, as the Cambodian People's Party and Funcinpec decided on a reduced number of positions in the new government.
The NEC on Tuesday struck down the Sam Rainsy Party complaints of widespread voter irregularities.
The NEC said Tuesday not enough evidence had been presented to warrant a public hearing over the alleged irregularities.
The Sam Rainsy Party said Wednesday it would appeal to the Constitutional Council.
The complaints included allegations that local officials had distributed an identification form, No. 1018, in lieu of photo identification, allowing for ineligible voting.
"We are very disappointed for the denial by the NEC, and call the denial not in comformity with the law, because we have full witnesses and documents in our complaint," said Kong Sam On, SRP lawyer in charge of election complaints. "We have evidence enough about the irregularities, including more than 3,000 witnesses who have real addresses and form No. 1018 illegally issued by commune officials."
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha defended the decision, as "following the law and NEC procedure."
As the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties maintained a denial of the election results Wednesday, Funcinpec prepared to join the government with less posts than in the past.
CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thursday Funcinpec members will hold positions in government such as deputy prime minister, senior minister, or secretary of state, but there would be no Funcinpec ministry heads.
The CPP will lead all of the ministries, he said.
"We are preparing the list for government posts," Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bunchhay said Thursday. "There are at least 62 people: one for deputy prime minister, four for senior minister from former ministers...and the remaining are secretary of state and undersecretary of state."
"This is our pride, to get some government posts, if we get two seats in the Assembly. All of these positions are concessions and gifts from the CPP, because we used to work together," he said. "If we didn't get the government posts, we would have been disappointed, because we got a bad result from the election."
The NEC on Tuesday struck down the Sam Rainsy Party complaints of widespread voter irregularities.
The NEC said Tuesday not enough evidence had been presented to warrant a public hearing over the alleged irregularities.
The Sam Rainsy Party said Wednesday it would appeal to the Constitutional Council.
The complaints included allegations that local officials had distributed an identification form, No. 1018, in lieu of photo identification, allowing for ineligible voting.
"We are very disappointed for the denial by the NEC, and call the denial not in comformity with the law, because we have full witnesses and documents in our complaint," said Kong Sam On, SRP lawyer in charge of election complaints. "We have evidence enough about the irregularities, including more than 3,000 witnesses who have real addresses and form No. 1018 illegally issued by commune officials."
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha defended the decision, as "following the law and NEC procedure."
As the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties maintained a denial of the election results Wednesday, Funcinpec prepared to join the government with less posts than in the past.
CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thursday Funcinpec members will hold positions in government such as deputy prime minister, senior minister, or secretary of state, but there would be no Funcinpec ministry heads.
The CPP will lead all of the ministries, he said.
"We are preparing the list for government posts," Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bunchhay said Thursday. "There are at least 62 people: one for deputy prime minister, four for senior minister from former ministers...and the remaining are secretary of state and undersecretary of state."
"This is our pride, to get some government posts, if we get two seats in the Assembly. All of these positions are concessions and gifts from the CPP, because we used to work together," he said. "If we didn't get the government posts, we would have been disappointed, because we got a bad result from the election."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
