EU election obervers: "Lack of confidence in the neutrality and impartiality of the National Election Committee (NEC)"

EU EOM chief observer Martin Callanan presents the key findings and recommendations of the mission’s final report, released Tuesday. (Photo by: Vandy Rattana)

2008 election was peaceful but flawed: EU observers

Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Written by Sebastian Strangio and Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Click here to read the EOM report in English (PDF)
Click here to read the EOM report in Khmer (PDF)

EU election monitors highlight voter registration, neutrality and the local media environment as key concerns in their final post-election report

THE European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM) has released its final assessment of the July 27 national election, calling on the government to address a number of irregularities it claims marred an otherwise peaceful poll.

"While the campaign was generally conducted in a more peaceful and open environment compared to previous elections, the 2008 National Assembly elections fell short of a number of key international standards for democratic elections," EOM chief observer Martin Callanan said at a news conference Tuesday.

Echoing the EU's July 29 provisional assessment, the final report notes the "lack of confidence in the neutrality and impartiality of the National Election Committee (NEC)", and concludes that there were "a significant number of mistakenly disenfranchised voters" due to the deletion of names from voter lists.

It also calls attention to the overwhelming media dominance of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, which "may have undermined the ability of the Cambodian electorate ... to make an informed choice".

Among its recommendations, the report calls on the government to "take credible steps" to ensure the neutrality of the NEC at all levels and to abolish the use of Statement of Identity Form 1018, which it claims was fraudulently issued at polling stations.

Callanan also highlighted the importance of a free media environment, calling on the government to establish "an independent broadcasting regulatory authority to be responsible for the distribution of licences and frequencies to broadcast media on an open and transparent basis".

Two steps forward...

Tep Nytha, general secretary of the NEC, said he welcomed the EOM's input, but said critics should not overlook the NEC's achievements. "The July 27 election reflects another step of the development of democracy and was evaluated positively by national and international stakeholders," he said, adding that the NEC would only take time to consider recommendations that "comply with electoral law".

...and one step back

But Koul Panha, executive director of election monitor Comfrel, said the recommendations represented clear shortfalls in the election process. "The recommendations they give point to the election's problems," he said, adding that the EU involvement was in a good position to convey pressure over the conduct of the election.

"This is a very sensitive political topic," he said. "If we depend on the government's action, I don't know if anything will happen. We may need some pressure for the government to improve the electoral process."

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on the elections in Cambodia

Thursday, July 31, 2008
7th Space Interactive

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, underlined the importance of these fourth parliamentary elections since the signing of the Paris Peace Accord in October 1991.

“I congratulate the Cambodian voters for showing their commitment to peaceful elections. In comparison to previous elections important progress has been made including efforts to improve transparency guarantees. However, a number of key international standards for democratic elections, mostly related to the uneven playing field between political parties, have not been met. I call upon all political actors to seize the opportunity to address the problems encountered and to commit to further strengthening democracy in Cambodia. The EU stands ready to accompany these efforts. I also want to thank Chief Observer Martin Callanan, MEP, and the whole observation mission for their hard work and commitment.”

The European Commission deployed an EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the 27 July 2008 National Assembly elections in Cambodia led by Mr. Martin Callanan, Member of the European Parliament. The EU EOM is as a further contribution by the European Commission to support democracy in Cambodia. The preliminary statement was presented by the Chief Observer Mr. Martin Callanan together with the Head of the European Parliament delegation, Mr. Glyn Ford, on the 29th of July.

The mission concluded that the conduct of these elections shows improvements to previous elections. Polling and counting were well organized; election authorities established transparency guarantees for corroborating polling station results; also, civil society participated more actively than in past elections. Despite these positive notes, the mission also concluded that the elections fell short of a number of key international standards. Inter alia, there was a lack of confidence in the impartiality of electoral authorities; the campaign period was marked by widespread use of state resources; access to media was difficult for opposition parties; and civic education was assessed as biased in favor of the ruling party.

The EU EOM deployed 130 observers from 25 EU Member States and Norway throughout Cambodia to observe and assess the electoral process in accordance with international standards for election observation and the laws of Cambodia. The EOM will stay on the ground until the end of August to observe the tabulation of results and post-election developments. A final report covering the whole electoral process including recommendations for future elections will be published by the EU EOM in the coming months.

Cambodian elections not bad, but not good, Brussels says

Jul 31, 2008
DPA

Brussels - The weekend's parliamentary elections in Cambodia were an improvement on earlier polls, but important shortfalls remained, the European Union's executive said Thursday.

'In comparison to previous elections, important progress has been made, including efforts to improve transparency guarantees,' EU foreign-affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

'However, a number of key international standards for democratic elections, mostly related to the uneven playing field between political parties, have not been met,' she said.

Ahead of Sunday's election, the EU sent 130 officials to Cambodia to observe the conduct of the vote.

'The mission concluded that the conduct of these elections shows improvements to previous elections,' the commission statement said.

However, it also concluded that 'there was a lack of confidence in the impartiality of electoral authorities; the campaign period was marked by widespread use of state resources; access to media was difficult for opposition parties; and civic education was assessed as biased in favour of the ruling party,' the statement said.

The election ended in a landslide victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), with at least 90 out of 123 seats.

The EU's observation mission is set to stay in Cambodia until the end of August, with a final report due 'in the coming months,' the commission statement said.

European Union mission keeps eye on elections

Monday, 23 June 2008
Dan Poynton
The Mekong Times

The European Union (EU) is sending a mission of over 130 observers from 23 EU countries to monitor the July 27 national elections, as the EU says this year’s elections are a crucial event in the country’s development.

The EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) is here on invitation by the Cambodian government, and according to an EOM statement, its main objectives are to offer a “comprehensive … impartial and independent” assessment of the election and to strengthen voters’ confidence to “participate freely.”

“We are here in a spirit of cooperation with the people of Cambodia,” said Martin Callanan, chief observer of the EOM and a British Member of the European Parliament, at a press conference in Phnom Penh Friday, he added that the mission is hoping to strengthen the election process and give the opportunity for all political parties to be able to compete freely and fairly.

The EOM statement said the EOM is being coordinated by a core team of nine experts in Phnom Penh. Forty-four Long-Term Observers (LTOs) – two for every province – were to arrive yesterday and will assess the campaign period and pre-election preparations. Two of the LTOs will be from Norway, a non-EU member

On election day, 80 Short-Term Observers (STOs) will observe voting and counting in polling stations throughout the country.

“We can visit any polling station in any province. We will not inform authorities about where we will go,” said Callanan.

The EOM will remain here for several weeks after the elections to assess the post-election period.

“We will observe the entire election process … as well as the general environment in which the election is being conducted,” said Callanan, adding that the EOM reports will be “impartial, balanced and informed.”

“All observers will be impartial and work under international and Cambodian [legal] frameworks. They cannot interfere in the election process,” he said, adding that the EU sees its long history of election observation as an important part of its work for human rights and democratization throughout the world. He said this marks the EU’s fourth election observation mission to Cambodia.

“The election is not just an event, it is a process,” said Callanan, pointing out that the EOM will be observing the entire process, including the lead-up and any complaints and appeals after the elections.

The EOM statement said the mission will assess to what extent the elections comply with international and regional election standards as well as with Cambodian domestic law.

Callanan said he has already met with a number of government officials and NGOs in Cambodia, stressing in the meetings that all candidates must be able to express themselves and use their rights “fully, freely and peacefully”.

He said he had already met a number of representatives from the parties running in the elections, and that he will have met with all the parties by the end of the campaign.

“Participating in a free and fair election is a basic human right,” he said.

Callanan would give no comment about the plight of certain individual opposition candidates and the alleged government oppression against them, including that of opposition leader Norodom Ranariddh, although he did say that the recent arrest of editor and Sam Rainsy Party candidate Dam Sith for defamation was “regrettable”.

“It is not for me to comment about whether human rights in Cambodia are improving,” said Callanan.

The EOM will issue a full report with its findings after the elections.

Hor Nam Hong: Sam Rainsy's immunity will not be stripped before election...after that only the CPP can tell as it controls the biased justice system

NA vows not to strip Sam Rainsy’s immunity

Monday, 23 June 2008
Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has confirmed that opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity will not be stripped before the July 27 national election, thus allowing him to lead his party through the election campaign, according to a top European Union (EU) official.

Hor Namhong told Martin Callanan, chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, last Thursday that the National Assembly (NA) will not follow Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s request to strip Sam Rainsy of his parliamentary immunity ahead of the election, Callanan said at a press conference in Phnom Penh on Friday.

Hor Namhong filed defamation and disinformation charges against Sam Rainsy April 22 after the opposition leader made remarks at an April 17 ceremony at the Choeung Ek Killing Fields indirectly accusing Hor Namhong of being the chief of the notorious former Khmer Rouge Boeung Trabek prison.

The court made the request to strip Sam Rainsy’s immunity after the prosecution had gathered evidence it alleges indicates that Sam Rainsy committed defamation and disinformation.

Sam Rainsy said he was not afraid of the threats to deprive him of his immunity, and he alleged that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is driving the move to divert people’s attention away from skyrocketing goods prices and land disputes which it is unable to deal with. He said these “political threats” stem from the CPP’s fear that it will lose the election to his Sam Rainsy party and that the threats could adversely affect the election.

In addition to Hor Namhong’s recent promise, NA officials had earlier announced that it would be impossible to remove Sam Rainsy’s immunity before the election, as the NA is in recess during the election campaign. They said the possible removal of the opposition leader’s immunity would be decided after the election.

Sam Rainsy has failed to appear to testify at the lawsuit filed by Hor Namhong on two occasions, claiming that he was occupied on party business. Sam Rainsy will again be required to appear in court June 26, but his lawyer Choung Chougy claimed his client may not be able to appear as he is very busy.

Authorities cannot arrest or detain Sam Rainsy while his immunity has not been suspended.

Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of the SRP-affiliated newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer, was arrested and jailed for a week after the newspaper quoted Sam Rainsy’s remarks. The journalist was released following a request for bail from Prime Minister Hun Sen.