The opposition joined Comfrel's conference on vote registration and voting list checking

គណបក្សប្រឆាំង ចូលរួមប្រជុំ​ចង្អៀត​ជាមួយ​ខុមហ្វ្រែល ស្តីពី​ការចុះបញ្ជី និង​ពិនិត្យ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​

ថ្ងៃទី 18 កញ្ញា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: អង្គការ​ខុមហ្វ្រែល បាន​បើក​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​មិនទូលំទូលាយមួយ​ជាមួយនឹង​តំណាង​គណបក្សនយោបាយ ដែលមាន​អាសនៈ​នៅក្នុង​សភា និង​គណបក្ស ដែល​គ្មាន​អាសនៈ​ក្នុង​សភា​។ កិច្ចប្រជុំ​មិនទូលំទូលាយ​នេះ បានធ្វើ​ឡើង​នៅ​សណ្ឋាគារ អ៊ឹម​ភៀរៀ​ល កាលពី​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃទី​១៨ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ ដោយ​ផ្តោត​ការពិភាក្សា​លើ​ការចុះបញ្ជី​បោះឆ្នោត ដែល​កំពុងដំណើរការ​ចុះឈ្មោះ​ពិនិត្យ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​។​

​លោក ហូរ វ៉ាន់ សមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា នៃ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី បាន​ចូលរួម​ប្រជុំ​ ​ដែលរៀបចំ​ដោយ​ខុមហ្វ្រែល​នោះ បាន​និយាយថា ការប្រជុំ​នៅពេលនេះ​ពិភាក្សាគ្នា រិះរក​វិធី​យ៉ាងណា​ឲ្យ​ការចុះឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត ប្រកបដោយ​តម្លាភាព និង​គុណភាព និង​រិះរក​វិធី​ឲ្យ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ បាន​ចុះឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​ទាំងអស់គ្នា ហើយ​ដើម្បី​ជួយ​ធ្វ​ឲ្យ​បញ្ជី​ចុះឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​មួយ ដែល​អាច​ទទួលយកបាន​គ្រប់​គណបក្សនយោបាយ​។​

​លោក ហូរ វ៉ាន់ បាន​មាន​ប្រ​រ​សាសន៍​បន្តថា ​ការចុះឈ្មោះ​កន្លងមក មាន​ភាពមិនប្រក្រតី ជាច្រើន ដូចជា មានការ​ចុះឈ្មោះ​ឲ្យ​ជនបរទេស​ជាច្រើន ដែល​មិនអាច​ដោះស្រាយបាន ពីព្រោះ​មិនបាន​យក​ច្បាប់​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​មក​អនុវត្ត​។

Comfrel: Cambodia's voting list lacks quality

បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​អ្នក​បោះឆ្នោត (ចាន់ណា/RFI)

អង្គការ Comfrel រិះគន់​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​អ្នក​បោះឆ្នោត​ថា​គ្មាន​គុណភាព 

​ថ្ងៃ សៅរ៍ 15 កញ្ញា 2012
ដោយ ប៉ែន បូណា
Radio France Internationale

គណបក្ស​សម រង្ស៊ី និង​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ក៏​កំពុង​ទទូច​យ៉ាង​ក្តៅគគុក​សុំ​ឲ្យ​ ក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ​កែទម្រង់​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ផងដែរ​នៅមុន​ ការបោះឆ្នោត ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ ២០១៣ ខាងមុខនេះ៕

ក្នុង​ទិវា​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ អន្តរជាតិ ថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែកញ្ញា​នេះ អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំមើល​ការបោះឆ្នោត ហៅ​កាត់​ថា ខុមហ្វ្រែល បាន​រិះគន់​អំពី​ការរៀបចំ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត​ថា​បាន​ធ្វើឡើង​ដោយ​គ្មាន​គុណភាព។ យោងតាម​ខុមហ្វ្រែល ៤៩ ភាគរយ នៃ​អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត​មិនបាន​ទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ​សង្កាត់ កាលពី​ខែមិថុនា​កន្លងទៅនេះ​ទេ ដោយសារ​មាន​បញ្ហា​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត។ ការរិះគន់​នេះ​បានធ្វើ​ឡើង​ចំពេល​ដែល គ.ជ.ប កំពុងដំណើរការ​រៀប​ចំ​ចុះឈ្មោះ និង​ពិនិត្យ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត​ឆ្នាំ ២០១២។

នៅ​ចំ​ថ្ងៃ​ប្រារព្ធ​ទិវា​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​អន្តរជាតិ ថ្ងៃទី១៥ កញ្ញា​នេះ អង្គការ ខុមហ្វ្រែល បាន​ថ្លែង​កត់សម្គាល់​ដោយ​ការ​រិះគន់ថា ក្នុងការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសរើស​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ សង្កាត់ ដែល​បាន​ប្រព្រឹត្តទៅ​កាលពី​ខែមិថុនា និង​ក្នុងខណៈដែល​កម្ពុជា​កំពុង​ត្រៀម​ឆ្ពោះទៅរក​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសតាំង​តំណាងរាស្ដ្រ​ឆ្នាំ ២០១៣ នៅមាន​បញ្ហា​ដែល​បន្សល់ទុក និង​នៅ​មិនទាន់បាន​បំពេញ​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ជាច្រើន។


បញ្ហា​ទាំងនោះ​មានដូចជា ការចាត់ចែង​បោះឆ្នោត​មិនទាន់​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ដែល​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស នយោបាយ​ដែល​ចូលរួម​ប្រកួតប្រជែង​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​មិនទាន់​អស់ចិត្ត។ ក្រៅពីនោះ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​មួយចំនួន​ពិសេស​យុវជន​បាត់បង់​សិទ្ធិ​បោះឆ្នោត។ យោងតាម​សេចក្ដីប្រកាស​ព័ត៌មាន​របស់​ខុមហ្វ្រែល ក្នុងពេល​បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសរើស​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ សង្កាត់ កន្លងទៅ ខុមហ្វ្រែល បាន​រកឃើញថា ៤៩ភាគរយ​នៃ​អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត​មិនបាន​បោះឆ្នោត​ទេ ដោយសារតែ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​ផ្លូវការ​គ្មាន​គុណភាព​គ្រប់គ្រាន់។

Monitor Counts Irregulari​ties at Half of Last Month's Polling Stations- RED CARD for Lack of Impartiali​ty

25 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Scoring Elections in Cambodia

Red card to the government of Cambodia for lack of electoral reforms.

Red card on the following points recommended as essential in the EU Election Observation Mission, Cambodia, 27 July 2008

http://www.eueomcambodia.org/English/Final_Report.html

• The government of Cambodia must take credible steps to ensure that the NEC operates as a fully independent institution at all levels in order to enhance its credibility and acceptance among the electorate. Members of the NEC should be approved by a consensus among all political parties represented in the National Assembly. In particular the NEC chairperson should be a person acceptable to all political parties represented in the National Assembly. A limitation of the term in office of the chairperson and members of the NEC should be considered;
• The Ministry of Interior should increase the ID card distribution rate and improve monitoring of the process. In cases where voters do not possess an ID card or other ID document the state authorities should find an alternative solution to enable voters to identify themselves on election-day. Regardless of the solution, records of voters using alternative identification should be kept as a safeguard and as information to support further improvement of the Cambodian electoral framework;
• A free media environment is absolutely essential to ensuring that Cambodia’s efforts to tackle corruption and protect fundamental human rights meet with success. The government must show its commitment towards this end by the establishment of an independent broadcasting regulatory authority, responsible for the distribution of licenses and frequencies to the broadcast media on an open and transparent basis.

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Monitor Counts Irregularities at Half of Last Month’s Polling Stations

Cambodian Buddhist monk, right, casts his ballot in local elections at Wat Than pagoda's polling station in Phnom Penh, Sunday, June 3, 2012 Photo: AP

Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Kong Sotharnarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

"The NEC must be improved if elections in the country are to be considered free and fair."

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections said Wednesday Cambodia needs to reform the National Election Committee ahead of parliamentary polls next July.

The independent monitoring organization counted 3,000 irregularities at 5,810 polling stations in last month’s local elections, it announced Wednesday.

 

Click here to read more...

Parties Add to Criticism of National Election Committee

An election campaign poster of Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party hangs on the back of a motorized rickshaw parked at a blocked street in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Photo: AP

Monday, 25 June 2012
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“The NEC does not belong to the CPP.”

Opposition party members added to calls for reform of the National Election Committee, claiming that official results from local polls earlier this month reflect poorly on the election body.

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party won an overwhelming majority of commune council positions, but election monitors say they counted thousands of irregularities at local polling sites.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said the irregularities were so widespread that the election should not be considered free or fair. He called the National Election Committee “a puppet of the ruling party.”

NEC officials have acknowledged some irregularities with voting, but blamed technical problems, not political bias.

SCORING OF CONDUCT OF ELECTION IN CAMBODIA

23 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

RED CARD should be handed out to CPP on many accounts including vote buying.

RED CARD should be handed out first to the National Election Committee for lack of impartiality.

One of the essential recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission, Cambodia, 27 July 20084 Final Report on the National Assembly Elections

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http://www.eueomcambodia.org/English/Final_Report.html

● The government of Cambodia must take credible steps to ensure that the NEC operates as a fully independent institution at all levels in order to enhance its credibility and acceptance among the electorate. Members of the NEC should be approved by a consensus among all political parties represented in the National Assembly. In particular the NEC chairperson should be a person acceptable to all political parties represented in the National Assembly. A limitation of the term in office of the chairperson and members of the NEC should be considered.

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Ruling party's ties with civil servants decried

CPP gifts distributed prior to the commune election

Thursday, 21 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The overtly visible pro-Cambodian People’s Party stance of civil servants and military officials is one of the most widespread and worrying election irregularities, election monitoring organisation Comfrel said yesterday in its final report on the recent June 3 polls.

Click here to read more...

Hing Yoeun's Open Letter on NEC commune election irregularities

Ruling party's ties with civil servants decried

CPP gifts distributed prior to the commune election

Thursday, 21 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The overtly visible pro-Cambodian People’s Party stance of civil servants and military officials is one of the most widespread and worrying election irregularities, election monitoring organisation Comfrel said yesterday in its final report on the recent June 3 polls.

Comfrel board of directors chairman Thun Saray said that the involvement of civil servants and armed forces personnel in campaigning for the CPP, which scooped up 62 per cent of the commune council vote, has increased and this produced an unfair and nontransparent background to the elections.

“The offering of gifts and money to voters by civil servants and authorities was systematically organised before the election campaign and Comfrel is indignant that, under the Law on Elections, this vote-buying has not been considered a crime,” he said.

Monitor Counts Irregularities at Half of Last Month’s Polling Stations

Cambodian Buddhist monk, right, casts his ballot in local elections at Wat Than pagoda's polling station in Phnom Penh, Sunday, June 3, 2012 Photo: AP

Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Kong Sotharnarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

"The NEC must be improved if elections in the country are to be considered free and fair."

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections said Wednesday Cambodia needs to reform the National Election Committee ahead of parliamentary polls next July.

The independent monitoring organization counted 3,000 irregularities at 5,810 polling stations in last month’s local elections, it announced Wednesday.

The NEC must be improved if elections in the country are to be considered free and fair, said Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc, who also heads Comfrel.

“Comfrel urgently urges the government, donors and civil society to start discussing the improved composition of the NEC,” he told reporters Wednesday.

SRP commune election complaints in Battambang province

https://www.box.com/s/1855d4ca01857c34b1ce

គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី​ បដិសេធ​លទ្ធផល​បោះឆ្នោត​ - SRP rejects commune election results

ថ្ងៃទី 4 មិថុនា 2012
ដោយ: លីនណា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: ​លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី បាន​ប្រកាសបដិសេធ​មិន​ទទួលស្គាល់​លទ្ធផល​បោះឆ្នោតឃុំ​សង្កាត់ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី​៣ ខែមិថុនា​។ ប៉ុន្តែ​លោក ​ទេព​ នីថា​ អគ្គលេខាធិការ​រៀបចំ​កា​របោះ​ឆ្នោត បាន​និយាយថា​ រហូតមកទល់​ពេលនេះ​ គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការបោះឆ្នោត (គ​.​ជ​.​ប​.) មិនទាន់​បានទទួល​ព័ត៌មាន​ផ្លូវការ​នៅឡើយ​ទេ​។​

​នៅក្នុង​សន្និសីទ​សារព័ត៌មាន លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ បាន​និ​យា​ថា លោក​មិន​ទទួលស្គាល់​លទ្ធផល នៃ​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសរើស​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ​សង្កាត់ អាណត្តិ​ទី​៣​នេះ​ទេ​។ លោកបញ្ជាក់ថា “​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ឃោសនាបោះឆ្នោត​ ជា​ប្រព័ន្ធ​អាក្រក់​បំផុត ប្រជាជន​មិនមាន​សិទ្ធិ​ស្មើគ្នា​”​។​

​នៅក្នុង​សន្និសីទ​នេះដែរ លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ បាន​ទទួលស្គាល់ថា អំពើហិង្សា​នយោបាយ​បាន​ថយចុះ តែ​បាន​កើនឡើង​នូវ​រូបភាព​គំរាមកំហែង​។​

ចំនួន​ពលរដ្ឋ​មក​បោះឆ្នោត​មាន​តែ​ជាង​៥១​ភាគរយ

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​តម្រង់​ជួរ​ចូល​រួមការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោតក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​​ឃុំ សង្កាត់​ អាណត្តិ​​ទី​​៣ កាល​ពីថ្ងៃ​អាទិត្យ​ម្សិលមិញ​។ រូបថត ហេង ជីវ័ន​

Monday, 04 June 2012 12:05
ឃុត សុ​ភ​ច​រិ​យា
The Phnom Penh Post

ភ្នំពេញៈ គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត (គ.ជ.ប)បាន​ចេញ​របាយការណ៍​នៅ​ល្ងាច​ម្សិលមិញ​ថា ចំនួន​អ្នក​ទៅ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ-សង្កាត់ អាណត្តិ​នេះ មាន​តែ ៥១,២៣ ភាគរយ ទេ ខណៈ​ដែល កាលពី​ឆ្នាំ​ ២០០៧​ មាន​ប្រជាជន ៦៦​ភាគរយ​ បាន​នាំ​គ្នា​ទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត​ដូច​គ្នា​នេះ។​

ក្នុង​ប្រកាស​ គ.ជ.ប ចេញ​ផ្សាយ​កាល​ពីល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​អាទិត្យ​ម្សិល​មិញ​នោះ​បញ្ជាក់​ថា មាន​ប្រជាជន​ចំនួន​៤,៥ លាន​នាក់ បាន​ទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត ខណៈ​ដែល​ចំនួន​អ្នក​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​ មាន​ដល់ ៩,២​លាន​នាក់​។ កាលពី​ឆ្នាំ​២០០៧ អ្នក​ទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត​មាន​ចំនួន​ ៥,១ លាន​នាក់ ក្នុង​ចំណោម​អ្នក​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត ​៧,៨ លាន​នាក់។

លោក ទេព នីថា​ អគ្គលេខាធិការ គ.ជ.ប មិន​អាច​សុំ​ការ​បញ្ជាក់​បាន​ទេ​កាល​ពីល្ងាច​មិញ តែ​បើ​តាម​មន្ត្រី គ.ជ.ប ប្រាប់​ទៅ​បណ្តាញ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​កាល​ពី​ម្សិល​មិញ​ការ​ថយ​ចុះ​ចំនួន​អ្នក បោះឆ្នោត​អាច​បណ្តាល​មក​ពី​បញ្ហា​អាកាសធាតុ ដែល​មាន​ភ្លៀង​ខ្យល់​នៅ​តាម​ខេត្ត​មួយ​ចំនួន ដែល​បាន​ធ្វើ​ការ​រំខាន​។

Comfrel's announceme​nt on situation and irregulari​ties during election process

Names Missing from Voter Rolls

Commune councilors cast votes in the Senate election, Jan. 29, 2012 (RFA)

Cambodians are finding themselves left off voter lists or unable to register ahead of commune elections.

2012-05-10

RFA

At least 1.5 million Cambodians will lose their right to vote in upcoming commune elections due to irregularities in voters’ registration lists, according to an election monitoring organization.

Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel), said some 1.5 million people who had voted in the 2002 and 2007 commune elections no longer have their names on voter lists ahead of the June 3 polls.

“This is a big issue—we can’t find their names. The names have been incorrectly changed,” he said.

“This is an information crisis. We are really concerned.”

71 foreigners removed from the voting list out of the 312 names requested by the SRP

Evictees denied vote: report

Thursday, 20 May 2010
Brooke Lewis and Kim Yuthana
The Phnom Penh Post

FEWER than half of all evictees are registered to vote in the communes to which they have been relocated, according to a report released Wednesday by an election monitoring NGO.

The report from the Committee for Free and Fair Elections draws from interviews with 244 evictees of voting age and living in three Dangkor district villages, though its authors said that the findings were likely representative of evictees nationwide.

Sok Pitou, a Comfrel investigator, said the report’s purpose was to draw attention to the hurdles evictees must overcome when registering to vote.

“We have observed that in Cambodia now, there are an increasing number of evictions, and we found that some of the evictees face difficulties registering to vote,” he said.

“For example, some did not have identification documents, and some said they were too distant from the registration offices.”

According to the report, 72 percent of evictees surveyed attempted to register to vote in their new communes, but only 58 percent of those who tried were successful, meaning that only 43 percent were registered in the correct place.

Sok Pitou said this would pose a problem for evictees, many of whom are poor, come polling time.

“Evictees are often relocated far from where they originally lived, and it is difficult for some people to go back to vote at their old communes,” he said.

He added that some might return only to find that they are unable to vote because “registration officers sometimes delete the names of residents who no longer live in the commune”.

“We recommend that commune officials visit the evictees to make it easier for them to register to vote,” Sok Pitou said. “Their right to vote should not be affected because they are victims of eviction.”

The report also called on the National Election Committee (NEC) to improve its records and to ensure that all voters have access to information concerning registration.

And it said that the Interior Ministry should ensure that all eligible voters receive identity cards by the end of 2011.

Hy Rong, director of the NEC’s Operations Department, said that the accuracy of voter rolls was dependent on commune chiefs, and that officials were making efforts to ensure that all eligible voters are registered in time for elections in 2012.

“It is impossible to avoid mistakes in election registration, and it is very complicated,” he said.

“But the NEC has been updating those voter lists since 2002, and has made corrections to mistakes for about 3 million names.”

COMFREL's Final Assessment and Report on the 2008 National Assembly Elections

Press Release

Release of Final Assessment and Report
On
the 2008 National Assembly Elections

Phnom Penh, October 20, 2008 - The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) is pleased to release its final assessment and report on the 2008 National Assembly (NA) elections. This report includes findings, overall assessment and recommendations, as a compilation of COMFREL’s reports and statements published prior to the election campaign, during polling and immediately post-election, as well as an analysis of the election results. As with previous reports, analysis and recommendations seek to advance the debate on the reform and promotion of free and fair elections in Cambodia. Please find attached herewith the full report or check COMFREL's website at www.comfrel.org.

The report finds that, in terms of the general election environment, there was an improved and more politically secure climate this year in comparison with the 2003 National Assembly elections, including a relative improvement in media access; more active political party campaign activities; a decrease in the number of irregularities regarding technical admin istration and complaints inside the polling and counting stations; a reduction in the number of rejections of complaints regarding the election process, in particular during the election campaign period; improved technical election admin istration/performance; and increased knowledge and understanding of voter rights and responsibilities and democracy.

However, Cambodia in 2008 continued to experience a political environment not fully conducive to truly free and fair elections. There were some cases of violence in the days before the elections, related particularly to intimidation to limit political participation and freedom of expression. Voters were still subject to pressures preventing them from making a choice, either according to their conscience or on the basis of proper information. There is persistent fear at every level of society of retribution from leaders, who can use their power to affect personal and family life. Insufficient efforts have been made to eliminate this factor from the Cambodian election scenario. In comparison with previous elections, some issues worsened, such as an increase in the number of civil servants, state authorities and armed forces personnel showing active participation in support of the campaign and networks strengthening the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP); an increased number of voters facing obstructions and complicated procedures during registration, voter list clean-up and the polling period; irregularities regarding the issuing of Form 1018; and problems surrounding candidate registration.

Based on the findings on the 2008 NA elections and other key developments in recent years, the prospects are risky with regard to Cambodia’s progress towards democracy. Democratic and efficient governance depends on essential checks and balances – an effective opposition. These are unlikely to emerge in Cambodia with “Winner Takes All” control of state institutions from 98% of 13,755 village chiefs to all the NA’s commission chairs/deputy chairs increasing towards single-party rule. The constituency to elect Senate members consists of National Assembly and commune council members – with CPP members now controlling 73% of the NA and 70% of commune councils, the outcome is predictable. As part of decentralization reform to introduce provincial and district councils, a new “Organic Law” proposes to use a similar constituency. COMFREL will continue to advocate for direct elections by the public and to allow individuals to stand, not just party-approved lists, so that a better modern democracy can emerge.

For more information, please contact:
Tel: (+855) 12 942 017 / 845 091 or (+855) 23 884 150

Opposition demands re-vote in provinces

Human Rights Party leader Kem Sokha (left) and Sam Rainsy Party’s Mu Sochua speak to reporters on Monday. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)
Sam Rainsy speaks to reporters at a press conference in Phnom Penh on Monday. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)

Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Opposition parties continue attack on NEC over vote tallies

Sam Rainsy Party leader claims new proof of massive voter fraud by the NEC in three provinces and calls for a re-vote

OPPOSITION leader Sam Rainsy hurled a slew of fresh charges Monday at the Kingdom's National Election Committee, claiming that it had falsified vote tallies from polling stations in three provinces at the behest of the Cambodian People's Party and demanded a revote.

"Our election observers found that 11-04 forms from 119 polling stations had been changed," Sam Rainsy said at a press conference.

"The NEC has accused us of making these changes, but we would have no reason to do this."

The 11-04 forms are used to note the total number of votes received by each party at a particular polling station. They are NEC documents and are taken by NEC officials from individual polling stations to their central headquarters.

Sam Rainsy said his complaints focus on irregularities at polling stations in Svay Rieng province, but that observers found major discrepancies in Kampot and Pursat provinces as well, adding that a re-vote in these provinces should be held.

The CPP’s 90 seats do not belong to them. Some of them belong to us.

"We should have opened the ballot boxes and recounted the votes," he said, adding that he had asked for recounts on 16 boxes but was refused.

"I believe that if we had asked for only one box to be recounted, our request would still have been refused because even one case would show that the vote tallies had been changed."

Kem Sokha, president of Human Rights Party, which has aligned itself to the SRP in the aftermath of the polls, said it would be meaningless for both parties to join the National Assembly when it convenes in September to announce the new government. He argued that the Assembly does not represent the people or the nation, but belongs to the CPP and is a pawn of the Vietnamese government.

"It would not be right for us to sit in parliament," Kem Sokha said. "The CPP's 90 seats do not belong to them. Some of them belong to us."

Khieu Kanharith, CPP spokesman and information minister, could not be reached for comment Monday.

NEC Secretary General Tep Nytha said Monday the SRP documents were handwritten and prove nothing, while the voter tally forms submitted to the NEC show no irregularities. He added that any changes to the documents would have been done by the opposition.

"If [Sam Rainsy] has clear evidence of irregularities, a revote could take place," he said. "If he does not, that should be the end of the matter."

Opposition to sue over election irregularities

Friday, 08 August 2008
Ly Menghour
The Cambodia Daily

The leaders of the three main opposition parties will jointly sue commune chiefs they accuse of illegally issuing “1018” forms they allege allowed people not included in official voter lists to cast ballots in the recent parliamentary election.

The falsification of electoral papers is a violation of Cambodian law, said officials from the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), the Human Rights Party (HRP) and the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) Thursday.

“Those who falsified documents, especially government officials including some commune chiefs from the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) … must face criminal punishment,” SRP President Sam Rainsy said.

“Article 49 of the UNTAC penal code stipulates that those who falsify public documents shall be jailed for five to 15 years. A large number of CPP commune chiefs will serve these prison [terms].”

Claiming that conclusive proof of the “1018” form usage has been gathered, Sam Rainsy alleged that authorities gave “ghost” names to people who did not have their names in the voting list to go to the polls unlawfully with fraudulent documents.”

The SRP, the HRP and the NRP were to present figures, evidence and witnesses to media during a Friday press conference.

Sam Rainsy said legal complaints have already been filed against some commune chiefs. He reiterated that approximately one million people could not vote because their names were deleted or illegally used by other people.

According to official figures, over 8.1 million people voted during the national election. According to Sam Rainsy, only 5.9 million cast ballots, with the remaining 2.3 million genuine voters unable to vote.

“The CPP received 3.4 million votes. The SRP received more than 1.3 million votes. The HRP, the NRP and Funcipec respectively obtained 400,000, more than 300,000 and more than 300,000,” he said.

But CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith poured scorn on the opposition allegations, saying that the SRP should have complained on election day of the alleged irregularities.

“Sam Rainsy should feel ashamed because SRP representatives were in all commune offices. If the forms of kind were issued, why did not they know?” he asked. “They have only just complained now.”

Khieu Kanharith encouraged Sam Rainsy to share his information. “Give evidence to the court,” he said. “The court will decide.”

He also disagreed with Sam Rainsy on the number of people who failed to vote, noting that “people who did not go to vote might be lazy.”

“Some went on recreational vacations because of the three-day holiday. Similar things happen in any other country. Even in the US, voter turnout is usually less than 50 percent.”

Sok Sam Oeun, director of local legal the NGO Cambodian Defenders Project, said that commune officials can be prosecuted for falsifying public documents under Cambodian law, provided there is adequate evidence.

Cambodian opposition warned not to boycott NA [by Khieu Kanharith]

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- A government official warned if newly elected Cambodian opposition parliamentarians boycott the National Assembly's official swearing-in ceremony, their seats will be divided among other parties, local newspaper the Cambodia Daily reported Tuesday.

Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith was quoted as saying on Monday that if the opposition parties follow through with their threat, 15 of their 31 projected seats will be given to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the 16 remaining seats will be given to the Funcinpec Party, which currently only have two seats.

Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) President Sam Rainsy said last week that his party, along with the Human Rights Party (HRP) and the Norodom Ranariddh (NRP), will boycott the first session of the National Assembly unless alleged election irregularities are addressed.

On Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly admonished Sam Rainsy at Phnom Penh International Airport, warning that if the opposition fails to have its lawmakers sworn in, they will lose their seats.

Sam Rainsy told the newspaper Monday that he was not concerned by either the prime minister or the information minister's threats and that the boycott will continue as planned.

Samaki-Samakea (Unity) - A Poem in Khmer by Yim Guechsè and Sam Vichea, illustrated by Ung Bun Heang

Click on the poem to zoom in

Poem by Yim Guechsè (on the web at http://kamnapyimguechse.blogspot.com) and
Sam Vichea (on the web at http://kamnapkumnou.blogspot.com)
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

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