Election: Paris replies to Sam Rainsy

24 Oct 2008
By A.L.G.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Sess Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Jean-David Levitte, the diplomatic advisor of (French President) Nicolas Sarkozy, considers that the latest ballot “progresses better than the previous ones,” however he noted that it did not meet “international standards.” The SRP said that it was satisfied with France’s response.

In a letter written by Jean –David Levitte and sent to Sam Rainsy, France considered that the latest election in Cambodia “progressed better than the previous ones, however, it still does not meet international standards on this matter.”

Last 28 August, Sam Rainsy wrote to Nicolas Sarkozy and Susilo Bambang Yodhyono, the Indonesian President, who are both heads of state of countries that are co-presidents of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords.

“All that remains of the democracy set up at great cost in Cambodia by the International community is a cracked façade,” Sam Rainsy wrote with Kem Sokha who also signed the letter.

“This response is very positive,” SRP MP Mu Sochua reacted when she was asked by “Cambodge Soir Hebdo” on Friday 24 october. “This shows that the French government assumes its role in Cambodia. What Jean-David Levitte said about the international standards not being respected, that was what Comfrel said also.”

“In his letter, Jean-David Levitte promised that the (French) government will follow closely the Cambodian election process in the future. This is a very positive response,” Mu Sochua added.

She also said that the SRP maintains “good relations” with the French embassy in Phnom Penh.

France's Reply to SRP regarding the 2008 general election

Unofficial English translation

Office of the President of the (French) Republic
The Diplomatic Advisor

Paris, 01 October 2008

Mr. Sam Rainsy
Member of Parliament,
Former Minister,
President of the Sam Rainsy Party

Mr. Minister (Sam Rainsy),

The President of the (French) Republic read with interest the letter you wrote him along with Mr. Kem Sokha, and he asked me to reply back to you.

France, as a co-president of the 1991 Paris Accords and an essential partner of Cambodia during the subsequent years, was the first to believe in the renewal of your country. Our engagement is translated through a major cooperation effort and through a particular vigilance on the Cambodian political situation.

In conformance to these principles, when the Cambodian government asked for the sending of a European observation mission for the general election, we supported this initiative with our partners, such a mission is aimed at accelerating Cambodia’s democratic transition and at reinforcing its image to the International community. Our efforts were rewarded with the sending of a 130-observer-strong mission, the third of whom arrived in Cambodia since June.

This mission accomplished a very precious work on the spot. Its final report will only be known October, once the new government is in place. Nevertheless, it appears that, from preliminary conclusions, the progress of this election was better than the previous general elections, however, it is still not at the international standard level.

Under these conditions, please rest assured that France, faithful to the deep friendship links that it maintains with Cambodia, will remain attentive to the evolutions of the country, and in particular, to the reinforcement of the rule of law.

Please accept, Mr. Minister, my highest consideration.

(Signed) Jean-David Lévitte

Party's Double-Voter Complaint Rejected [-What else to expect from the CPP-controlled Prostitutional Council?]

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 August 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

The Constitutional Council on Thursday upheld the denial of a complaint by the Human Rights Party over alleged voting-list irregularities throughout Cambodia in July's election.

The Human Rights Party had claimed in its complaint to the National Election Committee that 15,255 polling stations were found with registries containing voter names twice.

The double names could have led to ineligible voting, the party said in its complaint.

The NEC rejected the complaint, and that decision was maintained by the Council.

Thursday's hearing was the final decision of the Constitutional Council over election complaints that were filed by the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties.

Nhiek Vannara, deputy secretary-general of the Human Rights Party and the legal representative in the case, told reporters Thursday the Council's decision was "very unjust for the Cambodian voters and the Human Rights Party."

"We cannot accept the result of the decision," he said. "But we have no place to continue to complain. We are very, very sorry for the Constitutional Council members, in this unjust decision, but we hope that we will stand up for justice for the next election."

Nhiek Vannara called the decision "artificial."

He told the hearing the double names could have led to an estimated 1 million voting irregularities.

NEC legal representative Em Sophath said during the hearing the denial of the HRP complaint was "very legal and fair."

"The Human Rights Party complaint did not have enough evidence to support [it]," Em Sophath said.

Election Violated Peace Accords: Opposition

By Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 August 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

The Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties on Monday filed complaints over July's election results with two representative countries of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party and the National Election Committee had violated the Accords and denied Cambodians a democratic election, the parties said Monday in complaints to France and Indonesia.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said he wanted the countries to intervene, but he declined to say how. The Accords require democratic elections, and Sam Rainsy said July's election had not been democratic.

The CPP has warned that the parties must participate in a swearing-in ceremony of the new National Assembly, scheduled for Sept. 24, or risk having their seats reallocated among other parites.

Both parties reiterated their plan to boycott that meeting in protest of the election results Monday.

Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said the 18 national signatories to the Accords had a responsibility to ensure free and fair democratic elections.

"They must not only sign, but they have to follow what happens in Cambodia," he said. "Cambodia is not alone."

Sam Rainsy said more than 20,000 people had thumb-printed a petition claiming they were denied their right to vote in the election.

As many as 800,000 administrative forms had been fraudulently issued during the election, allowing nearly 1 million people to vote who were not eligible under election law, he said.

NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said Monday the parties had a right to complain to the international community, but the election body had done what the election law required.

Hang Puthea, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said countries that signed the Peace Accords should issue some kind of response to the complaint, in order to demonstrate their continued roles in free and fair elections in Cambodia.

This is the first time parties have complained using the Accords, he said.

The complaints could cause the National Election Committee to pay more attention to regulations for the next election, he said.

Sam Rainsy Party, Human Rights Party file election complaints with UN

Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Ly Menghour
The Mekong Times

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Human Rights Party (HRP) are to jointly file a complaint with the UN over alleged irregularities during polling for the recent national election.

Representatives of the two parties plan to visit the UN in New York, as well as Washington, Paris and Brussels to present evidence of the alleged irregularities, which mainly concern controversial “1018” forms the parties claim allowed voter fraud.

“I will go to lodge a complaint with the international community not to recognize the election,” Sam Rainsy vowed yesterday at a press conference.

He said that filing a complaint with the UN should lead to another poll in areas where “1018” forms were issued or anywhere where names were missing from voter lists.

HRP Secretary General Ou Chan Roth, who sat next to Sam Rainsy throughout the press conference, expressed his party’s support for lodging the complaint. “We will continue being shoulder to shoulder with the SRP to protest against the election results. We will also join with SRP to protest in Europe and at the UN,” he said.

Sam Rainsy displayed documents he claimed show “1018” forms were issued by local officials. He claimed that CPP Sangkat (Commune) chiefs were the main agents of electoral fraud, a crime he alleged the National Election Commission (NEC) has turned a blind eye to.

But the NEC’s position is that complaints about the election should be dealt with in Cambodia. “The election process in Cambodia was conducted in line with the election law of Cambodia. Any complaint or unacceptable problem must be addressed under Cambodian law,” said Tep Nytha, secretary general of the NEC.

NEC concerns were echoed by CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap.

“The SRP and HRP should give time to the NEC and the Constitutional Council to settle any unsatisfactory problems before protesting to the international community,” he said. “Furthermore, representatives of the UN, European Union, and the international community also observed the election and assessed that the election in Cambodia was better than before.”