Sam Rainsy criticizes the NEC of lack of independence and neutrality

11 July 2011
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Tep Nitha, the secretary-general of the National Election Committee [also known as: National Election Cheating] (NEC), said that opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s criticism on the NEC as lacking independence and neutrality as being an old issue. Through a videoconference held in the afternoon on 08 July 2011, Sam Rainsy criticized the NEC of lacking independence, it is under the influence of the ruling party, it lack neutrality and it only serves the CPP. [CPP-installed] Tep Nitha said that Sam Rainsy’s criticisms are old news and he does not pay attention to them. Tep Nitha said that the NEC was set up according to the law and it fulfill its duty properly (sic!). Tep Nitha added that, following each election, national and international organizations recognize the positive aspect of the elections. He said that only the opposition party who lost the election accused the NEC of lacking independence and that the election is unfair. [KI-Media note: Through this statement, Tep Nitha clearly shows his subservience to the CPP]

Foreigners banned from election campaign

15 March 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

The National Election Committee (NEC) just issued an announcement indicating that non-Khmer citizens will no longer be allowed to join the election campaign.

The news was revealed by the NEC during a press conference held during the end of last week. Foreigners will no longer be able to take part in an election campaign. Tep Nitha, NEC secretary-general, justified this decision: “In the past, non-Cambodian personalities gave public speeches to say nonsense and to defame (others).” As a result, the NEC has received several complaints. However, short of any legal framework, Tep Nitha wants to put an end this gray issue. He explained that this ban does not apply to the Cambodian diaspora, nor does it apply to foreigners detaining Cambodian citizenship.

The upcoming election will be held on 17 May. It will be held to elect municipal, provincial, cities and districts councils. The post-election period will start on 01 May and will end on 15 May. According to the NEC, only four parties are represented: the CPP, the SRP, Funcinpec and the NRP. The ruling CPP party is presenting candidates in all 217 wards in the country, the SRP in 205, Funcinpec in 71 and the NRP in 64. The ballot will be indirect. Those who will be able to vote are members of the commune councils. Several NGOs, among them feature important ones, have declined to send in observers, claiming the outcome is already known beforehand. Up to now, only two NGOs with 61 investigators have registered with the NEC.