Calls for Reforms to Cambodia

With elections next July, many are questioning the ability of the Cambodian National Election Committee to hold a free and fair election.
 
The Committee has been accused of being under the control of the ruling party, which is predicted by many to win the election.
 
More than 3 thousands protesters gather in the capital’s Freedom Park, demanding reforms to the country’s National Election Committee.
 
The protest is being driven by the National Rescue Party, Cambodia’s main opposition party.
 
Party official Son Chay, says the Committee is biased towards the ruling party.

“We know that they’ve been working to protect, to provide the benefit of the ruling party all these years,” says Son Chay.

“The United Nationas has already sent the recommendation regarding the election, requesting the authority to improve the situation. But they’ve been ignoring the request by international community.”

The opposition has long argued against the composition of the National Election Committee or NEC, which it say’s includes many of the ruling party’s cronies.

Kould Panha is the executive director of the NGO, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, Comfrel.
 
“There are suggestions from the UN Special Rapporteur and many election stakeholders regarding the recruitment and selection of the National Election Committe,” Panha explains, “So this affects the independence and confidence of the election stakeholders on the composition of the NEC.”

Election monitors say the quality of voter registration lists has deteriorated since 2008, damaging the legitimacy of the election process.

This view is also supported by the recent Cambodia Voter Registry Audit, released by the non-profit organisation, the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections.

Opposition leaders have accused the Committee of manipulating the voters’ list in favour of the ruling Cambodia’s People Party and have demanded that the Committee review the list.
 
“As you know that the National Election Committee solely controlled by the ruling CPP party. And the reasons of discover of ghost voters which made up like something two millions in the voter list and the large number of the people who push name have been deleted from the voter list.”
 
But the Committee has refused the demand.

“There’s no law requiring another review of the voter’s list. The NEC follows the law. So the protest is not in accordance with the election. They can’t put pressure on us,” says NEC secretary general Tep Nitha.

The European Union has confirmed that it won’t be sending election monitors because past recommendations from previous national elections have not been implemented.
 
But the absence of international observers will affect the result, says Panha from Comfrel.
 
“Cambodian election should be legitimated by observers especially by international community. They may have their own opinion on Cambodian election administration, they can question the result and legitimacy of the election. If the international community do not have their own opinion on election assessment that means they wont be able to make judgement whether the election administration or result is accepted or not.”
 
It’s Cambodia’s 5th national election, with 9 million eligible voters.
 
But the Cambodia’s People Party has been ruling the country for the past 30 years, since the end of the Khmer Rouge regime.

And Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned that the country will descend into chaos if the opposition party wins.
 
“Civil war will definitely follow because no one will allow the opposition to arrest members of the government to seek justice for their role in the Khmer Rouge regime. They will respond immediately.”

But according to Panha from the NGO Comfrel, the warning will not affect young voters.
 
“I think they keep using this kind of political tactic message the same as previous election. This will affect especially the old voters who went through the civil war and traumatized by the killing field. So they may fear the instability. But this will have not have much affect to young voters.”
 
Speaking to thousands of people, the Vice President of the National Rescue Party, Kem Sokha, promises that the protest is just the beginning.

“If no solution can be found, our gathering here today will not be the last. This is just the starting point. If there are no reforms to the National Election Committee, we will not stop protesting.”