25 years has been passed that Cambodians overseas have been deprived full rights to vote in Cambodia elections. UNTAC allowed Cambodians overseas to vote, but after 1998, the new established NEC who were full of incompetency and bias didn’t allow Cambodians overseas to vote. During this season of voters registration, NEC has not facilitated for accessibility of Cambodians overseas to register vote-name.
Is this a grave violation over rights of Cambodians overseas? And Cambodians overseas who are the owner of this right should do what next?
Political Paradigm of Pragmatism from the Khmer Youth part 79
This part (79), Mr. Sophan commented on tricks in details that are possible to happen during this voters registration that means too much for the controlling party.
First, the notice of computer system has been fabricated as many expertise have asked the same questions on why voters must be regulated to register in place where they vote? What astonishing is the regulation that people can register whatever place they want but they must vote in that place. Prime Minister Hun Sen did appeal people to register their names at place they like or they can easily access to.
Secondly, voters registration in each commune or sangkat could be easily pre-counted by such easy hashtag code solely owned by the president of NEC. Feasible pre-screening of voter lists leaking to third party shall enable such party to predict the result of this commune or sangkat election, and such powerful party can play around with the number. So, it might be common to see a trucking policemen or military to dispatching to different communes or sangkat to register for voting during this 3 months voters registration.
Thirdly, Tep Nitha has got great privilege to oversea the security unit of the NEC. Cambodian voters were historically frightened by the presence of arm-forces especially the pineapple eyes of village chiefs and their subordinates during ballot casting.
In inclusion, above preliminary finding shall shed some light on how the controlling party can freely trick around with the election procedures and distract them to their benefit. Millions of overseas Cambodians have already been marginalized from this unequal level playing field of election procedures, and the CEROC is very appreciate to all Cambodians overseas who have made great volunteering to fly to Cambodia to register to vote and to vote for a positive change of Cambodia.
This detailed study charts the evolution of internationally assisted elections in Cambodia beginning in 1993 with the vote supervised by the United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC). Although the UNTAC operation was unprecedented in its size and political scope, the less-than-democratic outcome of the 1993 vote (with Hun Sen and his Cambodian People’s Party losing but remaining in power) began two decades of internationally assisted elections manipulated and controlled by Hun Sen and the CPP. Since then, disparate international actors have been complicit in supporting ‘authoritarian elections’ while promoting a more democratic and transparent electoral process. This has produced a relatively stable political-economic system serving the interests of a powerful and wealthy ruling elite but at the expense of overall positive socio-economic and political change. It has also allowed opposition forces to co-exist alongside a repressive state and to compete in elections that still hold out
Michael Sullivan is currently an advisor to the Committee for Free and Fair Elections (COMFREL) in Phnom Penh. He has been living and working in Cambodia full-time since 2007. He worked at the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) from 2008-13, and served as the Director from 2009. He completed a doctorate in Political Science at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 2005. As well as elections, he has researched and published on Chinese aid to Cambodia and conservation and development issues.
This part (77), Mr. Sophan described on how “exclusive policy” has been pervasive in Cambodian society under the leadership of Hun Sen.
Courtesy: crisismagazine
As evident, the conviction of Kem Sokha on his accusation by not showing at the court as witness, is not relevant. The witness absence with legitimate cause and representation shall not be fallen into such crime conviction.
The governance system in many other fields have displayed biases and exclusiveness which lead to future stagnation of developing this country. Without having inclusiveness in leadership shall be ended up with intractable conflicts and divisions in our society.
Political Paradigm of Pragmatism from the Khmer Youth part 75
This part (75) is broadcasted by CMN Radio on 28-29 July 2016, Mr. Sophan Seng articulated on Voters Registration that is lacking inclusiveness. NEC have not solely decided to help facilitate those inside the country to access to vote registration comfortably, but Cambodians overseas migrant workers and those permanent is remained negligent. As a recommendation, Mr. Sophan suggested NEC to create “mobile team” to target those “special need group” voters such as those sicks in the hospitals, the very old seniors, remote citizens or minority, and soldiers who are stationing at the borderline etc. This mobile team can also register “Khmers overseas” to vote as well.
What is very clear in argument is the new computer system doesn’t need voters to register at their own commune/sangkat offices because the system can allocate them to their commune/sangkat voting boots by referring to their permanent address. Migrant workers in both domestic and international, should be incentivized through this voting placement allocation mechanism.
