A man looks at a registered voters list in Phnom Penh during the 2013 elections. A new committee has been formed by the NEC which will work with the EU and Japan to implement election reforms. Hong Menea
The Electoral Reform Alliance has urged experts from Japan and the European Union not to shy away from addressing “severely undemocratic” provisions of Cambodia’s new election law when they meet with National Election Committee members next week.
The new bipartisan NEC, approved in April, this week set up an ad hoc committee to coordinate work with donors such as the EU and Japan, which have agreed to help the body organise new, digital voter lists, NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said yesterday.
The committee, announced on Monday, will be led by NEC vice president Kuoy Bunroeun and include Em Sophat, selected deputy of the committee, Duch Son, Hing Thirith, Mean Satik and Puthea.
It will meet the EU team next Wednesday and the Japanese delegation on Thursday to discuss voter registration ahead of commune and national elections in 2017 and 2018, respectively, Puthea said.
“We want to use computers in every commune to identify voters’ thumbprints and photos to prevent repeat registration and confirm the location of registration in order to avoid the problem where people lose their names, register again and they do not know where they can vote,” Puthea said, adding the digital system would reduce irregularities.
Although welcoming the support to modernise the voter lists, Koul Panha, executive director of election watchdog Comfrel, said it was imperative that Japan and the EU also use their roles to advise the NEC against using the new election law to suppress citizen’s political rights.
“They need to work not just as technical support, but work to make sure there is a free and fair environment in Cambodia for elections,” said Panha, also an ERA spokesman, pointing to provisions that restrict NGOs and levy fines for “insulting” political parties or candidates.
Finally, we now know those nine NEC members choosing from the pooling applicants of 24. As the news reported, the applications received are more than 60, but how should the selection committee has shortlisted them to 24?
Below are the release NEC members:
1. លោកហង្ស ពុទ្ធា Mr.Hang Puthea – agreed by both parties
2. លោកគួយ ប៑ុនរឿន Mr.Kuoy Bunroeun – CNRP
3. លោករ៉ុង ឈុន Mr.Rong Chun – CNRP
4. លោកហុឹង ធីរិទ្ធិ Mr.Hung Thirith – CNRP
5. អ្នកស្រីតែ ម៉ានីរ៉ុង Mrs. Te Manirong – CNRP
6. លោកសុិក ប៑ុនហុក Mr. Sik Bunhok – CPP
7. លោកមាន សទិ Mr. Mean Sati – CPP
8. លោកឌុច សុន Mr. Duch Son – CPP
9. លោកឯម សូផាត Mr. Eam Sophat – CPP
Note that Mr.Mean Sati and Eam Sophat are former members of NEC that has been blamed for its bias.
We wish them good luck and don’t forget to include Khmers Overseas to vote to collectively help develop this beloved nation.
On March 18, 2015 at 2:00pm Phnom Penh time, Mr. Sophoan Seng who is the Leader of The CEROC joint live Round Table Discussion with VOD radio www.sarika.info regarding recent letters of The CEROC sent to H.E.Sam Rainsy and H.E.Sar Kheng, Minority and Majority Leader of the Assembly. The discussion was facilitated by Mrs.Lim Thida and the Four Speakers are: Mr. Sophoan Seng, Mr. Rong Chun, Mr. Ath Thon and Mr. Dy Thehoya.
Sunday, 15 March 2015; News by Khmer Times / T. Mohan and Ros Chanveasna
Manith Hun (L), deputy director of Prime Minister’s cabinet, argues that keeping NGOs out of political election campaigns creates a level playing field. He is seen here attending a 2012 ceremony in Phnom Penh. Photo: Reuters
PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – Proposed election legislation banning civil groups from election campaigning is being misinterpreted, says a close aide of the prime minister.
The bill refers to institutions and not to individuals working for local or international non-governmental organizations (NGOs or INGOs).
Manith Hun, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s deputy cabinet director, told Khmer Times that the new law is designed to protect voters from false information.
“This is because during the 2013 general election campaign period, there were several INGOs and NGOs which spread false information in order to influence public opinion, which had a great impact on voter’s decision as to which party they would vote for,” said Mr. Manith, 33, who entered the public sphere in 2012 when he ran a program of student volunteers measuring land for villagers.
“This was the same as the propaganda dished out by certain political parties while destroying the image of another,” he said.
Referring to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the prime ministers’advisor said: “In the case of the 2013 election, several of the latter destroyed the image of the government and of the CPP, while helping out the CNRP.” The New Law Creates Fair Play
Mr Manith, who usually remains out of the public limelight, commented that the new law merely makes a level playing field for all political parties, as it requires the civil groups and NGOs to remain neutral and fair.
“However, as individuals working within the local and international NGOs, they can campaign for any party, as long as they do not use the titles of their institutions nor the institution’s banner,” Mr. Manith said.
The Electoral Reform Alliance has urged experts from Japan and the European Union not to shy away from addressing “severely undemocratic” provisions of Cambodia’s new election law when they meet with National Election Committee members next week.
The committee, announced on Monday, will be led by NEC vice president Kuoy Bunroeun and include Em Sophat, selected deputy of the committee, Duch Son, Hing Thirith, Mean Satik and Puthea.
