Sunday/Monday, 8/9.4.2007: The US Recognized That The Commune Council Elections Were Free And Fair

Posted on 13 April 2007. Filed under: Week 503 |

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 503

“Phnom Penh: Cambodia held Commune Council Elections on 1 April, strengthening the firm hope of creating a regime of democracy for all Cambodian people. The result can be acceptable, because the elections happened in a quiet, non-violent atmosphere – what the world wants is freedom and justice. This was the statement of Mr. Eric G. John, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

“Having spoken to reporters in a press conference in the morning of 7 April in the US embassy in Cambodia, Mr. Eric G. John, referring to the actual observations – by international and national observers – of the process of the Commune Council Elections, which were organized by the Royal Government of Cambodia, said, ‘I think this result is acceptable.’ He added that not only the world but also Cambodia wants real freedom and justice in the process of an election, and he stated that the recent process of the Commune Council Elections was free and fair; even though there were some complaints of irregularities, they were not serious.

“The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State added that the reason why he said that the elections were free and fair was because there were many international and national observers who monitored this election process with political party representatives. Some irregularities happened in some places, but these were small issues, because the election process could continue uninterrupted until the end. He also said that even so, there were many acts of violence compared to other countries. However, he encouraged the Royal Government of Cambodia to increase its attention to keep social transparency in a democratic way, so that the Cambodian citizens live in a process of free development and prosperity.

“Mr. Eric G. John hopes that if development and good governance of the Royal Government of Cambodia continue to improve, this country will soon be successful in its development. Then the cooperation between the Cambodian Government and the Washington Government will also be better for a long time.

“Meanwhile, with Mr. Eric G. John recognizing the result of the Commune Council Elections, the National Election Committee [NEC] also recognized that this election proceeded without violence across Cambodia.

“Mr. Tep Nitha, the Secretary General of the NEC, told Kampuchea Thmey that until now the tentative results had been gradually declared, even if there were some complaints which had not yet been solved. He said that the NEC had received more than 50 complaints and finished solving most of them. The complaints which were not serious could be solved. He confirmed that most of the complaints were from the opposition party, which complained about irregularities at some places, but this party filed also a complaint to request a re-election. According the examination of the complaints for re-election, it was impossible to hold a re-election. For some places, both the Sam Rainsy Party or the Cambodian People’s Party [CPP] had filed complaints for re-election, and these complaints were already solved.

“Mr. Tep Nitha said that among more than 7.7 million who have the right to vote, more than 5 million voters (nearly 70%) cast ballots. He said that from Monday next week on, the official results would be gradually made public in each province. The NEC does not declare these official results of the Commune Council Elections in the NEC office in Phnom Penh, but the results will be made public in each province.

“Mr. Sam Rainsy, the president of the opposition party, said that some irregularities occurred in some polling stations. Many of those who did not go to vote were members of the Sam Rainsy Party. Mr. Sam Rainsy alleged that the NEC had caused difficulties for Sam Rainsy Party members. He claimed also that the NEC is an institution controlled by the ruling party.

“Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the CPP spokesperson, said, ‘Mr. Sam Rainsy is in the habit of boasting too much and liking to oppose endlessly. I don’t need to go into detail.’

“Mr. Khieu Kanharith added that if Mr. Sam Rainsy claimed that those who did not go to vote were his party members, it is similar to a certain Khmer saying, ‘If a fish is caught, people say it is a small fish; but if a fish can not be caught, it is a big fish.’ He added that there were many supporters of the CPP, but if there would be a re-election, the CPP will still receive much support. The request [for re-election] by Mr. Sam Rainsy is appropriate to fit his role in the opposition; if his party would not oppose, how could it be called the opposition party? Even though the election result has not yet been officially declared, the temporary results indicated that among 1621 communes across the country, the CPP received the majority in 1591 communes, the Sam Rainsy in 28, and the Norodom Ranariddh Party received zero communes.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1312, 8-9.4.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Sunday/Monday, 8/9 April 2007

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1312, 8-10.4.2007

The US Recognized That The Commune Council Elections Were Free And Fair

Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6012, 9.4.2007

The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Continues To Be In Controversy; US Officials Warned That If This Tribunal Fails, It Will Be A Disgrace In Cambodian History
Cambodia Needs Much Electric Power To Attract Development Investment [Minister Suy Sem, the Minister of Industry, Mines And Energy, signed a memorandum with the Yunnan Governor of China, on hydroelectric power projects and on building a hydroelectric power station on the Atai River in Pursat with a capacity of 120 megawatt]

Reach Seima, Vol.2, #177, 9.4.2007

Retired King Norodom Sihanouk And Queen Monineath Arrived In Cambodia [on 8 April to celebrate the Khmer New Year in Cambodia]
Some Garment Factories In Cambodia Declared To Deduct Workers’ Salaries If They Go To Vote [and do not return on time]

Sakal, Vol.15, #3172, 7-8.4.2007

For The Year 2008, The Cambodian People’s Party Does Not Need the 50+1 Formula!
Is The Mass Movement Of Democracy An Alliance To Fight To Take The Power From Hun Sen, Or To Swallow Up The Power Of Prince Norodom Ranariddh Or Of Prince Thomico?

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3011, 8-9.4.2007

A Foreign Language Newspaper [the Phnom Penh Post] Is Concerned That CPP Officials Are Having Their Children Marrying Each Other [establishing family unions by marriages between top-ranking CPP officials’ children]

Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, 374, 8.4.2007

US Ministry Of Foreign Affairs [through Mr. Eric G. John, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs] Praised The Victory Of The Sam Rainsy Party [the results of the Commune Council Elections]
Does Prince Norodom Ranariddh Hope To Cheat The Democrats Again?