Twenty Sentenced in Vietnam For Their Role in June 10 SEZ Protests

2018-07-30  

rfa

Protesters in Saigon demonstrate against government plans to grant long-term leases to foreign firms, June 10, 2018.

Photo by Nguyen Peng

Twenty protesters went on trial on Monday and were quickly sentenced for their roles in June 10 protests in Vietnam’s Bien Hoa city, with prison terms handed out of from eight months up to one and a half years in prison, sources in the country said.

Tran Nguyen Duy Quang was sentenced to one and a half years, Pham Ngoc Hanh to one year and four months, and 13 others given prison terms of from eight to ten months. Five others, needed at home to care for their children, were placed under house arrest for terms ranging from one year to one year and two months.

Asian Street Food, Amazing Country Foods Selling In My Village, Village ...

How To Make Ampiltuk Jam, Asian Dessert

អ្នកវិភាគ​ថា របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន នឹង​រង​ទណ្ឌកម្ម​ពី​សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ​កាន់តែ​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ

ដោយ ទីន ហ្សាការីយ៉ា
2018-07-31 
rfa

អ្នក​សិក្សា​ស្រាវជ្រាវ​ការ​អភិវឌ្ឍ​សង្គម លោក​បណ្ឌិត មាស នី (ឆ្វេង) និង​លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន។
Photo: RFA



រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ថ្មី​នៃ​របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន នឹង​បង្កើត​ឡើង​ក្នុង​ពេល​ឆាប់ៗ​នេះ យ៉ាង​យូរ​រយៈពេល​៦០​ថ្ងៃ​ទៀត។ ទោះបីជា​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ឈ្នះ​ឆ្នោត​ភ្លូក​ទឹក​ភ្លូក​ដី ដែល​មេដឹកនាំ​បក្ស​នេះ សំដែង​មោទនភាព​ពី​ជោគជ័យ​នេះ យ៉ាងណាក្ដី សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ​លើកឡើង​ថា ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​នេះ មិនមែន​ជា​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ដែល​ឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំង​ពី​ឆន្ទៈ​រាស្ត្រ ហើយ​លទ្ធផល​បោះឆ្នោត មិនមែន​ជា​លទ្ធផល​ដែល​សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ​ទទួលស្គាល់​ឡើយ។

អ្នកវិភាគ​លើក​ឡើង​ថា របប​ថ្មី​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ជៀស​មិន​ផុត​ពី​ទណ្ឌកម្ម​អន្តរជាតិ​ឡើយ ដោយសារតែ​របប​នេះ បាន​រៀបចំ​ការបោះឆ្នោត​មិន​ដើរ​តាម​គន្លង​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ សេរី ត្រឹមត្រូវ និង​យុត្តិធម៌ ឬ​គេ​ហៅថា ជា​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ក្លែងក្លាយ​នោះ។

More Than Nine Percent of Cambodia’s Ballots ‘Invalid’ as Voters Protest ‘Sham’ Polls

2018-07-30  

rfa

An official shows an invalid ballot at a polling station in Phnom Penh, July 29, 2018.

 AP Photo

“Nothing can take away from the fact that this was a sham election. The international community, including ASEAN countries, must stay vigilant and ensure that the world does not forget about Cambodia after these polls have closed.”

-Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian Parliament and chairperson of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)

“The key issue is what the international community is going to do about this next?”

-Phil Roberson of New York-based Human Rights Watch

Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC), the top electoral body, acknowledged Monday that as many as nine percent of ballots cast in the weekend’s general election were invalid, with an observer suggesting that many of the votes were intentionally spoiled to protest what was seen as a bogus poll.

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) claimed a lopsided victory in the election, saying it won some 77 percent of the vote and likely secured all 125 parliamentary seats in play as voters, many under threat of losing government services, ratified an outcome decided in November when the government dissolved the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Hunger strike looms for the refugee the Australian government sent to Cambodia

James Massola

By James Massola

30 July 2018 — 12:58pm

S

Abdullah Zalghanah pictured in Phnom Pehn where he was resettled one year and nine months ago.

Photo: Kate Geraghty

He lights another cigarette, pre-emptively taps it, and carefully chooses the English words for what he is trying to say.

“After two weeks [if] my family not come, I close my restaurant, I leave everything, I come back to IOM [the International Organisation for Migration office], I stop eat, I stop drink.”

In a quiet back street of Phnom Penh, Fairfax Media tracked down Abdullah – one of just seven refugees sent by Australia to Cambodia, and one of only three who  remains in the country – under a $40 million deal that has been branded a failure by critics.

Fake Monitors Endorse Cambodia’s Sham Election

Dubious electoral endorsements are becoming normal for dictators worldwide.

BY LEE MORGENBESSER | JULY 30, 2018, 8:32 AM

FP

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) casts his vote during the general elections as his wife Bun Rany (centre L) looks on in Phnom Penh on July 29, 2018. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images) 

Cambodians went to the polls last weekend, but it was a sham of an election, dominated by Hun Sen, the country’s aging autocrat. With the opposition party banned and soldiers at polling booths to ensure the outcome went only one way, no credible organization signed off on the election’s validity—but quite a few fake organizations did.

Election observation in authoritarian regimes is a relatively new phenomenon. Beginning in the late 1980s, the number of elections monitored by intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and sovereign states increased substantially. This brought increased criticism of the behavior of authoritarian regimes, which signaled their compliance to the norm of external observation in exchange for certain benefits, such as legitimacy, foreign direct investment, and membership in international organizations. This gave democracy promotion actors, which coordinated a majority of election-monitoring missions, newfound leverage over the behavior of authoritarian regimes. In the last decade, however, dictators have fought back.

Cambodia Opposition: Democracy Replaced by 'Dictatorship'

30 July 2018

David Boyle

Sokummono Khan

VOA News

Vice President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Mu Sochua (L) and CNRP's Deputy Director for Foreign Affairs, Monovithya Kem (R), hold a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 30, 2018.

The Cambodian opposition Monday called on the international community to reject the results of Sunday's election which ended with a victory of the ruling party and long-serving Prime Minster Hun Sen.

Opposition leader Mu Sochua, vice president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said "29 July 2018 marked the death of democracy in Cambodia, a dark new day in recent history." She said democracy was replaced by an "outright dictatorship."

Cambodia’s Hun Sen: The Blood-Drenched Opportunist of Asia

He evolved from peasant to Khmer Rouge commander, then Khmer Rouge opponent, then an illiberal strongman tolerated by the West. Now as a Chinese client, his tyranny looks dynastic.

Lennox Samuels

LENNOX SAMUELS

07.31.18 

DB

“The CPP controls every facet of the country, and the rule of law does not apply, If it did,they would have to apply it to everyone. Then they couldn’t be doing what they’re doing.”

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — In a fiery speech more than three years ago Prime

Minister Hun Sen claimed credit for ridding his country of the Khmer Rouge, suggesting only he had the balls to take on Pol Pot’s murderous communists in the 1970s. “If Hun Sen was not willing to enter the tiger’s den, how would we have caught the tigers?” he famously asked.

But he left out of that narrative the fact he himself was a Khmer Rouge before he switched sides, fled to Vietnam, joined the Hanoi-backed rebel army and returned to Cambodia to help topple his former comrades in 1977, two years after the Vietnam War ended in defeat for the United States.

Hun Sen may regard himself as savior of the nation, but to most, including many of his own people, he’s a brutal, uncompromising leader who for almost 40 years has used killings, torture, repression, graft and other unsavory means to seize, consolidate and maintain power.

“Some 2 million Cambodians were slaughtered, including children, some of whom were simply bashed against trees.”

“Over more than three decades, hundreds of opposition figures, journalists, trade union leaders, and others have been killed in politically motivated attacks,” Human Rights Watch declared in a recent report.

In Cambodia, Dissenting Voters Find Ways to Say ‘None of the Above’

The government pressured Cambodians into voting in Sunday’s national election, which was widely dismissed as illegitimate. Hundreds of thousands cast inadmissible ballots, the National Election Committee said.CreditAdam Dean for The New York Times

By Hannah Beech and Sun Narin

July 31, 2018

“If we didn’t have good policies, we wouldn’t have gotten a landslide victory,” he said, dismissing concerns about the high number of spoiled votes and the absence of the main opposition party.”

-Sok Eysan

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — One Cambodian voter defaced his or her ballot with a lively reference to a dog’s anatomy. Others ticked every single box, or crossed out the entire ballot. Still others drew pictures of the sun, the symbol of the outlawed main opposition party.

After Sunday’s general election, which was roundly condemned as a sham by Western governments and human rights groups, Cambodia is all but officially a one-party state. The Cambodian People’s Party of Hun Sen, the longtime prime minister, claims it captured every one of the 125 seats in Parliament.

New Zealand expresses concern over Cambodia's elections

What US sanctions could mean for Hun Sen’s inner circle

By: Paul Millar - Posted on: July 31, 2018 | Cambodia

G

As the US ramps up sanctions against Prime Minister Hun Sen and his inner circle, Southeast Asia Globe sat down with long-time Cambodian political analyst Lao Mong Hay to discuss the power of international pressure

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (C-R), shows his ink stained finger next to his wife Bun Rany (C-L), at a polling station in Kandal province, Cambodia, 29 July 2018 Photo: Kith Serey / EPA-EFE

With the Cambodia National Rescue Party dissolved and its leaders jailed or exiled, the US has stepped up its criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s 33-year-long rule, passing an act of Congress that would level heavy sanctions against the premier and members of his cabinet and inner circle, barring them from the US and blocking their assets and property. Speaking ahead of last Sunday’s national election, in which the Cambodian People’s Party won all 125 National Assembly seats, long-time Cambodian political analyst Lao Mong Hay shared his thoughts on how the spirit of change can live on over the next five years of CPP rule.

US President Donald Trump and his predecessors have fostered strong relationships with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Saudi royal family and now apparently Russian President Vladimir Putin – who all have a blemished record on human rights. Why has Cambodia been singled out for censure?

During the debates and discussion about the situation in Cambodia, there was frequent reference to the Paris Peace Agreements. No other countries have an agreement of that type that Cambodia has undertaken. So as to avoid a repeat of the past, Cambodia and all the parties to the Paris Peace Agreements that ended the war in Cambodia in 1991 have joined in undertaking to ensure there would be democracy, pluralism, the respect for human rights – and an independent judiciary to enforce those rights.

ព័ត៌មានចុងក្រោយ ស្តីពីលទ្ធផលការបោះឆ្នោត ថ្ងៃ ២៩ កក្កដា ២០១៨

៣១ កក្កដា ២០១៨ / 31 July 2018 – Latest news on election results (*)

ព័ត៌មានចុងក្រោយ ស្តីពីលទ្ធផលការបោះឆ្នោត ថ្ងៃ ២៩ កក្កដា ២០១៨

១- សន្លឹកឆ្នោតមោឃៈ មានចំនួនច្រើនជាងអ្វីដែល គ.ជ.ប. និងគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា បានប្រកាស គឺមិនមែន ៩ ភាគរយនៃសន្លឺកឆ្នោតសរុបទេ តែច្រើនជាង ២០ ភាគរយនៃសន្លឺកឆ្នោតសរុប។ ពលរដ្ឋ ដែលមិនពេញចិត្តការបោះឆ្នោតនេះ តែត្រូវគេបង្ខំឲ្យទៅចូលរួមបោះឆ្នោត បានគូសចោលគណបក្សទាំង ២០ លើសន្លឹកឆ្នោត ធ្វើឲ្យសន្លឹកឆ្នោតនោះ ខូច មិនអាចយកជាការបាន (មោឃៈ)។ ដោយឃើញ អត្រាសន្លឹកឆ្នោតមោឃៈច្រើនពេក គ.ជ.ប. ក៏បានក្លែងបន្លំ និងរាប់ខុស ធ្វើឲ្យសន្លឹកឆ្នោតមោឃៈមួយចំនួនធំ ក្លាយទៅជាសន្លឹកឆ្នោត គាំទ្រគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា ទៅវិញ។ ព័ត៌មាននេះ បានមកពីការឃ្លាំមើលរបស់អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍បរទេសខ្លះ ដែលបានបញ្ជាក់ថា នៅគ្រប់ការិយាល័យបោះឆ្នោត អត្រាសន្លឹកឆ្នោតមោឃៈ មិនតិចជាង ២០ ភាគរយទេ ហើយនៅក្នុងការិយាល័យមួយ អត្រាសន្លឹកឆ្នោតមោឃៈនេះ ឡើងដល់ទៅ ៣៥ ភាគរយ។

២- តាមការគណនារបស់គណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាខ្លួនឯង គណបក្សនេះ បានដណ្តើមយកអសនៈ រដ្ឋសភា ចំនួន ១២៥ លើ ១២៥ គឺ ១០០ ភាគរយ (សូមមើលឯកសារផ្លូវការ ភ្ជាប់មកជាមួយនេះ)។

(*) Latest news on the 29 July 2018 election results

1- There are more spoiled ballots than what the NEC and the CPP have declared. The real figure for these spoiled ballots is not 9% of total ballots but over 20%. Voters who were forced by the authorities to participate in the poll against their will just crossed out the names of the 20 parties on the ballot paper to make it null and void. Seeing the surprisingly high number of these voluntarily spoiled ballots, NEC officials and CPP agents fraudulently changed a large number (at least 50%) of these spoiled ballots into votes for the CPP. This information was obtained from foreign observers such as this one: "It was very notable during the count that the second largest party in Cambodia is the spoiled ballot party. In every polling place there were at least 20 percent. In one of the polling places we looked at it was more like 35 percent.”

2- According to calculations made by the CPP itself the ruling party has won 125 National Assembly seats out of 125 (see attached official documents). They may have overshot their target by inadvertently suppressing even an illusion of political plurality.

SR

មហាបាតុកម្មចាប់ផ្ដេីមហេីយ

‘Clean Fingers’ call backfires

Khmer Circle: 

Only the Post is losing its credibility here. How do we know that the quoted percentage represents actual votes cast? Even if this were the case, out of this percentage, how much of it actually represents votes cast for any of the contesting candidates? Some ordinary voters may have turned up at the polling stations for fear of landing themselves in trouble with local bosses and authorities, but as to whether they cast their votes for any candidate or not remains very much a question mark.

The Phnom Penh Post is rapidly becoming a laughing stock these days, especially, since the new pro-regime ownership switch; joining a long list of fellow like-minded papers such as the pro-regime Khmer Times, Fresh News and the rest. 

'Clean finger campaign' or not, most thinking people have already known as to the predetermined outcome of this sham election under existing climate of intimidation, coercion and vote-buying incentives. Not to mention the voluntary absence of independent or credible electoral monitors as well as the ruling party's exclusive control over the National Election Commission. Even Japan - a country with democratic credentials and a close traditional friend of Cambodia - has decided against sending its official observers at this time, which is unprecedented on its part.

Further, isn't the whole idea behind dissolving the only viable Opposition party in the CNRP is to ensure the Cambodian electorate will have no practical voice or choice at the polls irrespective of whoever they cast their votes for?  

A responsible press endeavours to convey truth and facts instead of helping to bury them in words!

Mercenary journalism at best...

%%% 

Joshua Purushotman | Publication date 30 July 2018 | 09:51 ICT

p

Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy has a picture on his Facebook page showing him with egg on his face. Pha Lina

WITH some 82.17% of votes cast, it is obvious that Sam Rainsy’s call to boycott the national elections has failed.

Compare this with the 2013 elections in which his now outlawed Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) took part in. Voter turnout then was a mere 69.61%.

Had Rainsy not called for a boycott, and instead thrown his weight behind the opposition, it could very well have made a good showing at the polls.

Anyone with political sense and a basic understanding of strategy would know that you need a high voter turnout to ensure that any attempt to steal an election will fail.

គ.ជ.ប​រង​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ថា បំប៉ោង​តួលេខ​ចំនួន​អ្នក​ចេញ​ទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត

Khmer Circle:


Inflating voters turnout statistics? Is that surprising though?

Hang Puthea had once been a compromise candidate to head this electoral body, and had even been vouched for publicly by the former CNRP's initial preferred choice - Pung Chhiv Kek - who decided to decline the honour to take the hot seat for obvious reasons. Puthea's own true political colour, however, has been shown by his continued presence on the body once the CNRP had been unceremoniously ejected from the electoral equation and thus eliminated as the nation's only viable political challenger to the ruling CPP before the Khmer people.

Chhiv Kek, for her part, is a not untypical Cambodian woman in public life whose formidable credentials and past achievements include acting as a go-between between Sihanouk and his later adopted son - Hun Sen - in her bid or crusade to bring the two erstwhile adversaries to the negotiating table in the early 1990s. Why then would this taciturn and seasoned woman accept a post in which her every move and reputation as one of her country's renowned 'human rights defenders' be subjected to public spotlight and constant scrutiny?

You cannot be a woman for all seasons and insist upon functioning independently of the power that be or keep to your own principles and professional integrity in these parts at the same time! 

At this rate, the humble and meek Khmer people will keep voting their nation to extinction!


&&&

អាស៊ីសេរី
2018-07-29  
rfa

ការិយាល័យ​បោះឆ្នោត​មួយ​នៅ​ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង នា​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៩ ខែ​កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ ២០១៨។ រូបថត​ផ្ដល់​ឲ្យ​ដោយ​ពលរដ្ឋ
រូបថត​ផ្ដល់​ឲ្យ​​ដោយ​ពលរដ្ឋ



គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការបោះឆ្នោត (​គ.ជ.ប) អះអាង​ថា លទ្ធផល​បណ្ដោះអាសន្ន​នៃ​ចំនួន​អ្នក​បាន​បោះឆ្នោត​គិត​ត្រឹម​ម៉ោង ៥រសៀល​ថ្ងៃទី២៩ កក្កដា មាន​ចំនួន​ជាង ៦ លាន ៨ សែន​នាក់។ ប្រធាន​ចលនា​សង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ជឿជាក់​ថា នេះ​ជា​តួលេខ​បំប៉ោង គ្មាន​ការពិត ព្រោះ​គ្មាន​ការ​ចូលរួម​សង្កេតការណ៍​ពី​អ្នក​ជំនាញ និង​អង្គការ​ឯករាជ្យ។

ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការបោះឆ្នោត លោក ស៊ិក ប៊ុនហុក ថ្លែង​ក្នុង​សន្និសីទ​សារព័ត៌មាន​នៅ​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៩ កក្កដា ថា នេះ​ជា​ជោគជ័យ​នៃ​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ដែល​មាន​ពលរដ្ឋ​ជាង ៨២ ភាគរយ (៨២,១៧%) នៃ​អ្នក​មានឈ្មោះ​ក្នុង​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​ជាង ៨ លាន ៣ សែន​នាក់ បាន​ចេញទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត​ទៅតាម​ឆន្ទៈ​របស់​ខ្លួន។ លោក​អះអាង​ថា តួលេខ​នេះ​បង្ហាញ​ឱ្យ​សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ​ដែល​មាន​បំណង​ដាក់ទណ្ឌកម្ម​លើ​កម្ពុជា​នោះ ឃើញច្បាស់​ថា ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​មាន​ឆន្ទៈ​ពិតប្រាកដ​ក្នុង​ការ​លើកស្ទួយ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ។ «»

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ដូចរំពឹងទុក លោកហ៊ុន សែនឈ្នះការបោះឆ្នោត ដែលសហគមន៍​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​បដិសេធ

ប្រទេស​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ថា ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​នៅ​កម្ពុជា គ្មាន​សេរី យុត្តិធម៌ និង​មិន​ឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំង​ពី​ឆន្ទៈ​ពលរដ្ឋ

អាស៊ីសេរី
2018-07-30 
rfa

សកម្មភាព​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​អាមេរិកាំង កំពុង​ប្រមូល​ផ្ដុំ​នៅ​រដ្ឋធានី​វាស៊ីនតោន តវ៉ា​ប្រឆាំង​​នឹង​ការ​​បោះឆ្នោត​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដែល​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​ទៅ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៩ ខែ​កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៨។
Photo: RFA



សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក​សម្ដែង​ការ​សោកស្ដាយ​ចំពោះ​ការបោះឆ្នោត​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដែល​គ្មាន​ភាព​សេរី​យុត្តិធម៌ និង​មិន​តំណាង​ឱ្យ​ឆន្ទៈ​ពិតប្រាកដ​របស់​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ឡើយ។ អាមេរិក​ចាត់​ទុក​ការបោះឆ្នោត​បែប​បង្គ្រប់​កិច្ច​ដែល​គណបក្សប្រឆាំង​ធំ​ជាងគេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ផាត់​ចេញ​នេះ បង្ហាញ​ពី​បរាជ័យ​យ៉ាង​ធំ​បំផុត​នៃ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ដែល​មាន​ចែង​ក្នុង​រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ​របស់​កម្ពុជា ហើយ​បាន​កាត់បន្ថយ​យ៉ាង​ច្រើន​នូវ​សមិទ្ធផល​ក្នុង​ការ​លើកកម្ពស់​ការ​ផ្សះផ្សា​នយោបាយ និង​កំណើន​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច ដែល​កម្ពុជា​សម្រេច​បាន តាំង​មាន​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​សន្តិភាព​ទីក្រុង​ប៉ារីស​ឆ្នាំ១៩៩១​នោះ​មក។ ប្រទេស​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ផ្សេង​ទៀត​ក៏បាន​ចេញ​សេចក្ដីថ្លែងការណ៍​ប្រហាក់​ប្រហែល​គ្នា​នេះ​ដែរ ថា ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​មិន​ទទួល​បាន​សិទ្ធិ​ពេញលេញ​ក្នុង​ការ​ជ្រើសរើស​តំណាង​ដែល​ពួកគេ​ពេញចិត្ត​ឡើយ។

កម្មវិធី​ទូរទស្សន៍​អាស៊ីសេរី​សម្រាប់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​​៣០ ខែ​កក្កដា​ ​​ឆ្នាំ​២០១៨

Cambodia’s electoral process

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Hon Julie Bishop MP

Cambodia’s electoral process

Media release

30 July 2018

Australia has serious concerns with Cambodia’s 2018 national election and has made these concerns known to the Cambodian Government.

The election process, which has included the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the detention of CNRP leader Kem Sokha, and the banning of CNRP parliamentarians and officials from engaging in politics for five years, has reversed more than 25 years of progress towards democracy in Cambodia.

Freedom of expression and association underpin democratic societies. Australia is concerned the election took place in an environment where not all political parties, civil society organisations and media could operate freely.

Australia is disappointed that Cambodian people have been unable to freely choose their representatives.

As a longstanding friend of Cambodia, Australia will continue to urge the Cambodian Government to take steps to allow free and open political debate without violence and intimidation.

Media enquiries

Minister's office: (02) 6277 7500

DFAT Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555

WHAT SHOULD KHMER PEOPLE DO IN THIS JULY 2018 ELECTION?

Op-Ed by Bun Thoeun

“Why do some parties still participate in the election?”

This 2018 election game Khmer people knew the result already.

1- If the CNRP's supporters do not go to the polled station on the election day, the CPP and Hun Sen will be the winners.

2- If Khmer people vote for other small parties, the CPP and Hun Sen will be the winners.

3- If a political party is strong and is a threat to the CPP, Hun Sen will kill or imprison its leaders, and dissolve such party.

Why do some parties still participate in the election?

If those political parties' leaders are Khmer, they should boycott the election and join force with the CNRP to fight for the REINSTATEMENT of the CNRP and let the CNRP participate in this upcoming election.

Quote, unquote...

Another "Win-win" for Xamdaach?

“Inflating the voters turn out is just a part of Ah Yuon's slave Hun Sen's strategies dictated by Yuon, to shift Khmer people's attention from the real danger - the annexation of Cambodia by the evil Vietnam. The most important thing is that Yuon are all over Cambodia, the 99 years land concessions, the catastrophic destruction of Khmer natural resource, the 4 North East provinces put under Yuon's control, the loss of koh tral, etc... Khmer people must step up their courage and end this Yuon's slave one eye monster Hun Sen era. The Vietnamization of Cambodia is almost complete. ”

-Anonymous

Statement from the Press Secretary on Cambodia’s Flawed Parliamentary Elections

Statement from the Press Secretary on Cambodia’s Flawed Parliamentary Elections

 FOREIGN POLICY

  Issued on: July 29, 2018

The United States regrets that Cambodia’s July 29 parliamentary elections were neither free nor fair and failed to represent the will of the Cambodian people. The flawed elections, which excluded the country’s principal opposition party, represent the most significant setback yet to the democratic system enshrined in Cambodia’s constitution, and substantially erode Cambodia’s achievements in promoting political reconciliation and economic growth since the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement.

We are profoundly disappointed in the government’s choice to disenfranchise millions of voters, who are rightly proud of their country’s development over the past 25 years. Genuine democracies tolerate opposing political views, foster competition through elections, and promote and protect the free exchange of ideas. In contrast, in the months leading up to the vote, the Cambodian government placed ever tighter restrictions on independent media and civil society, dissolved the main opposition party, jailed the opposition leader, and banned that party’s senior leaders from participating in the political process. The campaign was marred by threats from national and local leaders to punish those choosing not to vote. These actions denied the Cambodian people a voice and choice in determining the future of the country.

The United States will consider additional steps to respond to the elections and other recent setbacks to democracy and human rights in Cambodia, including a significant expansion of the visa restrictions announced on December 6, 2017. In the meantime, we call on the Cambodian government to take tangible actions to promote national reconciliation by allowing independent media and civil society organizations to fulfill their vital roles unhindered, immediately releasing Kem Sokha and other political prisoners, and ending the ban on the political opposition.

Cambodia's Ruling Party Coasts to Victory in Election With No Viable Opposition

Time

By SOPHENG CHEANG & JERRY HARMER / AP 10:12 PM EDT

(PHNOM PENH, Cambodia) — Cambodia’s ruling party won an expected victory in an election Sunday widely considered illegitimate after the only credible opposition was silenced and which ensures that long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen will serve another five-year term.

Although 20 parties contested the election, the only one with the popularity and organization to mount a real challenge, the Cambodian National Rescue Party, was dissolved last year by the Supreme Court in a ruling generally seen as political.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith confirmed to The Associated Press that the Cambodian People’s Party had topped the polls. He did not say how many of the of the 125 seats in the National Assembly the CPP had captured, but preliminary totals broadcast on state television showed that the party had won at least 70 percent of the vote in each of the country’s 25 provinces. Under the election’s system of proportional representation, the party would likely grab more than 100 seats.

Local and foreign rights groups, along with several Western governments, had agreed that the election would not be credible.

Cambodian PM's party claims election rout, opposition sees 'death of democracy'

Prak Chan Thul, Amy Sawitta Lefevre

5 MIN READ

“Polling stations visited by Reuters in the capital, Phnom Penh, were quiet on Sunday and some voters said they voted because not doing so would land them in trouble.”

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) said on Monday it had won all 125 parliamentary seats up for grabs in a general election a day earlier that critics said was neither free nor fair.

Cambodia woke to another chapter of rule by strongman Hun Sen a day after an election that was heavily criticised by rights groups, the United States and other Western countries.

“The CPP won 77.5 percent of the votes and won all the parliamentary seats,” CPP spokesman Sok Eysan told Reuters by telephone. “The other parties won no seats.”

The White House said it would consider steps, including an expansion of visa restrictions placed on some Cambodian government members, in response to “flawed elections” in which there was no significant challenger to Hun Sen.

Former CNRP president Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile, said the election was a “hollow” victory for Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who has ruled Cambodia for nearly 33 years.

Cambodia Ruling Party Claims Win in Election Without Opponents

2018-07-29  

rfa

Polling station officials empty ballots boxes before counting at a polling station in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 29, 2018.

AP

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party claimed victory in a general election Sunday, capturing nearly all 125 seats in a one-sided contest as voters, many under threat of losing government services, ratified an outcome decided in November when Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government dissolved the main opposition party.

Unconfirmed preliminary results indicated that the ruling CPP secured 123 out of 125 parliamentary seats, ensuring long-ruling strongman Hun Sen will add another five-year term to his 33 years in office. Two small parties gained one seat each in parliament.

Golden memories ... អនុស្សាវរីយ៍មាស

សេចក្តីរាយការណ៍ VOA សង្ខេបអំពីការបោះឆ្នោត ខណៈការិយាល័យបោះឆ្នោតចាប់ផ្តើមបិទ

កម្ពុជា​ធ្វើ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ជាតិ​អាណត្តិ​ទី៦​ ​ដោយ​គ្មាន​បក្សជំទាស់​សង្គ្រ...

អ្នកគាំទ្រ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ តវ៉ា​ប្រឆាំងនឹង​លទ្ធផល​បោះឆ្នោត​ជាតិ ២០១...

Cambodia election: Ruling party claims landslide in vote with no main opposition

bbc

Hun Sen - seen here casting his vote - says he wants to rule for at least a decade longer

The party of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power since 1985, says it has won a landslide victory in a general election that lacked any serious challengers.

The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) said it had won 80% of the vote, giving it at least 100 of 125 seats.

Election staff say turnout was 82.71%.

Critics have called the vote a sham as the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which narrowly lost the last election, has been dissolved.

The US and EU were also among those questioning the credibility of the vote, but the CPP said 19 other parties had stood.

លោក​ ហ៊ុន​ សែន​ ប្តេ​ជ្ញាធ្វើ​អ្វីៗ​ដើម្បី​ពលរដ្ឋ​និង​ប្រជា​ធិប​តេយ្យ

Cambodia elections: what you should know about Hun Sen, CPP, and CNRP

Quartz

All for predictability. (Reuters/Samrang Pring)

NO CONTEST: To see how a strongman “respects” the election process, take a look at Cambodia

“If the EU did remove Cambodia from the EBA scheme, Hun Sen would have China’s response to worry about, suggests Robertson. The action would “strip the benefit from Cambodia, causing consternation with the primarily Chinese garment factory owners who will then complain to China that Hun Sen has misplayed the situation and needs to be put in line by Beijing.””

Last month, Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen made made a strange demand ahead of his country’s general elections on July 29: Rival candidates, he said, must refrain from criticizing the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) he leads. To outsiders accustomed to politicians relentlessly attacking one another, such a demand is absurd. But so is much else about the contest, which Hun Sen will win, without a doubt.

In power for 33 years, Hun Sen is the world’s longest-serving prime minister. But he got a scare in the country’s last general elections in 2013. A strong showing by the main opposition, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), suggested that it could overtake the CPP the next time around (indeed it contested the 2013 results). Another strong showing in last summer’s local elections reinforced the notion.

Opinion: The world must pay attention to Cambodia

PIERRE LIZÉE

CONTRIBUTED TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL

PUBLISHED 2 DAYS AGO

UPDATED JULY 26, 2018

The Globe and Mail

“If the international community is not willing to denounce forcefully the abuses of power taking place in the country, how can it go elsewhere and claim that it will support democratic change for all the time it needs to unfold there? ”

Pierre Lizée is professor of international studies at Brock University and the author of Peace, Power, and Resistance in Cambodia.

Call it the test-lab approach to conflict resolution. Cambodia was where the “peace through social engineering” model of international intervention, later adopted in Iraq and Afghanistan, was first tried in the early 1990s. After the Cold War, the United Nations wanted to be more pro-active in the resolution of many long-standing conflicts. Why not go in with massive amounts of aid and personnel, and rebuild these societies that had been so conflict-prone? Elections would be organized, a democratic life would take hold and conflicts would be resolved at the ballot box rather than through war.

This failed. The movement towards democracy, which often took centuries to unfold elsewhere, could not be telescoped in a few months in Cambodia. And leaders whose power rests on networks of corruption and nepotism will always resist new forms of politics they would not control as well. These lessons, of course, are still being learned in Iraq and Afghanistan.

TALKING ABOUT POLITICS ON FACEBOOK CAN GET YOU SENT TO PRISON IN CAMBODIA

By David Gilbert Jul 28, 2018

Vice

“You don't need to censor or block everybody all the time, but you need to make them believe that you may be able to do so, and that will cause the vast majority of people to self-censor and be cautious,”

On July 17, Choung Choungy posted a video to Facebook ahead of Cambodia’s elections this Sunday. A lawyer who has represented many of Cambodia’s opposition officials, Choungy wanted to make clear to his followers that the country’s constitution enshrines a right to free speech, and that those using social media to boycott the election were not breaking any laws.

A week later, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) filed a complaint with the National Election Commission claiming his comments constituted fake news, and requesting Choungy’s Facebook page be shut down immediately. Cambodia’s Justice Department piled on, announcing that it was pursuing legal action against Choungy. If found guilty, he could end up in jail for two years.

Cambodia blocks 17 media websites before vote

Independent media sites taken offline for 48 hours as Cambodians prepare to vote on Sunday in a controversial election.

by Erin Handley 

28 Jul 2018

aj

The Phnom Penh Post was among those taken offline for 48 hours by the government [Erin Handley/Al Jazeera] 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - The government blocked access to independent media websites just hours before polling in the country's controversial national election begins.

Phos Sovann, director general of information and broadcasting at the Information Ministry, confirmed a total of 17 websites - including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia (RFA), Voice of Democracy, and the Phnom Penh Post - had been targeted.

"We requested to our committee members, along with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Telecommunications, to close those websites down," he said.

Cambodia ruling party predicts landslide victory in 'sham' election

Suy Se and Joe Freeman

Agence France-Presse

Phnom Penh | Sun, July 29, 2018 | 07:14 pm

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (right) prepares to cast his vote during the general election as his wife Bun Rany (left) looks on in Phnom Penh on July 29. Cambodia went to the polls early on July 29 in an election set to be easily won by strongman premier Hun Sen after the only credible opposition was dissolved last year, effectively turning the country into a one-party state. (AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)

“With one-party rule election turnout is generally higher, not lower, because the party, in this case the Cambodian People's Party, relies on voter intimidation more, relies on vote buying more, and turnout should be inflated that way,”

Cambodia's ruling party predicted a landslide win in Sunday's one-horse election, an expected outcome after the main opposition was banned, paving the way for its leader Hun Sen to prolong his 33 years in power. 

Hun Sen, who came to power in 1985 in a country still plagued by civil war, has cracked down on dissent in the run-up to the poll, pressuring civil society, independent media and his political opponents. 

The National Election Commission said voter turnout was 82 percent, surpassing the final figure in 2013 of roughly 69 percent. 

Cambodian vote expected to deliver a defeat for U.N.-led pro-democracy efforts

 

Supporters of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) participate in a campaign rally in Phnom Penh on Friday. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images)

By Shibani Mahtani

July 27

WP

Cambodia is gearing up for national elections Sunday. But there's little doubt over the result, which will almost certainly be a win for Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People's Party. The elections have been all but engineered to extend Hun Sen's 33-year grip on power and will almost certainly mark a defeat for the U.N.-led experiment to bring democracy to this country of 16 million, which first held elections a quarter-century ago after emerging from the shadows of the Khmer Rouge regime and a period of Vietnamese occupation.

Here's a WorldViews guide ahead of the vote:

Who is Hun Sen?

A former Khmer Rouge commander who lost sight in one eye in battle, Hun Sen defected from the bloody regime in 1977 to a base in Vietnam, where he received training for a role in replacing the brutal government of Pol Pot. He returned two years later, serving as foreign minister in what was essentially a Hanoi-installed puppet regime. In 1985, he became Cambodia's prime minister and de facto leader.

Cambodia Votes for a Leader, With the Result Predetermined by One

A poster of Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia at a campaign event in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Friday.CreditAdam Dean for The New York Times

By Hannah Beech

July 29, 2018

NYT

“I want him to reflect on what he has promised the people in Cambodia,” she said. “Does he really think he has achieved that much except for adding more years to his rule?”

TRAPAING CHOUR, Cambodia — Prime Minister Hun Sen, the only leader that two-thirds of Cambodians have ever known, is not prone to leaving things to chance.

To ensure victory in Sunday’s general elections, for which polling has closed and preliminary results are expected to be announced later in the evening, Mr. Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge cadre who ranks as Asia’s longest-serving leader, did practically everything to stack the odds in his favor.

In November, a Cambodian court with little reputation for judicial independence dissolved the opposition party that nearly unseated Mr. Hun Sen’s governing party in elections in 2013. Its leader, Kem Sokha, now sits in jail on treason charges, accused of plotting with the United States to overthrow the government. (He denies the charges.)

Diaspora Khmers rally against Hun Sen regime

ការពិតនៅតែជាការពិត ដែលគ្មាននរណាអាចបំផ្លើសបាន។

Catching fish by hand on rice field in cambodia

លោក ហ៊ុន សែន សន្យានាំសន្តិភាពនិងការអភិវឌ្ឍ ក្នុងថ្ងៃបញ្ចប់យុទ្ធនាការឃោសន...

ប្រវត្តិ​ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ ជឿន សុវណ្ណថា ដែល​អង្គការ HRW រក​ឃើញ​ថា ជា​បុគ្គល​មាន​បាត​ដៃ​កខ្វក់

ដោយ មាន ឫទ្ធិ
2018-07-26 
rfa

ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯកផ្កាយមាស៣ ជឿន សុវណ្ណថា មេបញ្ជាការ​រង​កងទ័ព​ជើង​គោក និង​ជា​មេបញ្ជាការ​យោធភូមិ​ភាគ​ទី២។
រូប​ពី​របាយការណ៍​អង្គការ HRW



ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍​ឯក​ផ្កាយ​មាស ៣ ជឿន​ សុវណ្ណថា ជាប់​ឈ្មោះ​ជា​ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ «បាតដៃកខ្វក់» ម្នាក់ នៅ​ក្នុង​របាយការណ៍​អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំមើល​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​អន្តរជាតិ យូមែន រ៉ៃត៍ វ៉ច្ឆ (Human Rights Watch)។ អង្គការ​នេះ បាន​លាត​ត្រដាង​ថា លោក ជឿន សុវណ្ណថា មាន​ជាប់​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​អំពើ​រំលោភ​បំពាន​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​ជា​ប្រព័ន្ធ ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​សង្គ្រាម និង​ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​ប្រឆាំង​មនុស្សជាតិ ដែល​លោក​បាន​ប្រព្រឹត្តិ ជា​ផ្នែក​មួយ​ធ្វើ​ជា​ខ្នង​បង្អែក​ឲ្យ​របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បន្ត​កាន់កាប់​អំណាច​តាម​បែប​ផ្តាច់ការ​យោធា​និយម។

គណបក្សប្រជាជននិង គជប កំពុងបោករឿងអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍អន្តរជាតិ។

ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅរដ្ឋ Victoria ប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលីនឹងដង្ហែបាតុកម្មប្រឆាំងនឹងការបោះឆ្នោត

Mangroves: ‘the Earth and humanity simply cannot afford to lose these vital ecosystems’

By: Uffe Wilken - Photography by: Uffe Wilken - Posted on: July 26, 2018 | Featured
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An international day devoted to celebrating mangroves may not seem like the most important date on the calendar, but the long-rooted shrubs can be vital to the environment, marine ecosystems and to millions of people around the world who rely on them. With that in mind, Unesco has named 26 July as World Mangrove Day   

  
Mangrove forest near Koh Kapic in Cambodia’s Koh Kong Province Photo: Uffe Wilken


The razing of Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady delta in May 2008 by cyclone Nargis and the devastation of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in December 2004 might have been avoided if natural mangrove barriers between land and sea had been intact. They weren’t. The consequences were the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and huge economic costs.

Unesco has designated 26 July 2018 as the inaugural International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem – or, commonly, World Mangrove Day. It is a reminder that while they are extremely important to millions of people around the world, mangrove systems are among Earth’s most threatened ecosystems, with an estimated 67% of the world’s mangroves having already disappeared, according to the website Ocean Action Hub.

Thousands evacuated from Stung Treng due to floodwaters from Laos dam

Voun Dara | Publication date 27 July 2018 | 08:57 ICT

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Cambodian soldiers evacuate residents by boat from the floodings in Stung Treng province on Thursday. The torrent of water unleashed in a deadly Laos dam collapse has drained into Cambodia, forcing thousands to evacuate, as rescuers battled monsoon rains to find scores of Laotians still missing after entire villages were washed away. afp



About 5,000 people living in Siem Pang district in Stung Treng province were taken to safety following the flooding triggered by the collapse of a hydropower dam in neighbouring Laos.

Stung Treng provincial governor Mom Saroeun told The Post on Thursday that rescue workers managed to bring all victims trapped in the floods to high ground.

Authorities are now providing medicines and basic necessities such as food, mosquito nets and drinking water.

Cambodia goes to the polls on Sunday, but without a serious opposition on the ballot sheet Hun Sen is poised to win big and extend his 33-year stay as prime minister

សេចក្តីអំពាវនាវចុងក្រោយ របស់លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធានចលនាសង្គ្រោះជាតិ មុនថ្ងៃបោះឆ្នោត។

បទសម្ភាសន៍VOA៖ លោក​បណ្ឌិត អៀ សុផល មិន​មាន​សុទិដ្ឋិនិយម​ទេ ចំពោះ​ដំណើរកា...

Poets' Circle: សែនសំឡុត អ្នកហ្វេសប៊ួគ?

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សែនសំឡុត អ្នកហ្វេសប៊ួគ?

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អ្នកហ្វេសប៊ួគខ្លាចឬក៏សែនភ័យ ចាញ់បរាជ័យនៅថ្ងៃបោះឆ្នោត?
សែនស្រែកក្អេងក្អាងបំភ្លៃបញ្ឆោត ឲ្យខ្មែរខ្លាចកោតញញើតសែនទៀត?

ក្នុងស្រុកក្រៅស្រុកខ្មែរដឹងខ្មែរយល់ ខ្មែរមិនរវល់ខ្លាចសែនគាបត្បៀត
សំឡុតបំភ័យសែនទេចោលម្សៀត ពូជខ្មែរសុទ្ធសាធខ្មែរធ្វើអីខុស?

មិនពេញចិត្តសែនខ្មែរឲ្យសែនចេញ តែសែនឯងវិញក្រាញដូចដុំអុស
សែនសួរខ្មែរវិញសែនធ្វើអីខុស? បង្កើតជម្លោះចោទខ្មែរក្បត់ជាតិ?

សែនជាដុំអុសខ្មែរនឹងអូសចេញ ចិនយួនពាសពេញខ្មែរមិនញញើត
យួរឆាប់វែងឆ្ងាយខ្មែររស់ពព្រើត ខ្មែរមិនសំឡុតតែខ្មែរសន្យា៕


សុទ្ធសាធ

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Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen Defends Opposition Ban on Final Day of Campaigning

2018-07-27 

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Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen waves to supporters during an election campaign rally in Phnom Penh, July 27, 2018.

 AFP

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen defended the dissolution of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Friday—the last day of campaigning ahead of the country’s July 29 general election that has been widely derided as an unfree and unfair “sham” poll amid an ongoing political crackdown.

Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters in the capital Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said that the Supreme Court’s decision in November to dissolve the CNRP over allegations it was involved in a plot to topple the government, while stripping the party’s officials of their posts and banning many lawmakers from politics for five years, had helped Cambodia “avoid a civil war.”

“If we had not eliminated them with the iron fist of the law, Cambodia would have been at war by this time,” the prime minister said.

“We can say that was the best decision we have ever made, and we were happy to pay a price to do so, but we will not allow a return of war, to the detriment of the Cambodian people.”

Jailed Vietnamese Blogger Mother Mushroom Said to Have Ended Hunger Strike

2018-07-27  

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Jailed Vietnamese blogger Mother Mushroom is shown at her trial in Nha Trang, June 29, 2017.

AFP

Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, one of the best-known of her country’s nearly 100 political prisoners and also known as Mother Mushroom, has ended a hunger strike begun earlier this month in the prison where she is being held, and though tired is “in good spirits,” a Vietnam-based activist group says.

Quynh, now serving a 10-year prison term following her June 2017 conviction for her online writings criticizing Vietnam’s government, said she would again take food following a July 23 visit by a U.S. embassy representative, the Vietnam Bloggers Network said on Wednesday.

A professor who escaped Cambodia as a child knows what terrifies the ruling regime

sophal ear

View from the outside. (Sophal Ear)

WRITTEN BY

Steve Mollman

Quarts

July 24, 2018

“The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”

Cambodia holds general elections on Sunday (July 29). The result has never been in doubt.

Prime minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) will win, with its main opposition, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), having been dissolved in November. The CNRP had been making impressive gains in general and local elections in recent years, and posed a significant threat to Hun Sen’s rule of more than 30 years. As such, the ruling government accused the CNRP of plotting to take power with the help of the United States, and had arrested the party’s leader Kem Sokha on treason charges; he remains in custody.

“You kill all of its heroes—like [political analyst] Kem Ley, [environmental activist] Chut Wutty, and [trade union leader] Chea Vichea—and soon enough you’ve broken the Cambodian spirit. ”

How Strongman’s Politics Could Endanger Garment Workers

បទសម្ភាសន៍៖ អ្នកនាំពាក្យបក្សប្រជាជន​ថា មិនបានបង្ខំឲ្យពលរដ្ឋទៅបោះឆ្នោត

កម្មវិធី​ទូរទស្សន៍​អាស៊ីសេរី​សម្រាប់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​​២៧ ខែ​កក្កដា​ ​​ឆ្នាំ​២០១៨

Battambang finger five fined $2,500

Niem Chheng | Publication date 27 July 2018 | 08:58 ICT

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NEC secretary-general Tep Nytha speaks to the press about campaign rules for political parties last year. Heng Chivoan

Five former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) members in Battambang province, including the former chief of its executive committee, Chea Chiv, were found guilty of breaking election campaign rules and each fined 10 million riel ($2,500) on Thursday for raising clean index fingers to the camera as they posed for photographs.

The act was deemed as being part of the “Clean Fingers” campaign calling on people to boycott Sunday’s national elections, according to Chea Chiv, one of those fined.

Chea Chiv is among the 118 CNRP lawmakers banned from political activity after the opposition party was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November. The four others fined were former CNRP commune officials from two districts in Battambang province.

មុខ មនុស្សអាក្រក់ ដែលជាប់ក្នុងបញ្ជីខ្មៅ សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក

២៧ កក្កដា ២០១៨

សូមមើលមុខ មនុស្សអាក្រក់ ដែលជាប់ក្នុងបញ្ជីខ្មៅ សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក

ហ៊ុន សែន ក្រុមគ្រួសារ និងបក្ខពួកស្និទ្ធស្នាល ១៦ រូប នឹងទទួលទណ្ឌកម្ម ពីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក បន្ទាប់ពីច្បាប់ថ្មីមួយ ស្តីពីលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ នៅកម្ពុជា ត្រូវបានអនុម័ត ដោយសភាអាមេរិកាំង កាលពីថ្ងៃ ២៥ កក្កដា ២០១៨។ ទណ្ឌកម្មនោះ មានការហាមឃាត់មិនឲ្យសាម៉ីខ្លួនមកជាន់ដីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ហើយការបង្កកទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ ដែលបានយកទៅលាក់ទុក នៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។ ការបង្កកទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិរបស់ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំពុកលួយ លួចជាតិទាំងនោះ អាចឈានទៅដល់ការរឹបអូសទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ ដើម្បីយកមកប្រគល់សងប្រជារាស្ត្រខ្មែរវិញ។ ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ ដែលមានបញ្ជាក់ឈ្មោះក្នុងច្បាប់អាមេរិក ហើយដែលនឹងទទួលទណ្ឌកម្មនោះ គឺ ហ៊ុន សែន, ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត, ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណា, ស ខេង, ទា បាញ់, អូន ព័ន្ធមុន្នីរ័ត្ន, កើត រិទ្ធិ, ស៊ុន ចាន់ថុល, ប្រាក់ សុខុន, ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង, ប៉ុល សារឿន, នេត សាវឿន, គន់ គីម, សៅ សុខា, ហ៊ីង ប៊ុនហៀង, ជួន សុវណ្ណ និង សុខ ពុទ្ធិវុធ (កូនប្រសារ ហ៊ុន សែន)។

Sam Rainsy

The US’ Cambodia Act to ‘undermine bilateral ties’

Niem Chheng | Publication date 27 July 2018 | 10:08 ICT

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US Democrat Representative Alan Lowenthal speaks at a press conference in Washington, DC, on May 24, 2016. Nicholas Kamm/AFP

Reacting to the Cambodia Democracy Act of 2018, which was passed in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, the Kingdom’s government called it “normal” and merely an extension of how the country has been treated by the United States over the past 20 years.

US Embassy spokesperson Arend Zwartjes said the act was just halfway through a very long process. He declined further comment.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the Act, which purports to promote free and fair elections, political freedom and human rights in Cambodia and eventually impose possible sanctions on the Kingdom’s officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Hun Sen, was nothing new.

Rainsy: Japan move to pull monitors a wake-up call

Mech Dara | Publication date 27 July 2018 | 07:55 ICT

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Cambodian protesters in Tokyo demand the Cambodian government pulls support for the Kingdom’s July 29 elections at a protest in June. Photo supplied

Responding to an announcement that Japan will not send observers to monitor the Kingdom’s upcoming national elections, Sam Rainsy said on Wednesday that it was a wake-up call for the government.

The spokesperson for the National Election Committee (NEC), however, said Japan was still providing support for the poll, while Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman Sok Eysan said it was Japan’s business whether it participated or not.

Posting to Facebook on Wednesday after news broke that the Asian country would not send monitors to the Kingdom, Rainsy, a former leader of the court dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party said now only a few nations have shown their support of the poll.

អាមេរិក​ដាក់​ទណ្ឌកម្ម​ក្បាល​ម៉ាស៊ីន​ដឹកនាំ​របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ដែល​បំផ្លាញ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និង សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ

លោក ជុន ច័ន្ទបុត្រ និង​ មួង ណារ៉េត
2018-07-26


រូបពីឆ្វេងទៅស្តាំ ជួរខាងលើជួរទី១៖ លោក ទៀ បាញ់, លោក ប្រាក់ សុខុន, លោក អូន ព័ន្ធមុនីរ័ត្ន, ស៊ុន ចាន់ថុល និង លោក កើត រិទ្ធ ជួរទី២៖ លោក ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង, លោក ជួន សុវណ្ណ, លោក ប៉ុល សារឿន, លោក នេត សាវឿន និងលោក សៅ សុខា, ជួរទី៣៖ លោក គុន គីម, លោក ហ៊ីង ប៊ុនហៀង, លោក ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត, លោកស្រី ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណា និង លោក សុខ ពុទ្ធីវុធ (រូបធំជាងគេឆ្វេងដៃខាងលើ គឺរូបលោក ហ៊ុន សែន និង ខាងក្រោមគឺលោក ស ខេង)។
 RFA



សភា​អាមេរិក នៅ​ថ្ងៃទី២៦ ខែ កក្កដា​នេះ បាន​អនុម័ត​ច្បាប់​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​កម្ពុជា​ឆ្នាំ​២០១៨ ដាក់​ទណ្ឌកម្ម​ក្បាលម៉ាស៊ីន ដឹកនាំ​របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ទាំងអស់​ដែល​ចូល​ដៃ ក្នុង​ការ​បំផ្លាញ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និង​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា។ ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​ការ​អនុម័ត​ច្បាប់ ដាក់​ទណ្ឌកម្ម​មន្ត្រី​របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន នេះ លោក ជុន ច័ន្ទបុត្រ សាកសួរ​លោក មួង ណារ៉េត ​ជុំវិញ​រឿង​នេះដូច​តទៅ​៖

ជុន ច័ន្ទបុត្រ៖ ក្បាលម៉ាស៊ីន​ដឹកនាំ​របប​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន មាន​ច្រើន​នាក់​ណាស់​លោក មួង ណារ៉េត តើ​ជា​ដំបូង ច្បាប់​នេះ កំណត់​បុគ្គល​ប៉ុន្មាន​នាក់​ដែល​ត្រូវ​ដាក់​ទណ្ឌកម្ម?

Cambodia's election condemned as a 'sham'

By Nathan A. Thompson

Updated 0456 GMT (1256 HKT) July 27, 2018

CNN

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CNN) - Officially, there are as many as 20 different political parties taking part in Cambodia's general elections on Sunday. But for many voters in this small Southeast Asian nation, there is no real choice.

"Some people are afraid of talking politics," said Bo, who asked to be identified only by his nickname.

According to Bo, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which under Prime Minister Hun Sen has governed the country for 33 years, punishes people who vote for the opposition.

In rural Cambodia, the village chief and commune counselors issue documents for everything from marriages to land purchases, making people like Bo reliant on them for simple everyday transactions.

Inside the Cambodian People's Party office in Traing district, Takeo province. The single staffer on duty did not want to be photographed.

Thousands of Cambodians evacuated as floods hit

Water from Laos' dam breach streams into neighbouring Cambodia with floodwaters reaching 11.5 metres in some areas.

by Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon  

A 260-metre long concrete bridge across the Sekong River in Stung Treng province was damaged by floodwaters from Laos [Kry Solany/Al Jazeera] 

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Thousands of people in northeastern Cambodia are being evacuated on Thursday as authorities scramble to cope with floodwater from the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam collapse in Laos that flowed south over the border.

Five billion cubic metres of water were released downstream when an auxiliary portion of the dam failed on Monday night.

On Tuesday, the Cambodian Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued an alert "to be careful" in Stung Treng province along the Sekong River, a major Mekong tributary fed by the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy river system.

Huge Flood From Failed Dam In Laos Has Now Spread To Cambodia

July 26, 201810:01 AM ET

BILL CHAPPELL

npr

Children and a woman sit on a locally made vehicle in Laos as they travel during flooding caused by the collapse of a dam in the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydroelectric project in Attapeu Province.

Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

Some 25,000 Cambodians raced to find higher ground after floodwaters spread to their province from a failed hydroelectric dam in neighboring Laos, according to state media in Cambodia. In Laos, the government says flooding has killed at least 27 people and destroyed the homes of more than 3,000 residents.

Cambodia's Sekong River hit a water level of nearly 12 meters (almost 40 feet) on Thursday — a height that left 17 villages flooded and forced the local government to rush to find shelter for roughly half the population of the Siem Pang district in Stung Treng province, state news agency AKP reports.

ច្បាប់ Cambodia Democracy Act of 2018 (H.R. 5754)