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
2 comments:
"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." Good luck to that! How many times have you used the word 'urge'?!!!
This has always been the case of Ozy government dealings with Ah kwak's govt.
Whatever reason the Ozy is so afraid of and gets played by Ah Kwak is beyond me. Ozy would staunchly criticize China's human rights abuse records and yet not to Ah kwak. Ozy" has serious concerns" is a slap on the wrist but not on the face.
Now another dilemma that the Ozy might find unpleasant, whether to denounce the jacked up election results or to accept them. The question is condemn or not condemn?. The Ozy will be condemned by the Khmer people and may be from the international communityi if it chooses not to condemn or otherwise will be praised for its courage to stand up against this tyrant.
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