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.
1 comment:
Khmer circle:
Would you please repost my comment.
Did Khmer people learn enough lesson yet about wanting to get something without paying anything? Again, nothing is free in this world. If you want to save Cambodia from Yuon or to have democracy for Cambodia, you must pay some price.
Sunday, 15 July 2018
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.
Suong Sophorn, President of the Khmer people power, has made the absolute right decision by boycotting this July 2018 election.
It is up to Khmer people to do something right and necessary such as the Nationwide PEACEFUL demonstration ( not a popular movement ) firmly demanding for the reinstatement of the CNRP 7 days prior to the election and let the demonstration go on through the election day, MAKING THE ELECTION IMPOSSIBLE to prevent Hun Sen from declaring that he is the new Prime Minister.
If Hun Sen violently suppressed such peaceful demonstration, the international community will have the morale obligation to help Khmer people and Cambodia one more time.
We must help ourselves first before other can help us.
Bun Thoeun
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