The day after the elections

Cambodia's Hun Sen shaken as opposition rejects poll result

Election results questioned (00:59)

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH | Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:12am EDT

(Reuters) - Cambodia's long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen faced his biggest political setback in two decades on Monday as the country's opposition rejected an election result as tainted by widespread fraud, despite heavy losses for the ruling party.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, buoyed by a near doubling of seats in parliament, called for an inquiry into what he called massive manipulation of electoral rolls in Sunday's vote.
The government announced late on Sunday that Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had won 68 seats in the 123-seat parliament to the opposition's 55, a loss of 22 seats for the ruling party.
That marked the 60-year-old Hun Sen's worst election result since the war-torn country returned to full democracy in 1998, although the CPP retained a governing majority to enable the prime minister to extend his 28-year rule.
Prolonged wrangling over the result and a weakened Hun Sen could raise policy uncertainty in the small but fast-growing Southeast Asian nation that is drawing growing investor interest and has forged strong economic ties with China and Vietnam.
But the opposition's chances of overturning the outcome are slim given the ruling party's grip on the courts and with major foreign donors like the United States unlikely to reject the result without evidence of massive fraud.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), whose campaign was given a boost by the return from exile of leader Sam Rainsy, said it wanted an investigation committee set up with representatives from political parties, the United Nations, the election authority and non-governmental organizations.
"There were 1.2 million to 1.3 million people whose names were missing and could not vote. They deleted our rights to vote, how could we recognize this election?" Sam Rainsy, a French-educated former finance minister, told a news conference.
"There were ghost names, names only on paper."
The opposition tapped into growing concern among Cambodians over rising inequality and entrenched corruption that Hun Sen's critics say his policies have exacerbated.
Hun Sen, who has yet to speak publicly about the outcome, may have to adjust some policies in light of the surge in opposition support and show more sensitivity to public opinion. The loss of its two-thirds majority means the CPP will need opposition support to enact any changes in the constitution.
But Hun Sen still has the ability to control policymaking through his majority and the entrenched networks of political influence he has built within the CPP.
"It's definitely unprecedented and unexpected but for now I don't think regime stability is at stake," said Giulia Zino, a Southeast Asia analyst at Control Risks group in Singapore.
ANGRY VOTERS
The CPP had 90 seats in the outgoing parliament and the parties that united to form the CNRP had 29, with minor parties holding the remaining four. Cambodia's election commission has yet to announce how many seats each party has won, and will not announce full, official results until August 15 at the earliest.
Rights groups have criticized the electoral system as heavily biased in favor of the ruling party. The European Union declined to deploy poll monitors for this election after Cambodia did not act on its previous recommendations.
The Transparency International group, which helped monitor the election, cited various irregularities in the vote and said in a statement it was "very concerned about the disenfranchisement of citizens and suspect voters".
Voting on Sunday, like the campaign itself, was for the most part peaceful.
The CPP, backed by a compliant domestic media and superior resources, had been confident of victory. Analysts had predicted a reduction in its majority after the merger of two main opposition parties, as well as the return of Sam Rainsy, but the extent of opposition gains was a surprise.
Rising garment exports plus heavy flows of aid and investment from China have fuelled rapid economic growth, but that has been accompanied by a rise in social tension.
Cambodians have protested more frequently over poor conditions in the garment industry and land rights in the country of 14 million, where a third of people live on less than 65 U.S. cents per day.
The urban population has swelled in recent years, giving rise to a new generation of young voters who have access to wider sources of information online and who tend to support the opposition.
"Democracy is stronger in Cambodia than most outsiders anticipated," said Douglas Clayton, the chief executive of the Leopard Capital investment fund in Phnom Penh.
"The government will likely become more consultative and sensitive to public opinion."
The United Nations organized an election in 1993 that put Cambodia on a rocky path towards stability after decades of turmoil that included the 1975-79 "Killing Fields" rule of the communist Khmer Rouge.
Hun Sen, a former junior commander in the Khmer Rouge who broke away during their rule, lost that election but refused to accept the result and negotiated a position as joint prime minister before seizing power in a coup in 1997.
(Writing by Alan Raybould and Stuart Grudgings; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Cambodia's polls "free and fair" despite opposition's rejection: observers

English.news.cn   2013-07-29 14:44:57

by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- A group of international observers said Monday that Cambodia's general election on Sunday was free, fair and transparent, though the kingdom's main opposition party rejected the election results, claiming irregularities.
"The election was free, fair and transparent, and, above all, peaceful, non-violent and smooth," Jose de Venecia, former Speaker of the Philippines, who led a group of international observers from the International Conference of Asian Political Parties ( ICAPP) and the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International ( CAPDI), said in a press conference.
"This bears testimony to the fact that Cambodian democracy has not only matured, but come of age politically," he said.
According to the group's statement, the delegation visited over a dozen polling stations, some pre-arranged visits and some randomly, within Phnom Penh City and provinces on its outskirts.
"We consider the election in Cambodia as a triumph of popular will and a victory of the Cambodian people in their quest to build a better future based on the supremacy and sanctity of the ballot, " the statement said.
"We extend our heartiest congratulations to the people, political parties, leaders, media, civil society and the Cambodian election body for the successful and orderly conduct of the election."
ICAPP and CAPDI represent over 340 political parties in Asian, according to the statement.
However, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP) of recently-returned leader Sam Rainsy rejected the election results and claimed irregularities.
"The CNRP does not accept the election results as indicated by the National Election Committee or by some political parties because there are too many irregularities, and the results do not reflect the will of people," Sam Rainsy told a press conference on Monday.
"The party calls for the establishment of a joint committee in order to investigate the irregularities such as vote counting and duplicated names of voters."
The CNRP said the committee should report back by August 31.
Kem Sokha, CNRP's vice president, said the party did not recognize the election results, but it would not abandon the numbers of seats it won in the election.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen announced late Sunday that it has won "an absolute majority seats" in the Sunday's general election.
"According to the preliminary results, the CPP won an absolute majority seats in the polls so that the party has enough seats to prepare the government for the fifth legislature of the National Assembly," the party's statement said.
Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government and the CPP, told Xinhua on Sunday that the preliminary results showed that the CPP gained 68 seats and the CNRP got the remaining 55 seats in the Sunday's poll.
Despite the victory, the ruling CPP of Prime Minister Hun Sen saw a remarkable decline in the numbers of seats it attained. In the last elections in 2008, the party won up to 90 seats out of the 123 seats in parliament.
While the opposition party saw a sharp increase in the numbers of seats from only 29 seats in the elections in 2008.
The official results from the National Election Committee are still unavailable so far.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for another five years through the Sunday's victory.
According to the constitution, the first session of the new National Assembly will be convened no later than 60 days after the election.

Cambodia Legislatives Elections

On Sunday July 29, 2013 from 7AM to 3PM the Cambodian people had votes in great number for the representatives to the 123 members National Assembly. The month long campaign went smoothly and only one incident was reported at the Stung Mean Chey voting place in Phnom Penh where arrest was made and 2 Gendarmerie vehicles were burned by angry voters.

At 8:30PM Phnom Penh time, the Election committee announced the preliminary unofficial results saying that the CPP won with 68 seats over the Opposition CNRP with 55 seats. The CNRP protested. Their number: 62 for CNRP, and 61 for CPP. Will see... Any way it is the victory for Democracy, with scores of people taking the street in unprecedented number cheering the return of the opposition leader. Now the fear factor begin to fade away ...

Cambodia will survive!!

From Blue Lady Blog:

While I am writing this, the midnight has already passed, and today is July 28th, 2013 (Sunday). To a lot of people, today is a day of hope because they can go and cast their votes for the leaders they have a strong conviction that will change the future of Cambodia and rescue the next generations in Cambodia.

Every 5 years, Cambodians vote for the top leaders, so a new government has a 5 year mandate. For the record, there are 123 seats to the national assembly and 62 seats are needed for a majority (for a winning party to win and rule the country). This Wikipedia article gives some good basic information about the Cambodian general elections 2013. From 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, Cambodia saw many competing political parties in the general elections, but exceptionally this year has seen only 8 parties, and the National Election Committee has registered more than 9 million voters.

Since earlier this year, so much has happened in preparation for just one day, today. I really mean it when I said all these happenings have caused a lot of headache, concern and distress among Cambodians as well as international communities. But, everything that’s been happening will surely have a direct impact on Cambodians that live here. Here are things that have recently happened and caught everyone’s attention till now.

Powerful Facebook

Facebook has been considered as one of the most powerful tools played in Cambodian politics these days. It connects Cambodians from around Cambodia and with other people in other countries.

It was earlier a place where young people went to seek entertainment and dating, but that is not the case anymore. A small potion of our economy is also running there. For example, big companies with brands are running their campaigns on Facebook.

Non-government organizations show off their mission and vision to get support and seek more help. Individuals look for business and study opportunities, fame, fans and attention from other Facebookers who could easily relate to and sympathize with them.

More news shared on Facebook

At the same time, more videos and information related to crimes, traffic accidents, social injustice such as land eviction/grabbing and countless other cruel acts have been tirelessly shared among circles of friends and friends of friends. It was reported that some people who usually watched TV for news have switched to Facebook to get unbiased and more reliable news.

When late King Father passed away in October last year, many people took to Facebook to grieve for him. I was one of the people who witnessed so much love from his fans and some constructive analysis over his past achievements and legacy.

Warming up before elections

Everything went back to normal. Some random news related to traffic accidents and social injustice were posted, and young people and Facebook were kept busy. And, then i was contacted by a Phnom Penh Post reporter about a statement that NEC released in late May. which asked social media users not to spread rumors or inaccurate information. The story was printed with quite a big picture of myself.

 

Sam Rainsy Request for registration denied

From RFA July 23:

Cambodia’s National Election Committee on Monday rejected a request by opposition leader Sam Rainsy to register to vote and contest in the country’s polls next week following his return from self-imposed exile to a rapturous welcome.

Sam Rainsy, head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), wrote a letter to NEC President Im Suosdey on Sunday requesting that he be added to voter registration and candidate lists after receiving a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni for convictions he claims were politically motivated.

“Based on this request and the King’s amnesty dated July 12, I would like his Excellency to seek any the possibility of including my name on the official voting list and also include my name in the CNRP candidate list for the election dated July 28, 2013,” Sam Rainsy wrote in the letter, which was also copied to King Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The opposition leader had spent four years abroad to avoid jail time for the convictions, but returned last week to Phnom Penh after being granted amnesty by the King at Hun Sen’s request and was greeted by tens of thousands of supporters.

The NEC said on his return that he could not contest the elections because his name had been removed from the electoral register after he was sentenced in absentia and that the registration of candidates had long been closed.

The NEC responded to Sam Rainsy’s letter Monday with a refusal, reiterating that he had no right to vote in next week’s election, regardless of his royal pardon.

“This denial is in compliance with Election Law Article 49, which says that the registration list must be completed and approved between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 each year,” the response read.

“The NEC already approved the voting lists on Dec. 31 2012,” it said.

The NEC added that it would be unable to register Sam Rainsy to run for the CNRP because he had “failed to comply with conditions for the candidate lists,” because of his convictions at the time the list was approved.

Sam Rainsy said last week that he will not recognize any victory by Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) in the polls if he is barred from contesting the parliamentary elections, as he is the head of the main opposition party and a potential prime ministerial candidate.

The CPP, which has held power for 28 years and at present holds 90 of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, is widely expected to sweep this month’s elections. The party has won the last two polls by a landslide despite allegations of fraud and election irregularities.

Sam Rainsy Return

To a Hero Welcome by the members and sympathizers of the Cambodian National Rescue Party after years of exile in France, on Friday July 19th @9:00AM. Thousands of people, 40 per CNRP officials, flocked at the Pochentong Airport and line up the street to the Democracy Park where also people are waiting to hear him speak.

It is something like the return of Son Ngoc Thanh in the late 1940s from France. This time for Sam Rainsy it is of bigger scale and in different circumstances.

Pray the Lord Buddha Sam Rainsy will not endure the fate of Son Ngoc Thanh who was forced to join the marquis in rebellion forming the Khmer Serei Movement.

News Report:

Rainsy to the 'rescue'

Fri, 19 July 2013

Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Shane Worrell

The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia National Rescue Party president Sam Rainsy addresses a crowd estimated at 20,000 on Friday in Phnom Penh's Freedom Park. PHA LINA

In a triumphant homecoming speech at Freedom Park on Friday, Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy promised to “rescue the nation” if his party wins the National Election on July 28.

Just hours after stepping off a plane from Bangkok and walking on Cambodian soil for the first time in almost four years, Rainsy stood proudly alongside his deputy, Kem Sokha, and a host of party faithful, as he outlined his vision for the Kingdom’s future.

“I believe the CNRP will win this election . . . And I promise to rescue the country with our policies,” he said to an excited crowd of about 20,000 that cheered every few sentences their leader bellowed. “We will stop all the conflict and we will work together to fix this nation.”

In an apparent reference to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, Rainsy also threatened to reject the election result if “the NEC [National Election Committee] claims that one other party wins”.

Rainsy was grateful to King Norodom Sihamoni for pardoning him last week – thus guaranteeing his freedom to return without being arrested – and was almost boastful of the fact he was back in time for the ballot.

“I promised to all of you that I would return before the election – even if the government arrested me and put me in prison – and here I am,” he said. “The court painted me a colour, and now they have cleaned that colour from me.”

During his impassioned speech, which lasted about 45 minutes, Rainsy delved into the CNRP’s increasingly familiar policies, promising to “implement all of them”.

“We will provide free medical care for all – including CPP members who have no money,” he said. “We will provide 40,000 riel [$10] to the elderly, including the parents of CPP members. We will increase the salaries for civil servants to 1 million riel ($250) per month, including to CPP members.”

Rainsy also spoke of creating more jobs to prevent people from leaving the country for work and “illegal migrants” coming in their place.

“I urge all of you to please vote early on July 28 so we can change this country into what you want it to be. Don’t forget number seven.”

Because of the massive turnout to see Rainsy at the airport and along the parade route to the rally, CNRP supporters at Freedom Park, who ranged from small children to the elderly, waited hours longer than scheduled to see their leader.

Warming up the crowd ahead of Rainsy’s arrival was opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua, who between bursts of song said it was time to “reform everything, including the NEC”.

Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando – who received something of a hero’s welcome himself when he walked on stage – spoke of the need to transform the country.
“Don’t be scared by the CPP’s threats of war,” Sonando said. “We must change from dictatorship to democracy.”

Also keeping the crowd entertained was a band and a comedy skit featuring a fortuneteller who advised farmers nervous about cassava prices to vote for the CNRP.

Scores of supporters stood on motorbikes and some perched high up on tree branches, while a number of locals took to their rooftops to witness Rainsy’s speech.

Among the crowd, Nom Lay, 47, from Prey Veng province, said she had supported Rainsy for 15 years.

“I awoke in the early morning and drove a motorbike here, because I love Sam Rainsy,” she said before his arrival. “I’ve supported him since 1998. Right now, I miss him and I heard he will return today, so I came here to welcome him.”

Kem Sokha said supporters such as Lay had witnessed a moment in history.

“Today is a historic day for all of us joining together here to win this election,” he said.

Unprecedented turnout greets Rainsy

Fri, 19 July 2013

Abby Seiff and Cheang Sokha

The Phnom Penh Post

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party president Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sohka are mobbed by supporters as they drive from the airport to Freedom Park after Rainsy returned from self-exile on Friday. VIREAK MAI

Over the course of 10 kilometres and three hours this morning, one could be forgiven for forgetting what country they were in.

A sea of supporters likely numbering more than 100,000 turned out to greet opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who touched down in Phnom Penh at 9:05am to a hero’s welcome following nearly four years of self-exile.

Supporters thronged the entire route from Phnom Penh International Airport to Freedom Park, slowing the convoy to a crawl as adulatory crowds swarmed around the cars carrying the opposition leader – arm-arm with Cambodia National Rescue Party deputy president Kem Sokha - and his retinue.

Just one week after he was granted a royal pardon, Rainsy descended from the plane with Sokha in tow, stepped onto the tarmac, and kissed the ground.

As the pair drove out of the gates, and a planned press conference disintegrated amid the chaos, Rainsy grabbed a microphone and shouted above the din of the crowd.

“I am so excited to see all of you. I am so happy, so excited to meet all my compatriots. Thank you, all of you. We are now walking together,” Rainsy told the overjoyed supporters. “I came this time to rescue the nation with all of you.”

While the amnesty pardoned Rainsy from 11 years in prison, for convictions on a raft of defamation and forgery charges widely believed to be politically motivated, it included no stipulations about his eligibility to run. His name has been stricken from both the voter list and candidate list in adherence with rules forbidding convicted persons to run, and the National Election Committee has stood firm that they cannot legally re-list Rainsy unless the laws are amended.

Regardless, if the crowds that turned out are any indication, it is clear that the return will provide a massive boost for the beleaguered party.
“I love him. I want him to be the [prime minister] of Cambodia. I want to change the [Prime Minister] and we needed him to come back,” said Un Charin. The 28-year-old motodop had come to the airport hours before Rainsy was set to arrive, 20 friends in tow.

“I studied in a university in Battambang for two years, but I can’t find a good job. I wanted to work in a company, but you have to pay money just to get a job. It’s time for a change,” he said, before bursting into chant of b’do, or change.

As the trucks slowly made their way toward Freedom Park, supporters – some of whom had been camped out since dawn – let out enormous cheers. Whole companies trickled out of their offices, the employees standing in neat lines, snapping photos with iPads and holding up homemade signs.

Near a factory, dozens of garment workers pressed against the barrier dividing the north and southbound lanes of Russian Boulevard.

“I missed lunch time, but that’s okay with me, I wanted to see His Excellency Sam Rainsy,” said 20-year-old Sreymom, a CNRP sticker plastered to her cheek. While the government has been touting its recent increase of the minimum wage in the garment sector, workers, she said, were more impressed by the CNRP’s promise of $150 a month minimum.

“I support the CNRP,” she said.

That sentiment is not limited to those in the garment industry.

Le Hour, a civil servant employed by the Ministry of Education, said Rainsy was the clear choice.

“He has a high knowledge of economic matters and enough stability to run our country. No corruption, no evictions,” he said.

“I’m a member of the CPP inside the ministry, but I don’t support the CPP’s policies. Many people [secretly] don’t support them, because they have too low a salary.”

Along the parade route, that appeared to be borne out.

As the cars slid by the Por Sen Chey district office of Education, Youth and Sports, officials leaned over the second-story balcony to watch the show. On the far end, metres away from their CPP-polo clad colleagues, a pair of well-dressed civil servants flashed the number 7.

A 30-year-old monk from Wat Stung Meanchey shouted “change!” before turning to speak to a reporter.

“I am happy to be able to come here and welcome our leader; he is brave and inspirational for the people. He is a man who truly loves his nation,” said venerable Chhit Sovann.

“I strongly hope that the CNRP will win this election, that people will get back their land and that our land at the border lost to the neighbouring country will also be taken back.”
In the car following Rainsy’s, Cambodians who had flocked in from the US and France to help the party during the campaign said they had little doubt the CNRP would win, should elections be free and fair.

“I’m strongly hoping we’re going to win and we’re going to change the country,” said Sovin David, a party member who has spent the past 18 years in France. “If they win, I’m not going back.”

“It’s been almost 30 years… Now it’s time for real democracy. Bring back Sam Rainsy!”

While the Ministry of Interior promised hundreds of officers to secure Rainsy’s return, few were present past the gates of the airport, leaving the task of keeping order to perhaps thousands of volunteers.

Young men and women, arms linked in daisy chains, surrounded his pickup truck, keeping back surging crowds, while a contingent of private bodyguards kept watch from inside the truck bed.

Despite the lack of a visible surplus of officers, the daylong demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with just a single minor reported incident over the course of the entire day.

Even a handful of CPP supporters who braved the crowds were met with no more than the occasional verbal jeers.

Also notably absent from the parade were local media. As dozens of Cambodian and foreign journalists scrambled up and down Russian Boulevard, racing to rooftops for the best shot and hopping on and off trucks, broadcasters were nowhere to be seen.

The television channels – all of them dominated by government ties – showed no footage of the rally, while other media downplayed it. Local news site CEN, one of the chief breaking news outlets, numbered the crowd in the thousands.

Taking note of the absence, a wry supporter walked the length of the route toting a homemade, Styrofoam camera. Coated with CNRP logos, the camera sported the letters TVK - the name of the state broadcaster.

Cambodia: Democracy at Risk

This day July 5th in 1997 military clashes occurred between forces loyal to Ranarridh and Hun Sen that marked the beginning of a purge. Second PM Hun Sen forces were having the upper hand and their boss was dominating the military and political forces since then. Democracy was under pressure and was at risk of losing credibility and meaning since then.