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.