Parties Trained for Election Observation

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
27 May 2008

Khmer audio aired May 26 (0.98MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired May 26 (0.98MB) - Listen (MP3)

Trainers for four of the competing parties for July’s general election received training themselves Monday, so that they can teach poll observation to monitors.

Some 240 members of the Cambodian People’s, Funcinpec, Sam Rainsy and Norodom Ranariddh parites received training from the National Democratic Institute, with more training to follow for each of the remaining seven parties.

These trainers will then go on to train other party activists.

Trainers were taught skills of systematic poll observation in order to prevent irregularities on Election Day, July 27, and in subsequent ballot counting.

“The presence of party polling agents enhances public confidence in the polling and counting by promoting transparency and openness,” said Jerome Cheung, NDI’s Cambodia representative.

The training will help ensure “all parties have the ability to protect their own party’s interests on Election Day and counting day,” said Sothearayuth Lee, a senior program officer for NDI.