The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Sebastian Strangio and Chann Chamroeun
Friday, 15 August 2008
The National Election Committee disputes EU claims the July 27 elections failed to meet international standards, demands clarification
The National Election Committee has criticised the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM)'s preliminary election report, requesting that the EU clarify its claim that the July 27 poll "[fell] short of a number of key international standards for democratic elections.
"In a nine-page statement issued Wednesday, the NEC said the EOM's July 29 Preliminary Observation Statement created an impression in the international media that Cambodia's election was "not 'democratic'."
"The headline of the EU EOM Preliminary Statement... clearly implies a strong and negative statement on the overall 2008 election. Such [an] assertion should only be made if supported by concrete and specific references," the statement said, adding that the report "fails to discuss the shortfall [in] standards" noted by the EU.
The NEC also requested the EU provide "further objective explanations and ... concrete suggestions related to the missing [democratic] standards."
The NEC statement disputes EOM reports that nearly 50,000 voters were mistakenly removed from voter lists, claiming the observers misinterpreted data from a pre-election audit of the lists.
On the question of the pre-election media environment, the NEC questioned the EOM's view that there was "unfair and unequal" access to media in favour of the ruling party.
"The opposition parties were able to freely convey their ideology and criticism of the government to listeners through Voice of America radio and Radio Free Asia," the statement said, although it admitted the issue would have to be "review[ed]" in future.
Tep Nytha, secretary general of the NEC, said that he was confident the elections were conducted freely. "The NEC followed the regulations in the Election Law, meaning that the election was free, fair and just," he said.
"The EU observers have a right to say the NEC is not up to international standards, but around 20 international observers were positive about the election," he added.
The EOM could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Written by Sebastian Strangio and Chann Chamroeun
Friday, 15 August 2008
The National Election Committee disputes EU claims the July 27 elections failed to meet international standards, demands clarification
The National Election Committee has criticised the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM)'s preliminary election report, requesting that the EU clarify its claim that the July 27 poll "[fell] short of a number of key international standards for democratic elections.
"In a nine-page statement issued Wednesday, the NEC said the EOM's July 29 Preliminary Observation Statement created an impression in the international media that Cambodia's election was "not 'democratic'."
"The headline of the EU EOM Preliminary Statement... clearly implies a strong and negative statement on the overall 2008 election. Such [an] assertion should only be made if supported by concrete and specific references," the statement said, adding that the report "fails to discuss the shortfall [in] standards" noted by the EU.
The NEC also requested the EU provide "further objective explanations and ... concrete suggestions related to the missing [democratic] standards."
The NEC statement disputes EOM reports that nearly 50,000 voters were mistakenly removed from voter lists, claiming the observers misinterpreted data from a pre-election audit of the lists.
On the question of the pre-election media environment, the NEC questioned the EOM's view that there was "unfair and unequal" access to media in favour of the ruling party.
"The opposition parties were able to freely convey their ideology and criticism of the government to listeners through Voice of America radio and Radio Free Asia," the statement said, although it admitted the issue would have to be "review[ed]" in future.
Tep Nytha, secretary general of the NEC, said that he was confident the elections were conducted freely. "The NEC followed the regulations in the Election Law, meaning that the election was free, fair and just," he said.
"The EU observers have a right to say the NEC is not up to international standards, but around 20 international observers were positive about the election," he added.
The EOM could not be reached for comment Thursday.
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