Sam Rainsy to prove election roll fraud

Cambodge Soir

26-08-2008

July 27 ballot validity controversy revived by Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) president.

In a letter dated August 22, Sam Rainsy suggested that the National Election Committee (NEC) communicate evidence of the name deletion of 585,723 voters on electoral rolls across the country. In 2007, when the rolls were set up, the NEC was supposed to update them by removing deceased or moved persons, double inscriptions on the list and those who lost their voting rights. According to the SRP, the NEC relied exclusively on village chiefs and commune councils to update the rolls. “This is unfair because thousand of voters were not able to exercise their right to vote” denounced Sam Rainsy.

Im Sousdey, the NEC chairman, answered saying that this problem had already been mentioned by the SRP. But the National Election Committee cannot provide any evidence proving that these people were removed from the rolls as asked by the SRP.

In a press release dated August 18, the NEC took stock of the filed complaints in the last ballot. Of the ten recorder complaints, seven emanated from the SRP, and the three others from the Cambodian’s People’s Party (CPP). Four were rejected and for three additional complaints the decisions taken by the provincial electoral services were upheld. Two complaints were simultaneously filed by the SRP and the CPP and relate to the debate between both parties and “offending comments” made by Sam Rainsy, according to CPP officials. These complaints were sent to the Constitutional Council. The last case relates to an SRP complaint against six local civil servants in Kampot who did not apply NEC regulations.

Sam Rainsy deemed these decisions unfair and a press conference is planned for August 25.