Election Law Srcutiny Needed in Cambodia

“Full public consultation on Election Law critical for the future of democracy in Cambodia” – UN rights expert

GENEVA (9 March 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, today welcomed the decision by the Cambodian Parliament to hold a public consultation on the draft Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly (LEMNA) and the draft Law on the National Election Committee (NEC) as “much-awaited for and critical steps for the future of Cambodian democracy.”

“The LEMNA and NEC law are of fundamental importance for regulating the conduct of Cambodian elections,” Mr. Subedi said. “Elections have historically been at the origins of not only political disputes but of countless human rights violations in the past.”

The National Assembly elections held in July 2013 were marred by allegations of electoral irregularities. Amidst calls for an independent and credible investigation into those allegations by the opposition, the country was gripped by a political stalemate that was only resolved in August 2014.

The independent expert highlighted the positive culture of dialogue between the two major parties that led to an agreement on this critical text; however, he stressed that “the parties must not negotiate away national and international human rights standards.”

In this regard, the Special Rapporteur noted that the major civil society actors in Cambodia had expressed serious concerns on a number of elements that were reportedly agreed to.

“It is regrettable that the draft law was shared only on the eve of the consultation, precluding the possibility for civil society and other interested actors from examining it in depth and contributing meaningfully to the consultation”, Mr. Subedi said.

“The process of consultation must continue with sufficient time to enable all those with views to articulate them, so as to enable Parliament to embark on an informed debate prior to proceeding on the enactment of these important laws”, the Special Rapporteur concluded.

ENDS

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