‘Serious irregularities’ overshadow Cambodia election result

KhmerBits

Posts by Clothilde Le Coz-Jul 29, 2013 

Last night before the election results were officially announced, opposition leader Sam Rainsy declared Sunday was “a historical day and a victory for the whole nation in the advancement of democracy”. The leader of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) said he had “heard of some incidents”, but qualified the day as “great for Cambodia”.  This morning there was an altogether different mood as the CNRP rejected the preliminary results announced last night by the National Election Committee (NEC).  Speaking to journalists this morning, Sam Rainsy stated that “all serious election irregularities” should be investigated.

It is estimated that 69% of registered voters went to the  polling stations (compared to 75% in 2008) and, according to the preliminary results, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won a majority of 68 seats and the CNRP 55. This represents a considerable loss of 22 representatives for the CPP. Moreover, the opposition won some of the most significant provinces in Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kompong Speu and Kompong Cham) leaving the ruling party in a tough situation. While it will still be able to form a government without requiring a coalition with the CNRP, the CPP will no longer be able to unilaterally change the Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority of votes in Parliament.

Unusually high number of incidents

“The results do not reflect the will of the Cambodian people,” said Preap Kol, the executive director for Transparency International Cambodia this afternoon. According to the Transparency International observation, the CPP won the elections with 48.5% of the votes (margin error of 1.6%) and the CNRP came second with 44.4% (margin error of 1.8%).

Buddhist monks and villagers watch as a military police car burns near a polling station in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday. Pic: AP.

The organization also released the findings of a sample-based observation showing that citizens with proper identification were unable to find their names on the lists in three out of five polling stations, while it was possible to vote without a valid ID in close to three out of 10 polling stations. Considering these numbers, one can’t help but wonder whether irregularities have had a pivotal role in deciding the results of the election.

These findings echo a litany of complaints that the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) received all day at its situation room in Phnom Penh. At 10am one voter reported that his name was already ticked when he arrived at the polling station. He was asked to wait until 2pm to be able to vote. “They did the same last year,” he said. “I do not understand why the lists are not correct.” Accusations and complaints against the government spread rapidly.

“In this country, we always have doubts and suspicions when things do not go right,” explained Preap Kol.

Yesterday, violence flared in Phnom Penh when two police cars were set on fire in a south-western neighborhood of the capital city.

“People get angry because they cannot vote,” warned a local monk.

The situation became tense and a hundred of riot police were deployed to control the demonstration. The director of the polling station was detained by a group of angry young people.

Before announcing the results last night, the NEC acknowledged that the vote was “more messy” than in 2008.  However, the Committee rejected all allegations of electoral fraud.