Cambodian Poll Not Free and Fair: Asian Democracy NGO
A Cambodian voter dips his finger in a bottle of ink after casting his vote during the country's sixth general election in Phnom Penh on July 29, 2018. Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP
- By Phoung Vantha
- July 6, 2023 6:08 PM
PHNOM PENH – The Cambodian general election set for July 23 falls short of being free and fair, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) says.
ANFREL, an independent NGO made up of 28 organisations from 18 countries, was formed in 1997 to promote democratization in Asia at national and regional levels.
Its three analysts interviewed more than 50 key election stakeholders in Cambodia between May 1 and 10.
“Concerns regarding the independence and neutrality of the National Election Committee (NEC) persist,” ANFREL said in its mission report on July 5.
“Evidence suggests a clear bias towards the ruling Cambodian People’s Party which undermines the integrity of the electoral process. Inclusivity within the electoral administration framework and an independent appointment process must be implemented to strengthen the integrity and credibility of future elections.
“The exclusion of the Candlelight Party from participating in the upcoming elections serves as a stark example of the highly restricted political space and the severe limitations imposed on opposition parties.
“The disqualification of the party further exacerbates the imbalanced and unfair political environment, as it leaves little room for opposition voices to compete on an equal footing with the ruling party.”
NEC spokesman Hang Puthea recently said that criticisms of the election process related to political issues did not reflect the facts, as the NEC conducted the election in accordance with the law.
There was no perfect election anywhere in the world but the NEC fulfilled its role in accordance with the law and procedures, he added.
ANFREL spoke also about limitations on media freedom and access to information. Despite the relatively large number of media outlets, media freedom remained limited, with a lack of independence due to the ruling party’s influence.
“Independent media faces restrictions, journalists experience harassment and state-controlled media dominate the information landscape,” ANFREL said.
In February 2023, the online Khmer and English language investigative media Voice of Democracy saw its media license suspended by the Ministry of Information, adding to the list of outlets forced to cease operations.
ANFREL’S analysts also found limited participation and representation of marginalized sectors, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and youth.
