22 May
2005
A response from the Australian Foreign Minister
(1)
In a 7 April 2005 letter to Member of Parliament Julia Irwin who
had raised the issue of repressive measures against Cambodia’s opposition
Sam Rainsy Party, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer responded
in the following terms: “(...) I have received a number of representations
concerning the suspension of parliamentary immunity of the Cambodian
Opposition Leader and his two colleagues (...). Australia has attached
importance to supporting Cambodia since the early 1990s in establishing a
functioning democracy which operates under the rule of law (...). [We
continue to encourage] the development of a strong representative
parliamentary system. In respect to recent events, the Australian Embassy
in Phnom Penh has underlined to Cambodian authorities Australia’s views
about the importance of an unfettered opposition to the effective
operation of a democratic system (...).”
On 10 February 2005 the
Australian Senate adopted a resolution calling on “the
Australian Government to immediately make representations to the Cambodian
Government to have parliamentary immunity reinstated [for the three
opposition parliamentarians], and to ensure the safety of Mr [Sam] Rainsy
and his colleagues and the release of Mr Cheam Channy without condition.”
(KI, 15 February 2005: “Australian Senate
adopts Resolution on Cambodia”).
Similarities between Togo and
Cambodia (2)
In its current turmoil,
corruption-plagued and destitute Togo in Western Africa presents many
similarities with Cambodia where the same political clan has been tightly
controlling the country for decades and the opposition has been regularly
protesting against electoral frauds.
As reported in the international
press (Le Monde, 20 May 2005: « Gilchrist Olympio, chef de
l’opposition togolaise en exil: “Nous voulons la constitution d’un
gouvernement démocratique” » ; Le Monde, 21 May 2005:
« A Abuja, le dialogue entre le pouvoir et l’opposition togolais a
échoué »), Togo’s opposition airs the same grievances as Cambodia’s
opposition with regard to the organization of national elections in their
respective countries:
- The election committee is totally controlled by
the ruling party (possibly associated with a docile ally).
- All
election complaints are rejected by the government-controlled election
committee.
- No ballot recounting is allowed.
- No access for the
opposition to the broadcast medias.
- Electoral tricks not seen by
international observers such as manipulation of voter lists long before
Voting Day, organized confusion and administrative harassment against
potential voters suspected of sympathy for the opposition, temporary or
permanent retention by government officials of minutes of the ballot
counting sessions, allowing the possibility of falsifications, which goes
hand in hand with the government refusal to allow any ballot
recounting.
Cambodia’s civil society reiterates
its call for an overhaul of the “National” Election
Committee (1)
As reported by the pro-CPP
newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea dated 20 May 2005 in an article titled
“Nine NGOs present a joint draft proposal with a view of taking part in
the commune council elections in 2007”, Cambodia’s civil society
reiterates its call for an overhaul – including a broadening of the
composition – of the “National” Election Committee, which is now composed
exclusively of representatives from the ruling parties.
See the article
in Khmer at
http://www.khmerintelligence.org/050521RasmeiKampucheaNEC.pdf
21 May
2005
King-Father indirectly stresses the difference
between his two most prominent sons (1)
On 12 May 2005, King-Father
Norodom Sihanouk and Queen-Mother Monineath Sihanouk wrote from Beijing to
wish a happy birthday to King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh. In their
letter in Khmer, they notably said: “Mum and Dad congratulate you for your
not being corrupt (...). [We] are proud of you as our son”.
Even in
messages that look trivial – such as the celebration of a birthday in his
family – Norodom Sihanouk often manages to convey a politically meaningful
point.
See the royal letter at
http://www.norodomsihanouk.info/mes%202005/mai/textes/1205txt2.htm
