CNRP Demands TV Station, NEC Reform, New Voter Registry

Source from Cambodia Daily 

By Hul Reaksmey and Zsombor Peter - September 16, 2013

The opposition CNRP on Sunday set new conditions for ending nearly two months of political deadlock over the national election that both it and the ruling CPP claim to have won, ahead of scheduled negotiations between the two parties this morning.

The opposition is now demanding reforms to the National Election Committee (NEC), a new national voter registry, and its own television station in order for negotiations to move forward.

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann announced the opposition’s conditions to a crowd of tens of thou- sands of supporters protesting in central Phnom Penh against the official results of the July 28 poll, which the CPP won despite unre- solved reports of widespread voting-day irregularities.

“For tomorrow’s meeting we will focus first on the NEC, second on the creation of a new voter list and third on the creation of a television station,” Mr. Sovann said to loud cheers from the massive crowd.

“This will be the CNRP’s television station,” he added. “We will broadcast what is true and let the others exaggerate the news.”

The opposition, along with rights groups and election monitors, have long complained about the local media, most of which is either owned by the CPP or party sympathizers and which regularly ignores, downplays or skews coverage of the opposition.

The same groups have also rebuked the NEC, stacked with former CPP officials, for consis- tently favoring the ruling party. Heading into July’s poll, monitors who audited the voter list said it was even more flawed than the one in 2008 and threatened to dis- enfranchise more than one mil- lion people.

All three issues—a pro-CPP media, biased NEC and flawed voter roll—resulted in the CNRP being robbed of a rightful victory this year, the party contends.

“The CPP will be knocked out if the NEC doesn’t help them,” Mr. Sovann said.

Mr. Sovann made no mention Sunday of the CNRP’s original, long-running demand for an impartial investigation of July’s vote. But fellow opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua assured the crowd that the party was still insisting on a proper count.

The opposition has threatened to boycott the scheduled opening of the National Assembly later this month in the absence of an impartial investigation, a condition Ms. Sochua stood by Sunday.

“We can go to the National Assembly on September 23 as long as we get the votes counted correctly,” she told the crowd to more cheers. “I want to swear before all of you that I will not work with people who stole our votes but stay with all of you here in this park to demand a solution.”

The CPP and CNRP agreed to this morning’s negotiations—which will be led by Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP president Sam Rainsy and are aimed at finding a way to avoid a boycott—during a brief meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace on Saturday.

Cheang Vun, CPP lawmaker and National Assembly spokesman, declined to comment on the CNRP’s latest requests, while Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Saturday expressed disappointment that the opposition intended protests to go ahead in spite of to- day’s negotiations.

A man was killed and many injured during the clash between authorities with people when they were difficult to access the public road

On Sept 15, 2013 around 10:00 PM, It's reported that a man were killed and got many injure after the people clashed with police at skyroad (Kbal Thnal). The CNRP announced that it's responsible because it's caused from the outsider who wanted to incite people to commit the crime. CNRP suggest the governments' official to take action against inciters. Many people were arrested during the clash. Some news reported that the person who dead was not the demonstrator but the watch-looker of event. 

Arrested people (pic source from doyle_kevin)

Through social media post that the hospital are nearby didn't cure the wounded people. If the hospital committed like that it might lead the anger for the demonstrators. Therefore we would to suggest the government's authority to take action to help the victims and shall find the mastermind who create the worst event. 

The below is the person who killed by the authority. 

Through Radio French International interviewed ADHOC's staff said that the person who acted the problem was not the members of CNRP. The persons who angered the traffic jam near their houses and they wanted to remove the wired fence from the public road. However, the demonstrators left the Freedom to their respective residents and they also crossed this road.

Some news reported that the people have house along that way wanted to get the access home and they negotiated with the authorities to withdraw the wired fence but the  authority denied and then the conflict happened. Following this, the authority used real bullets to kill people.

If the people just wanted access way on the public road why the authority didn't remove the barb wired barricade from the road. This problem might happened from the authorities. We cannot accuse against authorities but the authority are parts to responsible for this event as well. The persons who committed this crime shall be responsible before the law.

It should be opened to investigate the persons incite to commit the crime. If authority used their power out of scope, they shall be punished. However, if the inciters who incite people to fight against authority, such persons shall be sentence. It should be considered the balance of power between the demonstrator with empty hand and authorities have full equipment.

It's remembered that tomorrow two leadership parties will have a meeting to solve the political deadlock. Through this clash it might get nothing fruitful of negotiation.

We would like all parties (authority and demonstrators) shall be patient and tolerance each other in order to solve the problem. 

We hope everything will be solved peacefully.
.......................................................

Law Journal of Cambodia(LJC) is a non-political and independent team who volunteer working for disseminating laws and information regarding development and human rights situation in Cambodia. All comment or idea of LJC cannot be claimed in front of court and other purpose. LJC just provide ways for people to understand the context of law and other issues. LJC wants people to understand the law and live in peaceful means. If you need inquiry, please drop your e-mail to cambodianlawjournal@gmail.com. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/law.cambodia If you want to join with group to discuss law please link here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/405507152815204/ Welcome all comments on this blog ព្រឹតិ្តបត្រច្បាប់កម្ពុជា (ព ច ក)គឺជាក្រុមឯករាជ្យ និងមិនមែនជាបក្សនយោបាយ ទេ ជាក្រុមស្ម័គ្រចិត្តដែល ធ្វើការ​ សម្រាប់ធ្វើ ការផ្សព្វផ្សាយអំពីច្បាប់ និងព័តមាន ដែលទាក់ទងនឹងការអភិវឌ្ឍ និងស្ថានភាព សិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅកម្ពុជា។ រាល់មតិ យោបល់នៅក្នុងព្រឹត្តនេះមិនអាចយកទៅធើ្វជាអំណះ អំណាង ចំពោះមុខ តុលាការ រឺក្នុងគោលបំណងអ្វីផ្សេងទៀតឡើយ។ ព​ ច ក​ គ្រាន់ផ្តល់ នូ​វ​ចំណេះដឹងច្បាប់ និងចំណេះដឹងផ្សេងៗទៀតដល់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឌប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ប្រសិនលោក អ្នកចង់ដឹងព័តមានបន្ថែមអំពី ព ច ក សូមផ្ញើអីម៉ែលមកយើងខ្ញុំ។​ យើងខ្ញុំសូមស្វាគមន៌រាល់មតិលំអដល់ ព ច ក៕

Clashes Break Out on First Day of Opposition Protest

Source from Cambodiadaily.com 

By Colin Meyn and Aun Pheap - September 15, 2013

Clashes broke out at a Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) demonstration on Sunday afternoon, with police firing tear gas and water cannons into the crowd, as the opposition began the first of three days of planned protests in Phnom Penh.

Despite orders from the Interior Ministry to contain demonstrations within Freedom Park, opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha led separate marches in the morning that began at CNRP offices in the city’s Tuol Kok and Meanchey districts, which later joined together at the corner of Monivong and Kampuchea Krom boulevards.

Taking up the entirety of the northbound lane of Monivong Boulevard, thousands of CNRP supporters—chanting for change and waving banners that read “long live democracy”—followed Mr. Rainsy and Mr. Sokha into Freedom Park, where they were cheered by at least 30,000 opposition supporters who had gathered in the park and around nearby Wat Phnom.

Following speeches by Mr. Sokha and Mr. Rainsy in which they demanded an impartial investigation into election irregularities that they say prevented a CNRP victory, the opposition leaders led an impromptu parade of thousands of supporters to a Buddhist shrine on Phnom Penh’s riverside, where they lit incense and prayed with a group of Buddhist monks.

A number of razor-wire barricades, set up at the intersection of Sothearos Boulevard and Sisowath Quay, were pushed aside and overturned by a group of CNRP supporters following Mr. Rainsy to the shrine, causing a further buildup of riot police and water cannon trucks in the area, though there were no clashes between the security forces and protesters and the crowd eventually returned to Freedom Park.

As the morning went on, military and municipal police ramped up security around the city, putting up razor-wire barricades that blocked many of Phnom Penh’s major intersections and side streets around the Royal Palace, the Senate and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s residence near Independence Monument.

At about 3 p.m., opposition spokesman Yim Sovann told the crowd at Freedom Park to refrain from further marches until the CNRP and CPP meet for negotiations that are planned for Monday.

After a meeting convened by King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday, the two parties agreed to meet for further talks aimed at solving the post-election impasse.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement last week that it would only allow demonstrations at Freedom Park to go on until 6 p.m. Sunday. However, CNRP leaders, along with many of their supporters gathered at Freedom Park, said that they had no plan to go home until their demands for an election investigation were met.

(Additional reporting by Zsombor Peter and Hul Reaksmey)

Smoke grenades fired at protesters

source from Phnom Penh Post

Police fired smoke grenades at protesters gathered at riverside in Phnom Penh late this afternoon as a small group of demonstrators hurled rocks, shoes and pieces of metal back at them.

The violence erupted after protesters ripped apart police barricades and threw razor wire fences into the Tonle Sap and police responded by firing water cannons at them.

One young man was caught in the razor wire as police continued to spray water on him. He was rushed from the scene convulsing, and a first-aid worker who treated the young man said water had entered his lungs but that he had sustained no serious injuries.

A policeman was also reportedly injured during the standoff, which involved hundreds of military police, some armed with riot guns, shields, guns and truncheons.

Though police had said they were using tear gas it was clear to reporters directly on the scene that it was merely smoke.

Hostilities calmed down when several officials from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights arrived at the scene and parked a vehicle directly in front of reassembled barricades.

The UN officials sat down with Phnom Penh municipal police chief Choun Sovann in a nearby bar to negotiate.

Afterward, Sovann told reporters they had seen with their own eyes that protesters had abused police who had deployed barricades at the site near the royal palace to protect King Norodom Sihanomi.

He questioned why protesters had moved to the site near Ounaloum pagoda when it had been made clear that the CNRP had permission to stage a non-violent protest at Freedom Park.

“At that time, I stayed close to his excellency Sam Rainsy, because he asked to pray in front of the royal palace, and we allowed him to do it following his will, and so I protected his security,” he said.

“Then he went back to Freedom Park, but his supporters did not go back, so I have to put one question to protesters, why do they want to stay here? What is their purpose?.”

Shortly before, Cambodia National Rescue Party president Sam Rainsy had arrived at the scene and instructed all protesters to stop the violence and either go home or return to Freedom Park.

“I would like to appeal to a group of youth or any people to stop the violence immediately. We don’t need to use any violence, so I would like to condemn anybody who uses violence or uses brick or blames,” he told the assembled crowd, before compelling protesters to go and enjoy music at Freedom Park.

The small group of protesters had come from Freedom Park, where the opposition is stagging a three-day demonstration protesting the results of the July national election, which they claim was systematically rigged.

Political unrest still remain in Cambodia after national election on July 28, 2013

On September 14, 2013, the King Sihamony host a meeting with both parties leadership (Cambodian People Party (CPP) and Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) to solve the problem happening. The King gave a speech to the both party leaders to understand and tolerance each other  as well as keep national safety. Through this meeting, the both parties agreed to meet again on September 16, 2013 by formula 6 plus 6. It means 6 members from CPP and 6 members from CNRP to discuss furthermore. The King was doubt hollowed the mind map of CPP because when he was in China, he issued a letter to the people to keep in silence and the political party should respect the election result. The King also issued a letter to response the chairman of National Election Committee (NEC) that he would invite all elected persons to attend the first Assembly meeting on Sept 23, even though the concern problems have not been resolved. Following this, the King also handed the invitation letters to the both political parties leaders. However, The King did not response the CNRP's letter to ask him to make intervention on election irregular, particularly the creation of independence body to investigate the election issues. 

After meeting with King, CCP issued a statement to support the King's idea to appeal the people to keep silently. However, CNRP had meeting with its members and decided to not attend the first Assembly meeting, if the matters has not been resolved properly. Is it ashamed for the King for this matter?  Hmm in the democratic society, the people is the owner of the country so the King just only the facilitator so he didn't have power to force anyone to follow him but he is granted power through Cambodian Constitution. Article 8 of Constitution said "The King of Cambodia shall be a symbol of unity and eternity of the nation. The King shall be guarantor of the national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia the protector of rights and freedom for all citizens and the guarantor of international treaties." if no one follows what king's recommendation, there was no article to punish such persons.

If we look at the Election Day, it's found many irregular problems happened around the country. Some people were missed their name from the vote list. Some had double or triple name at the different places. This mandate, the people protected their vote by themselves by observing the election full day. They dismissed some Vietnamese who wanted to vote as well.  Through the social media, it's found much news that broadcast the issues happening at many stations. It also had conflict between staff of NEC and people who lost names and reached to burn two police vans.  

From the beginning CPP has a strongly stand that everything election conflict shall be solved through on exist mechanism [through NEC and Constitutional Council (CC)]. However, the both organ (NEC and CC) have been accused to work under supervision of CPP. It has been seen that the result of preliminary result which issued by NEC on July 28 was not changed as the final result. It's accused that the preliminary result, NEC didn't have enough supporting documents or didn't get all data from the pooling stations but after CC rejected all complaints from CNRP, NEC announced the result as same as what it pronounced from the previous time. The ways of CC resolve the controversial also has been accused to bias CPP by issuing the decision which favor CPP. Through checking the safety box A, the majority the safety package became unsafe because all documents were opened or not have figure in them.  Some figure also corrected the data over there. Why CC didn't order to open all safe packages to prove that everything is acceptable?  

The resort, CNPR used mass demonstration to favor their voters. However, CNRP still demands CPP to join with them to create the independence body which involve from UN and NGOs to investigate the irregular election. This request has been rejected by CPP. The people thought that if CPP still won the election, why is CPP afraid to establish the independence body to investigate the election? This is why the people always wonder in their mind.  

CNRP organized its mass demonstration on September 7, 2013 and there were no incident reported. However CNPR still organized its mass demonstration which starts from September 15-17, 2013 to allow people to express their feeling even the Ministry of Interior (MoI) agreed only one day demonstration.  MoI issued a letter to agree CNRP organize mass demonstration but it's not more than 10,000 participants. It's not allowed to walk or march from the Freedom Park. However, CNRP still demand to march from its headquarters to Freedom Park. Today, the participants who attend the mass demonstration are tenting on the freedom park. From tomorrow, we don't know the problem happen. Can demonstration solve the problem or is it the lock way to both political parties' meeting on September 16? Does this action still be political unrest?

                        People who sleep at the freedom park for attending mass demonstration on Sept 15. 

The monks marched for people resolution on Sept 14, 2013. The monks also requested the Supreme Monks to not restrict monk freedom to participate the social events. 

We believe that everything can be solved by peaceful means.  

.......................................................
Law Journal of Cambodia(LJC) is a non-political and independent team who volunteer working for disseminating laws and information regarding development and human rights situation in Cambodia. All comment or idea of LJC cannot be claimed in front of court and other purpose. LJC just provide ways for people to understand the context of law and other issues. LJC wants people to understand the law and live in peaceful means. If you need inquiry, please drop your e-mail to cambodianlawjournal@gmail.com. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/law.cambodia If you want to join with group to discuss law please link here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/405507152815204/ Welcome all comments on this blog ព្រឹតិ្តបត្រច្បាប់កម្ពុជា (ព ច ក)គឺជាក្រុមឯករាជ្យ និងមិនមែនជាបក្សនយោបាយ ទេ ជាក្រុមស្ម័គ្រចិត្តដែល ធ្វើការ​ សម្រាប់ធ្វើ ការផ្សព្វផ្សាយអំពីច្បាប់ និងព័តមាន ដែលទាក់ទងនឹងការអភិវឌ្ឍ និងស្ថានភាព សិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅកម្ពុជា។ រាល់មតិ យោបល់នៅក្នុងព្រឹត្តនេះមិនអាចយកទៅធើ្វជាអំណះ អំណាង ចំពោះមុខ តុលាការ រឺក្នុងគោលបំណងអ្វីផ្សេងទៀតឡើយ។ ព​ ច ក​ គ្រាន់ផ្តល់ នូ​វ​ចំណេះដឹងច្បាប់ និងចំណេះដឹងផ្សេងៗទៀតដល់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឌប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ប្រសិនលោក អ្នកចង់ដឹងព័តមានបន្ថែមអំពី ព ច ក សូមផ្ញើអីម៉ែលមកយើងខ្ញុំ។​ យើងខ្ញុំសូមស្វាគមន៌រាល់មតិលំអដល់ ព ច ក៕