CNRP, Comfrel Call for Investigation Into NEC’s Independence

The CNRP and the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) on Monday called for a full investigation into the National Election Committee’s (NEC) independence as well as its possible role in the irregularities the opposition says occurred during the national election on July 28. On Sunday, plans for the establishment of a joint party committee to investigate irregularities at the polls were nixed after the CNRP walked away from the negotiating table because the ruling CPP refused to allow oversight by the U.N. The opposition says that the investigation demands independent oversight as the NEC’s leadership consists of former members of the ruling CPP. … “Any connections with the NEC need to be explained to understand why they are not transparent and ignore problems, instead of improving the system,” Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said Monday. … NEC President Im Suosdey on Monday denied favoritism toward the CPP and defended the institution as abiding by the election law. “We always allow other people to examine our work,” he said. “The NEC has never closed the door on people who want to come and check what we are doing.” He also reiterated the long-held response that the NEC is duty bound by the law and there was no need to conduct an investigation of his organization’s political independence. … In a report released to the U.N.’s Human Rights Council in Geneva in August 2012, the U.N. human rights envoy to Cambodia, Surya Subedi, said that the administrative arm of the election process in Cambodia is riddled with flaws and recommended that the NEC undergo a series of reforms—not least the way in which its staff members are appointed by the Interior Ministry—in order to restore some confidence in its work. …

 The Cambodia Daily
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/cnrp-comfrel-call-for-investigation-into-necs-independence-38403/