Government
Elections
Cambodia blocks 17 media websites before vote
The government blocked access to independent media websites just hours before polling in the country’s controversial national election begins. Phos Sovann, director general of information and broadcasting at the Information Ministry, confirmed a total of 17 websites – including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia ...
May presses PM on free and open elections
British Prime Minister Theresa May told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to continue progress towards free and open elections in Thailand in line with international standards, including lifting restrictions on political parties at an early stage, a Downing Street spokesperson said. []With such a platform, he said, ...
ASEAN MPs Say Cambodia Election ‘Not Legitimate’
A group of ASEAN parliamentarians has said excluding Cambodia’s former opposition party from July’s general election had damaged the legitimacy of the vote. Keep reading ...
Cambodian Electoral Watchdog Group Decides Against Monitoring Genreal Elections
The Committee on Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel), a respected independent vote monitor, will not sign up observers for July’s parliamentary elections in face of government restrictions on NGO activities, a senior election observer told RFA’s Khmer Service on Tuesday. Keep reading ...
Control of information shifts up a gear in run-up to Cambodia election
Critics of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen have grown used to following upstart news service Fresh News to find out what the government’s next target might be.From treason accusations against detained opposition leader Kem Sokha to the tax demand against the now-shuttered Cambodia Daily to ...
Matthew Tostevin
Former NEC president appointed to new role
Former President of the National Election Committee Im Suosdey, once criticised for perceived bias in favour of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, was appointed by the National Assembly yesterday as a member of the Constitutional Council. Suosdey, who gained the approval of 66 out of ...
NEC defends printing of extra ballots for vote
The National Election Committee on May 4 defended its decision to print 1.5 million extra ballots for the upcoming commune elections, saying the chances of misuse were minimal given better identification systems – though the opposition and civil society remained unconvinced. Following the NEC’s announcement that ...
NEC calls for neutrality on Facebook
An election official warned Facebook users not to make any politically charged posts the day before the election yesterday during a three-day training session on campaign monitoring, with observers accusing him of overstepping the bounds of a rule forbidding parties from campaigning on that day. ...
First two pre-election organic laws submitted to NLA: Meechai
Chief Charter Drafter Meechai Ruchupan said on April 18 that he had submitted the first two organic laws essential to the next general election to the National Legislative Assembly. They are the draft bills on political parties and the Election Commission. Meechai said deliberation on these ...
Village politician changes sides
After six years with the opposition, deputy commune chief Yoeun Yong has decided to jump ship and join the ruling CPP for the upcoming commune elections. Mr. Yong’s name was the seventh to appear on the CNRP ballot paper for the Koh Anlong Chin commune ...