Citing concerns about electoral environment, ASEAN parliamentarians call for a peaceful and open vote in Cambodia

BANGKOK – Ahead of Cambodia’s local elections scheduled for Sunday, 4 June, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) called for an end to threats, violence and intimidation and pressed authorities to ensure that the right of Cambodians to elect the candidates of their choice is protected.

The collective of regional lawmakers expressed concerns about the repeated threats of violence made by high-ranking members of the ruling party ahead of the elections, which they argued create a climate of fear that already undermines the prospect of a genuinely free and fair vote.

“Cambodians deserve the opportunity to select their local leaders without fear. Amidst so many reports of threats, it is impossible to not be concerned about Sunday’s vote. The politically toxic environment they create is not conducive to free and fair elections,” said APHR Chair Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian parliament.

“The increasingly repressive and restrictive political and rights environment in Cambodia – and the danger and implications of democracy failing there – makes it one the most pressing situations in our region. We all need to be watching very closely to what happens over the weekend. The authorities must ensure, without fail, that nothing comes in the way of people casting their votes independently. This should include clear instructions to local authorities that no instances of intimidation of voters, particularly at polling stations, will be tolerated.”

APHR drew attention to the findings of its recent report, Death Knell for Democracy: Attacks on Lawmakers and the Threat to Cambodia’s Institutions and the failure of the Cambodian government to constructively respond to the issues and recommendations raised. The report, released in March, detailed the repeated use of threats of violence to undermine the political opposition and to further tighten civil society space, as well as the implications of these threats on the future of Cambodian democracy.

Since the release of the report, the government’s use of threats has continued, APHR said, including into the campaign period, such as Prime Minister Hun Sen’s threats on 25 May to “unleash war” on the opposition if the ruling party were to “lose patience.” National Defense Minister Tea Banh has also recently warned that military force may be used to crack down on potential post-election protests and that protesters would be “beaten until their teeth come out,” in contravention of national legislation that mandate that the armed forces should remain neutral.

“Sunday’s local elections are critical for grassroots democracy and the vote is being seen by many as a kind of litmus test of the political environment ahead of national elections planned for 2018. It is almost as if the government were trying to prove our point. Instead of toning down their use of violent rhetoric, high-ranking ruling party officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, have continued down a dangerous path that threatens the prospect for free and fair elections on Sunday,” said Santiago.

“Let’s not beat around the bush here, the future of Cambodia’s fragile democracy is under very grave threat. The ruling party has been very clear: a defeat of the government at the ballot box in next year’s national elections will not be honored and will be met with violence if necessary. This rhetoric of coups and violence is not just about threatening the opposition; it is also about scaring everyday Cambodians into voting for the ruling party and limiting their aspirations for change. Democracy is about letting people make their own choices at the ballot box, not about threatening them with violence if they don’t follow your instructions to the letter,” Santiago added.

In addition to government officials’ threats of violence, concerns have also been raised regarding electoral procedures. These include reports that the National Election Committee (NEC) has printed as many as 20 percent more ballots than necessary and that the ink used to identify people who have already voted can easily be washed off.

“Given these worrying reports, authorities in Cambodia must ensure that all procedures mandated by local laws and regulations are strictly followed and that election monitors are able to observe both the voting and the counting processes without any obstructions. This is the only way to guarantee that the Cambodian people can trust the results of the elections,” said Tom Villarin, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives.

Cambodian authorities have also placed a number of obstacles in the way of opposition campaign efforts. Government officials have denied authorization for certain rallies and demonstrations and arbitrarily rejected campaign slogans and other materials, the majority of the time without any legal justification and in clear violation of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression and assembly.

These developments make holding a free and fair vote on Sunday all the more pressing, and a peaceful, open vote would go a long way towards setting Cambodia on the right path again, parliamentarians argued.

“Sunday’s vote is an opportunity not just for the Cambodian people to cast their votes but also for the Cambodian People’s Party to prove their commitment to democracy. The authorities’ actions thus far are already sending a clear message that democracy is not at the top of their priority list,” said Villarin.

“All across Southeast Asia, we’re witnessing an erosion of democracy; but Cambodia certainly seems to be running down this path much quicker than everyone else. This carries grave consequences not just for Cambodians but also for the whole region,” Villarin added.

“These elections, along with next year’s national elections, represent an opportunity to prove to the rest of ASEAN that Cambodia is ready to truly commit itself to its human rights obligations and to take the lead in the development of democracy throughout the region. The world will be watching on Sunday and the CPP should know that we stand by the Cambodian people and their democratic aspirations,” said Charles Santiago.

Click here to read a version of this statement in Khmer.