“Cambodia’s commitment to a multiparty democracy and promotion and protection of human rights remains steadfast,” states The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations at Geneva.

In a press statement AKP received this evening, Cambodian Mission categorically dismisses the selective and highly politicised remarks of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, which disregard the real picture of the civil-political space in the run-up to the national elections in Cambodia. Below are some highlights of the facts:

1. Cambodia’s commitment to a multiparty democracy and promotion and protection of human rights remains steadfast. Civil societies are indisputably free and open, attested by, inter alia, the constructive vibrant roles of 6,000 NGOS and nearly 2,000 media outlets operating freely without censorship or restriction in contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, good governance, and policy making, etc. Moreover, 18 political parties have been registered to the upcoming elections in July, a true indication of the pluralistic and democratic nature of the country, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Cambodia.

2. To deliver a free, fair, just and transparent voting process, the National Election Committee has employed only one-single standard to all applicants. The Candlelight Party was not the only one with failed registration due to its own mistakes. The Khmer National Unity Party is another one that did not meet the same documentation criteria, however it has willingly accepted the decision of the authorities concerned. The absence of two political parties from the electoral process due to their non-compliance with the law does not negate in any way the liberal, pluralistic and democratic nature of the Kingdom Only when all political parties and their supporters exercise their rights within the boundary of the law can a conducive electoral environment be guaranteed.

3. An affiliation with a political party, trade union or any purported rights organisation does not entitle a person to break the law with impunity. Individuals are charged on the basis of law-prescribed offences rather than who they are. As such, to equate the law enforcement process as a form of restriction of freedoms of certain groups is to downplay the rule of law and its equal application to all citizens.

4. To allege that the draft amendment to the Law on Elections “would constitute restriction on the rights […]. guaranteed by the Constitution” is prejudicial and unwarranted. In stark contrast, the potential amendment is in full compliance with Article 34 (New) of the Constitution which stipulates that “Provisions restricting the right to vote and the right to stand as candidates of the election shall be determined by law.” Certainly, the purported amendment is solely to reflect in good faith the responsibility of the national and sub-national level leadership, who must be an exemplary citizen by casting vote before they could stand for elections. This prospective practice is not unprecedented.

To conclude, the Permanent Mission of Cambodia urges the High Commissioner for Human Rights to strictly adhere to the founding Resolution of his mandate: A/RES/48/141 to respect, among others, the sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction of States and the well-established principles of non-interference in internal affairs of States as prescribed by the UN Charter. It is imperative that the High Commissioner discharges his mandate by establishing truth with impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse