A Change of Guard

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Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Cambodians Get Support From Philippines in Struggle For Democratic Elections

Lombok, Indonesia, September 17, 2012


CAMBODIANS GET SUPPORT FROM PHILIPPINES IN STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

The Philippine Senate today unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the United Nations recommendations for the organization of the national elections in Cambodia on July 28, 2013.

This comes a week after the launch of the International Parliamentary Committee for Democratic Elections in Cambodia (IPCDEC) in Manila.

The IPCDEC, chaired by Filipino Senator Franklin Drilon, is an international organization grouping Members of Parliament from all over the world. It was formed to support legitimate demands of the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party. These demands, which are in line with UN recommendations, are a reform of the National Election Committee (NEC) and my return to Cambodia, as Opposition Leader, to take part in the forthcoming elections.

The UN recommendations are contained in a Report by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia published in August. The report calls for an overhaul of the leadership and the composition of the NEC so as to include balanced representation from all political parties represented in the National Assembly, with consensus required for any important decisions. The UN also calls for a political resolution of my case in order to open the way for my return and my free and full participation in the election process.

We expect other Parliaments and Governments, especially in neighboring countries, to express their solidarity with the Cambodian people and their support for free and fair elections in Cambodia in 2013 that meet international standards.

Democracy and respect for human rights are universal values that guarantee true and lasting stability allowing sustainable and equitable development. With all its member states upholding these values, ASEAN -- whose Parliaments are currently meeting in Lombok, Indonesia, in the framework of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Association (AIPA) -- will become a stronger, more cohesive, more united and more respected organization that will play a distinct leadership role for peace and international cooperation in Asia and the rest of the world.

I am grateful to Filipino President Benigno Aquino III for discussing the situation in Cambodia with me, and to other Filipino leaders from different political parties for their support for democracy in Cambodia, as evidenced by today’s Philippine Senate Resolution. I am also grateful to Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa for receiving me last week in Jakarta and for the fruitful discussion we had.

SAM RAINSY
Elected Member of Parliament
President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, Cambodia’s united democratic opposition which currently has 40 elected National Assembly Members and Senators

Please read the full text of the UN Recommendations at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session21/A-HRC-21-63_en.pdf

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