I was happy to see that my column last week on
“Embracing the Challenges of Urbanization” attracted lots of interest
from readers. In particular, many people commented on the important
role that citizens play in local governance and ensuringthat development
meets the needs of the people. As a follow on question to the idea of
citizen participation in governance, I was asked, “What opportunities
are there for Cambodia during the July elections?”
I believe the upcoming elections provide Cambodia with a significant opportunity to strengthen its democracy and demonstrate to the worlda free and fair electoral process. The elections present an opportunity to focus on the real issues that will affect Cambodia’s development, such as jobs and poverty reduction. Elections that are credible would also spur hope and optimism in the country’s future. As you can see, I believe that the upcoming elections are incredibly important and offer Cambodia a wide range of opportunities on many different levels. The common thread is that it will take the full participation of voters and all political actors to capitalize on each opportunity.
While no democracy is perfect, getting more people involved in the electoral process – through campaigning, asking questions of the candidates, and ultimately voting – is the best way to build up democracy. In fact, the Greek root of the word, “demos,” means “of the people” and speaks of how democracy provides an opportunity for all of a nation’s citizens to decide how they want their country to be managed. Whenever I vote in an election in the United States, however, I am reminded that not all Americans have always had the right to vote. Women could not vote in the United States until 1920, and African-Americans were not able to exercise their full voting rights until the 1960s. The United States, just like every other democratic nation, has needed to improve its electoral system continually in order to make it more free, fair, transparent, and participative. And we continue to make reforms to our system, with some new innovations being paperless voter registration, voting by mail, and even “drive-thru” voting from the comfort of a car!
When Cambodia holds its elections this July, it also needs to continue making reforms to ensure that the process reflects the will of the people and that all the candidates are able to compete on a level playing field. In order for voters to make an informed decision, they must be able to hear from all sides.As my Youth Council recently reminded me in our meeting on Friday, this also includes granting access to the media to cover the electoral process, enabling a transparent process.The credibility of Cambodia’s elections will hinge on these issues, and a number of independent observers have offered some excellent recommendations for making the Cambodian electoral process more open. The United States supports these proposals and has asked the government to give them serious considerationto ensure that all political participants – representing a wide range of views – are able to compete fairly in the July elections.
I am very pleased that the United States is working with both the Cambodian government and civil society in an effort tomake the country’soverall electoral process a credible one. The United States, of course, does not favor any particular candidate or party. We are focused strictly on the process – ensuring that voters are able to make well-informed decisions and that, when they cast their ballots for whomever they consider to be the best candidate, the outcome reflects the will of the people.
For example, the United States is supporting debates thatprovide voters the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates of different parties about their views and ideas for improving Cambodia.The “Next Generation” television show isenablingyouth to discuss important issues in Cambodian society to consider when voting. The United States is also providing support to the National Election Committee to help improve the training and skills of polling station staff. Finally, on election day, we will support Cambodians to serve as monitorsat polling stations to help assess whether the voting was conducted in accordance with international standards.
Establishing a democratic system in Cambodia and the protection of human rights were key aspects of the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991, which helped turn the page on the country’s years of war and civil unrest. By allowing the Cambodian people to choose their leaders – and hold them accountable – through credible elections, the hope was that Cambodia would be far less likely to suffer from war or conflict, and indeed the last two decades have been ones of peace and increased prosperity. To continue this progress and cement the gains, Cambodia will need to redouble its efforts to move from being a transitioning democracy to an enduring one. As part of my goal of forging an even more effective partnership between our two countries, I am pleased that the United States is here to support Cambodia in this effort.
For those of you who read my column regularly, I hope you have gotten a sense for how much I truly care about Cambodia and its people. My team at the Embassy and I are working everyday to help Cambodia meet its goals in countless areas, such as health, economic development, nutrition, security, and education. We want nothing but success for the country, and where others may see challenges, we see boundless possibilities. With the upcoming elections in particular, Cambodia has a unique opportunity to show the world how far it has come from its dark past.
Thank you for taking the time to read my column this week. If you can, please take a few moments to send me your questions and comments in English or Khmer at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov and to follow my blog at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd/.
I believe the upcoming elections provide Cambodia with a significant opportunity to strengthen its democracy and demonstrate to the worlda free and fair electoral process. The elections present an opportunity to focus on the real issues that will affect Cambodia’s development, such as jobs and poverty reduction. Elections that are credible would also spur hope and optimism in the country’s future. As you can see, I believe that the upcoming elections are incredibly important and offer Cambodia a wide range of opportunities on many different levels. The common thread is that it will take the full participation of voters and all political actors to capitalize on each opportunity.
While no democracy is perfect, getting more people involved in the electoral process – through campaigning, asking questions of the candidates, and ultimately voting – is the best way to build up democracy. In fact, the Greek root of the word, “demos,” means “of the people” and speaks of how democracy provides an opportunity for all of a nation’s citizens to decide how they want their country to be managed. Whenever I vote in an election in the United States, however, I am reminded that not all Americans have always had the right to vote. Women could not vote in the United States until 1920, and African-Americans were not able to exercise their full voting rights until the 1960s. The United States, just like every other democratic nation, has needed to improve its electoral system continually in order to make it more free, fair, transparent, and participative. And we continue to make reforms to our system, with some new innovations being paperless voter registration, voting by mail, and even “drive-thru” voting from the comfort of a car!
When Cambodia holds its elections this July, it also needs to continue making reforms to ensure that the process reflects the will of the people and that all the candidates are able to compete on a level playing field. In order for voters to make an informed decision, they must be able to hear from all sides.As my Youth Council recently reminded me in our meeting on Friday, this also includes granting access to the media to cover the electoral process, enabling a transparent process.The credibility of Cambodia’s elections will hinge on these issues, and a number of independent observers have offered some excellent recommendations for making the Cambodian electoral process more open. The United States supports these proposals and has asked the government to give them serious considerationto ensure that all political participants – representing a wide range of views – are able to compete fairly in the July elections.
I am very pleased that the United States is working with both the Cambodian government and civil society in an effort tomake the country’soverall electoral process a credible one. The United States, of course, does not favor any particular candidate or party. We are focused strictly on the process – ensuring that voters are able to make well-informed decisions and that, when they cast their ballots for whomever they consider to be the best candidate, the outcome reflects the will of the people.
For example, the United States is supporting debates thatprovide voters the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates of different parties about their views and ideas for improving Cambodia.The “Next Generation” television show isenablingyouth to discuss important issues in Cambodian society to consider when voting. The United States is also providing support to the National Election Committee to help improve the training and skills of polling station staff. Finally, on election day, we will support Cambodians to serve as monitorsat polling stations to help assess whether the voting was conducted in accordance with international standards.
Establishing a democratic system in Cambodia and the protection of human rights were key aspects of the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991, which helped turn the page on the country’s years of war and civil unrest. By allowing the Cambodian people to choose their leaders – and hold them accountable – through credible elections, the hope was that Cambodia would be far less likely to suffer from war or conflict, and indeed the last two decades have been ones of peace and increased prosperity. To continue this progress and cement the gains, Cambodia will need to redouble its efforts to move from being a transitioning democracy to an enduring one. As part of my goal of forging an even more effective partnership between our two countries, I am pleased that the United States is here to support Cambodia in this effort.
For those of you who read my column regularly, I hope you have gotten a sense for how much I truly care about Cambodia and its people. My team at the Embassy and I are working everyday to help Cambodia meet its goals in countless areas, such as health, economic development, nutrition, security, and education. We want nothing but success for the country, and where others may see challenges, we see boundless possibilities. With the upcoming elections in particular, Cambodia has a unique opportunity to show the world how far it has come from its dark past.
Thank you for taking the time to read my column this week. If you can, please take a few moments to send me your questions and comments in English or Khmer at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov and to follow my blog at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd/.
William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
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