The European Union’s (E.U.) high commissioner has sent a letter to CNRP president Sam Rainsy congratulating him on the opposition’s
performance in last month’s national election and encouraging him to
settle claims of electoral irregularities through prompt and peaceful
measures.
The only previous reaction from the E.U. over the election came two
days after the vote when E.U. High Commissioner Catherine Ashton said in
a statement she was disappointed efforts had not been made to repair
the national voter list and refrained from congratulating Prime Minister
Hun Sen on his apparent victory.
In her Monday letter, Ms. Ashton congratulated Mr. Rainsy on the
CNRP’s increased slice of the vote in July’s election, which according
to the preliminary election results released on Monday saw the party win 55 seats to the CPP’s 68.
“The preliminary results of the parliamentary elections in Cambodia
show remarkable gains by your party and I would like to congratulate you
on this achievement,” Ms. Ashton wrote, adding that she was pleased the
elections had been conducted peacefully despite some “shortcomings.”
“I understand that alleged irregularities will have to be dealt with before the final result can be announced,” she added.
“To this end, I strongly, encourage your party to swiftly come to an
agreement with all stakeholders involved on an adequate mechanism to deal with those issue.”
The E.U. has previously said that Cambodia’s 2008 national election
failed to meet international standards, and declined to send observers
to last month’s election.
Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said Wednesday that despite the fact
that the CPP had not been congratulated by the E.U. on its election
victory, it was not concerned about Ms. Ashton’s letter to Mr. Rainsy as
the ruling party had already received many letters of congratulations
from other sources.
“We have had many friends and other governments congratulate us,
including [U.N. Secretary-General] His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, the U.N.,
the U.S. Embassy, China, Vietnam, Laos, and other countries in Asean,”
he said.
The U.S. Embassy in the wake of elections congratulated “the
Cambodian people” on holding a peaceful election. But the U.S. State
Department called for an investigation into irregularities at the poll.
For his part, Mr. Ban “welcomed” the peaceful conduct of the
election, but encouraged authorities to “deal fairly and transparently
with any complaints of irregularities.”
CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said that the letter from Ms. Ashton
stemmed from a shared support for justice and democracy and was
appreciated by the opposition.
“Any input from the international community, from the U.N. and the E.U., is very helpful to our country,” he said.
“We cannot stand alone, and we have to have good friends around the world in order for political and economic development.”
Mr. Sovann added that Ms. Ashton’s words of encouragement for a
peaceful and prompt investigation into election irregularities should be
heeded by the ruling party.
“This is the stance of the E.U., so the CPP has to think of the
people’s interests—if we are isolated, if we are not supported by other
countries, it cannot govern.”
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said he thought Ms.
Ashton’s call for the opposition “to swiftly come to an agreement” with
the CPP and National Election Committee over its claims of election
irregularities was the most important part of the high commissioner’s
letter.
“The congratulations is telling Sam Rainsy to go back
to work as the opposition,” he said, insisting that there was no
problem with the E.U. having not yet congratulated Prime Minister Hun
Sen for his election victory.
“I don’t see any offense at all,” he said.
“They congratulated that the election ran smoothly, so they have congratulated Hun Sen already.”
5 comments:
EU, needs to pressures on vnrp to stop intimidation governments by mass rallies,
so cambodia, can have peace n stability, no bloodshed .
That's right 16 August 2013 12:32 am
Eu, needs to pressures on vnrp to stop intimidation of the CNRP governments and it's un-arm and innocent by rolling in the Army and Tanks.
Damn man!!!! 16 August 2013 12:32 am you're so Dumb.
I ask int'l communities to pressures on VNRP to stop intimidating on governments,in which for MASS RALLIES.,
so that, khmer's peoples can have peace n stability, no bloodshed
khmer peoples & world leaders, needs to hold Mr SR + KS responsible for country destruction
and destroy peace & stability
asme, bring them to face justice - UN war crimes,
I can see more negative toward Khmer, SR & KS since the cyber war room form.
By the way HS is next in-line from UN to prosecuted for the killing Khmer.
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