CALD Resolution No. 2 S. 2018

CALD Resolution No. 2 S. 2018

CALD resolution on the upcoming Cambodian elections

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD):

Concerned that the elections in Cambodia, which will be held on 29 July 2018, will proceed without the participation of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), Cambodia’s main opposition party;

Mindful that during the July 2013 general elections, CNRP showed significant gains winning 55 out of 123 parliamentary seats compared to its previous 27 seats, while the Cambodian People’s Party’s (CPP) declined from 90 to 68 parliamentary seats;

Aware that in the last June 2017 commune elections, CNRP increased its commune chiefs and commune councilors, as well as its share of popular votes at 43.8% (versus 50.8% of the ruling CPP), showing a swing of around 13% to CNRP;

Mindful that the CNRP participated in previous elections, despite the presence of electoral irregularities, in order to provide the Cambodian people with a viable political alternative;

Cognizant that the Cambodian government launched a crackdown on civil and political rights, and that this undermines the CNRP and prevents it from participating in the upcoming elections;

Aware that CNRP President Kem Sokha was arrested on alleged treason charges on 3 September 2018 and continues to be in detention;

Aware that the Supreme Court of Cambodia ruled on the dissolution of CNRP on 17 November 2017, banning the party and 118 of its senior officials from any political activity for five years;

Mindful that CNRP has been shut down, which left the party with no other option but to launch the Clean Finger boycott campaign to express indignation against the elections that will soon take place; 

Aware that some countries will not participate in monitoring the upcoming Cambodian elections, and that this may weaken the credibility of the election results;

Hereby:

Expresses concern, together with Liberal International, on the legitimacy and integrity of the upcoming elections;

Calls for the government to respect and uphold the 1993 Paris Peace Agreements that ensures the protection of human rights and right of self-determination through free and fair elections;

Calls for a swift, transparent, and credible judicial process on the case of Kem Sokha and other political prisoners in Cambodia;

Calls for the reinstatement of CNRP as the main opposition party and to allow it to fully and freely organize and participate in political activities;

Reaffirms its conviction that the existence of a functioning democratic system and an inclusive government that respects political dissent can provide political parties the platform to competitively contest in free, fair, and transparent elections, and allow the people to freely vote without fear and intimidation.

For the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats:

Abhisit Vejjajiva                                                  Kiat Sittheeamorn

Chairperson                                                          Secretary General

Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats       Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

28 July 2018

Categorised in: Resolutions

This post was written by CALD