The US Department of State, on Monday, issued a statement expressing their concern about the passage of the amendments to Cambodia's election laws in the same day by the National Assembly.
To the US Government, "If ratified, these amendments, in conjunction with the lawsuit by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), would effectively disenfranchise the millions of people who voted for the CNRP in the 2013 and 2017 elections," read the statement.
The US Government also worried about the legitimacy of the 2018 national elections if a "genuine competition" would not be possible.
According to the US, to have a long-term political stability, a multiparty liberal democracy is needed. As a result, the US urges the Cambodian government officials "to consider the serious implications of their recent actions."
Moreover, the US renews their call to release Mr. Kem Sokha, a well-known opposition leader, from prison.
In the same way, last week, Mrs. Rhona Smith, the UN Special Rapporteur, said that the dissolution of the CNRP would affect the voice and choice of the Cambodian people who chose to vote for the CNRP in 2013 and 2017 - their voice and choice would be lost if the CNRP would be dissolved.
"The dissolution of the CNRP would affect Cambodians’ voice and choice at all levels of government, raising serious concerns about the representativeness of government. I echo the call made last month by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who urged the government to respect civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms," said Mrs. Rhona Smith in her statement.
Furthermore, Mrs. Smith added that what the ruling party CPP is doing regarding the amendments is suspicious to be under the guise of the rule of law.
"Rule of law is about more than the mere application of laws. All laws must respect human rights and must reflect the principles of fairness, justice and public participation. Otherwise, it becomes rule by law, not rule of law," added Mrs. Smith. "Modern Cambodia was established as a multi-party liberal democracy, respectful and protective of human rights. Its Constitution sought to prevent a return to a single-party state. Those who drafted the Constitution were all too well aware of the consequences of one-party rule," added Mrs. Smith.
Eng Chhai Eang, vice president of the CNRP, on Monday, wrote on his Facebook page stating that the amendments are an act of «stealing» voice and choice from Cambodian people who chose to vote for the CNRP.
Mr. Chhai Eang added that if any political party would accept to take CNRP's seat, such party would be considered as «receiving stolen goods» and would be charged following Article 400 of the Cambodia's Criminal Code.
In contrast, Mr. Sok Eysan, spokesman for the CPP, told reporters on Monday that it was the CNRP who stole voice and choice from Cambodian people by lying to them in order to get their vote. Following this fact, CNRP's seats are not in force, and CNRP's merit are not credible neither.
"The confiscation of seat from a dissolved party is due to the fact that the party has violated people's will by using trick to cheat people in a view to undemocratically obtain seats. Such seats are not credible nor in force. In this case, the distribution of such seats is not the violation of people's will," wrote Mr. Eysan.
The amendments to four Cambodian election laws were passed on Monday by 67 lawmakers from the ruling party CPP alone. The amendments provide possibility for the ruling party to confiscate seats at all governmental level from dissolved political party. Those seats would be distributed to other political parties challenging the elections.
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