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The Parliamentary Centre in Asia

Urgent Appeal for Amendment on National Assembly Election Law and Electoral Body Reform Bill

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) and NICFEC appreciate the commitment of some members of the National Assembly, and recently of the government's decision to prepare an amendment to the National Assembly Election Law, and to reform the electoral institution and processes.

The general elections for the third mandate of the Cambodian National Assembly which is scheduled for July 2003, is being viewed with a great deal of interest as an important event by the public, the civil society, the various political parties and the international community, in the process and outcomes of these elections. To ensure the equality and credibility of these important elections, the recommendations for election reforms still need to be addressed (see civil society statement on election reform).

COMFREL and NICFEC insist on the fact that one of major priorities is the NEC reform that should be created a new institution, which is capable of winning public trust. Towards this end, various proposals for the NEC reform have recently been brought to the government by different organizations. Despite divergent views on the course of NEC reform, one proffered proposal, which does appear to have broad support, calls primarily for a reduction in the independent and neutral membership of the NEC. In addition to these, however, key factors of NEC reform, which COMFREL and NICFEC are highly concerned over, include the following important issues:

  • Timeframe for the amendment on election law bill which will be passed by the National Assembly and the appointment of new members of the NEC

  • Selection process for independent and neutral candidates for the NEC

  • NEC procedures must be scrutinized to ensure integrity

Aware of the urgency in reforming the elections especially the NEC, COMFREL and NICFEC are pleased to offer several recommendations on the amendment:

  1. The institution responsible for preparing the draft amendment on the National Assembly Election Law should open to the public contribution of comments, recommendations and ideas from the general public, civil societies and political parties, in order to guarantee that the law is improved and obtains public trust. As a first immediate step, a discussion should be organized between political parties holding seats at the National Assembly and the civil society to reach a consensus on the critical points, which must be included in the new law.

  2. An Independent Selection Committee should be formed to nominate candidates to the NEC through open, legal and non-partisan criteria. This will be an improvement over the current system, in which the Ministry of Interior and different political parties appoint the members of the NEC before submitting the names to the National Assembly for approval.

  3. The Election Law bill must clearly specify all procedures of the NEC in its various functions. Most notably, the bill must ensure that all discussions, decisions making process and ordinary meeting of the NEC and all levels of activities held by the election commissions must be open to the general public as well as parties' agents and observers.

Comfrel's mission is to help to create an informed and favourable climate for free and fair elections through lobbying and advocacy for a suitable legal framework, education to inform voters of their rights and monitoring activities that both discourage irregularities and provide comprehensive monitoring data to enable an objective, non-partisan assessment of the election process.

Thanks

COMFREL Media

For further information, please contact:

Mr. THUN Saray, First Representative, COMFREL President of ADHOC H/P: 016 880 509

Ms. Kek GALABRU, Chair of the Board of Directors, NICFEC Executive Director of LICADHO H/P: 012 940 645

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), # 138, St. 122, Teuk Laak I, Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tel: +855 23 88 41 50/12 942 017-9, Fax: +855 23 88 37 50 E-mail: comfrel@bigpond.com.kh or comfrel@forum.org.kh Web Site: www.bigpond.com.kh/users/comfrel

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