On 26 September 2018, Human Rights Now gave an oral statement on the Democratic Abuses in the Cambodian Elections at the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Despite international calls for a democratic election, the Cambodian general election in July 2018 has failed, with the Cambodian government mostly ignoring the Human Rights Council resolution adopted in the 36th Session. In the statement we called on the Cambodian government to immediately end its repressive policies towards political opposition, activists, and media, and to establish an independent inquiry commission into the July election’s fairness and legitimacy to restore rule of law and democracy in Cambodia.
The video and the full text of the statement can be accessed below.
The full statement of the statement can be downloaded here.
Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.
Human Rights Now is deeply concerned that the Cambodian government has mostly ignored the Human Rights Council resolution adopted in the 36th Session.
Despite international calls for a democratic election, the Cambodian general election in July 2018 has failed, with all seats going to the ruling party; with the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the main opposition, being dissolved and its leaders and members persecuted; and with a sweeping crackdown on civil society and independent media.
In November 2017, the Cambodian Supreme Court ordered the CNRP’s dissolution and banned 118 of its senior members from political activity for five years. To date, this order is still effective.
Independent media, such as the Cambodia Daily and over a dozen other radio stations, were shut down. The government also detained two former journalists from Radio Free Asia on espionage charges until their release on bail in August. A government order also mandated internet and mobile service providers to block 17 news websites two days before the July election, further restricting information to voters.
Under such conditions, member states’ efforts for a legitimate election, such as Japan’s electoral reform assistance, have not resulted in genuine political participation.
Mr. Vice-President,
The actions of Cambodia’s government violate Cambodia’s Constitution, international human rights law, and the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. People in Cambodia still deeply suffer from repression.
We urge the Cambodian government to immediately end repressive policies towards political opposition, activists, and media, and we call for the establishment of an independent inquiry commission into the July election’s fairness and legitimacy to restore rule of law and democracy in Cambodia.
Thank you.