Analysis: One aspect of the 2013 US Department of State Annual Report to Congress: The July 28, 2013 Elections
Analysis:
pngoeun@puthisastra.edu.kh
One aspect of the 2013 US Department of State
Annual Report to Congress: The July 28, 2013 Elections
The 2013 US Department of State Annual Report to Congress
covers the whole range of issues of Human Rights Practices, from the point of
view of the US State Department, in almost 200 countries and territories,
including Cambodia, based on factual reporting from US embassies and posts
abroad.
Concerning Cambodia the public cannot lose sight of the
importance of the report.
On the other hand the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has
different point of view on a number of issues, which had been carefully
addressed in the “White Paper” issued by the Press and Quick Reaction Unit
(PRU) of the Office of the Council of Ministers (OCM) clarifying the position
of the RGC concerning the election results, the political situation after the
election, the tactics used by the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP)
before, on and after the election day, tactics asserted by PRU that were
planned and designed in close cooperation with a number of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) allied with the CNRP, which have received technical,
financial and political support from abroad. The “White Paper” issued by the
PRU and the previous one issued by the National Election Committee (NEC) which
explains and clarifies the technical and legal procedures of the July 28
Elections were not mentioned in the Department of State Annual Report to
Congress.
Another crucial point not also to be overlooked is that the
report covers the year 2013 only. After January 1, 2014, early in the year, a
US high ranking official of the Department of State visited Cambodia and met
with leaders of RGC and they discussed, of course, matters concerning the good
diplomatic relations based on mutual interests between the people and the
government of both countries. About the official meeting, everything is
centered on and boiled down to the diplomatic relations, whether it is about
the elections, labour protests, the justice system, land issues, the prison
system, the handling of the protests, and so on which are fully and “factually”
described in the US State Department Report. Mutual respect between two
sovereign states and governments prevent the US from using words and
expressions leading even to wild interpretation and speculation of interference
in the internal affairs of Cambodia. However, the US voiced their concerns officially
during the meetings.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry, in his “Preface” invoked
the US political philosophy in this matter saying: “Governments that protect
human rights and are accountable to their citizens are more secure, bolster
international peace and security, and enjoy shared prosperity with stable
democratic countries around the world. Countries that fail to uphold human
rights can face economic deprivation and international isolation.” Whether
or not the RGC agreed with the US political philosophy is not an easy thing to
know.
How about the Cambodian people? Some segments of the
Cambodian population would agree with the US Secretary of State, and some
others would not. In the usual atmosphere of an absence of voluntary and open
discussion on the politics of the government, there are no incentives for
anyone to let other people know about her or his opinion. However, there is
another segment of people that benefit from the practices of the government.
They would be indifferent to politics and would concentrate on making money,
dining well, living well and having good time.
Regarding the most recent national
elections held July 28, the consistent view expressed by the US government is
totally at the opposite side of the also consistent view of the RGC, the latter
based on the observers from “foreign governments, international organizations,
political parties,” and the other based on the “International and local
nongovernmental organizations (NGO) observers”.
The international observers invited
by the NEC, in a press conference organized soon after the announcement of the
provisional result stated that the elections were conducted in a competitive,
free, fair and transparent manner with participation of eight political parties
including the CNRP. They also congratulated the people of Cambodia for the
great success of July 28, 2013 elections, which were described as peaceful,
vibrant and competitive, and characterized by the genuine respect for
fundamental freedoms.
On the other hand, the US State
Department Report stated that “the voting process was fraught with
irregularities.” It further stated that “by the government’s own
calculations, more than 9 percent of eligible voters were unable to vote due to
issues with the voter registration list. While the problem of disenfranchised
voters was identified by numerous civil society organizations well before the
elections, the National Election Committee took no significant corrective
action. Observers indicated that the scale of the electoral irregularities
warranted an independent investigation, but a full and transparent
investigation did not take place.”
The disputes over the election
between the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the CNRP have dragged on until
now despite the gracious appeal of His Majesty the King of Cambodia, calling
the CPP and the CNRP to continue dialogue to solve remaining problems and
disputes peacefully. The CNRP boycotted the National Assembly when it convened
on September 23. The CPP that won a majority of the 123 parliamentary seats
pushed ahead with the appointment of the government of the 5th
mandate of the National Assembly. According to the CPP lawmakers there is no
stalemate, no disruption, and no unordinary circumstance. The 55 CNRP elected
members of the National Assembly refused to sit in the National Assembly until
now and continued to demand an investigation into election irregularities, a
new election before 2018, and an election reform with a broader involvement and
participation. Driven by the Articles of the Constitution and the laws, the CPP
did not budge, leaving no other alternative to the CNRP than leading
demonstrations at the “Democracy Park” and on the streets to denounce the CPP,
the NEC and the government.
Lately, there was a movement leaning
towards negotiations between the CPP and the CNRP. The CNRP seemed to be very
cautious fearing that a wrong move could be politically fatal, while the CPP
seemed to be relaxed and confident.
The US State Department Report is
intended for the US Congress, one of the three branches of the US Government
which has the power of check and balance with the US Administration and the
Supreme Court. It will be used by the US Congress “in its decision-making
processes surrounding foreign security sector assistance and economic aid”.
It will be used by the Department of State and other U.S. government agencies “in
shaping American foreign policy”. It will be used also by U.S. citizens,
international non-governmental organizations, foreign governments, human rights
defenders, lawyers, journalists, scholars, and others “in their commitment
to advancing human dignity”.
Reading through the 2013 US State
Department Report to Congress does not convey a sense of real urgency with
regard to the current situation in Cambodia, as the world is ridden with hot
spots that need the US attention immediately. The RGC is comfortable with the
current situation and is working since day one towards “deep reforms”. The CPP
is yet a very rich political party, powerful and resourceful.
Despite a big gain in popularity and
in the number of elected seats at the latest elections on July 28, 2013, there
is no guarantee that the CNRP will have a smooth sailing to achieve its goals,
whatever they are.
March 4, 2014
Professor Pen Ngoeun
Advisor,
University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia