HUN SEN IS SO SCARED OF A FAIR FIGHT THAT HE PREFERS TO BOX ALONE

HUN SEN IS SO SCARED OF A FAIR FIGHT THAT HE PREFERS TO BOX ALONE 

Obeying orders from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the authorities (National Election Committee and Constitutional Council) have deleted opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s name from the voter list.

This political decision is intended to prevent Sam Rainsy – described by Associated Press on October 6, 2012 as “the only national figure with the political skills and organization to pose a credible challenge to the prime minister” – from running as a candidate at next year’s national elections.

The pretext is the fact that he has been sentenced to a jail term on what independent observers consider as politically motivated charges.

Whereas Cambodia’s related election law (article 50) says that prisoners detained in jail cannot be REGISTERED as first-time voters, there is no provision saying that a person who has been convicted for any crime must have his/her name DELETED from the voter list.

Some, if not all, current prisoners still have their names on the voter list. Here are just a few well-known examples that illustrate the selective nature of Cambodian justice:

-         Mr. Heng Pov, former Phnom Penh Police Chief, whose name is still on the voter list for Phnom Penh’s Chaktomuk commune, polling station # 0216, voter # 569.

-         Ms. Pheng Kunthea Borey, former Protocol Head for CPP President Chea Sim, whose name is still on the voter list for Phnom Penh’s Prek Aeng commune, polling station # 1448, voter # 250.

-         Mr. Thoeun Chanthorn, former Head of the Bodyguard Unit for CPP President Chea Sim, whose name is still on the voter list for Phnom Penh’s Tonle Bassac commune, polling station # 0938, voter # 152.

-         Mr. Top Chan Sereyvuth, former Prosecutor at the Pursat Provincial Court, whose name is still on the voter list for Pursat province’s Phteah Prey commune, polling station # 0514, voter # 158.   

The list goes on. These examples explain why the National Election Committee has been unable to respond to questions asking for other instances beside that of Sam Rainsy of a convict's name being deleted from the voter list.

This shows double standards in Cambodia’s justice system which is under the control of the ruling CPP. It also indicates that the only rival Hun Sen fears is Sam Rainsy, leader the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the country’s united democratic opposition. Hun Sen is trying, by eliminating Sam Rainsy from the political scene through a kangaroo court, to unfairly secure another victory at next year’s elections in order to cling on to power for at least another five-year term. In such circumstances, the 2013 elections would be like a boxing match with only one fighter: Because Hun Sen is scared of a fair fight, he wants to box alone.

CNRP Secretariat