Khmer Times/Taing Vida Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Although the political tension has yet to be resolved and with leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha still facing arrest warrants, the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) yesterday announced its plan to recruit candidates to stand in next year’s commune elections.
The CNRP’s standing committee yesterday held an internal meeting to set a new strategic plan and prepare activities for the commune elections.
After the half-day meeting, the opposition party released a statement calling for applicants to register as candidates for the elections set for June 4 next year.
Mr. Sokha, the acting president of the CNRP who led the meeting, posted on Facebook that the meeting reminded party leaders from all levels to focus on tasks for the commune elections, especially registering for the election and ensuring it was open to as many people as possible.
“I need the leaders of the CNRP to continue making further internal reforms to make the mechanism of democracy go smoothly,” he said.
Sok Ey San, a spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), said his party was still optimistic and counting on its supporters.
“After the government decided to reform the administrative and public services, our work nowadays is more effective and we can see our citizens are happy with it, so we still hope people vote for the CPP,” he said.
Previously, the CNRP sent a letter to the National Election Committee (NEC) requesting voter registration sites, such as in Cambodian embassies, be established in countries with heavy concentrations of Cambodian workers.
The request was rejected and Hang Puthea, a spokesman for the NEC, who said the change was impossible unless a new electoral law amendment was created.
Although the political tension has yet to be resolved and with leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha still facing arrest warrants, the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) yesterday announced its plan to recruit candidates to stand in next year’s commune elections.
The CNRP’s standing committee yesterday held an internal meeting to set a new strategic plan and prepare activities for the commune elections.
After the half-day meeting, the opposition party released a statement calling for applicants to register as candidates for the elections set for June 4 next year.
Mr. Sokha, the acting president of the CNRP who led the meeting, posted on Facebook that the meeting reminded party leaders from all levels to focus on tasks for the commune elections, especially registering for the election and ensuring it was open to as many people as possible.
“I need the leaders of the CNRP to continue making further internal reforms to make the mechanism of democracy go smoothly,” he said.
Sok Ey San, a spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), said his party was still optimistic and counting on its supporters.
“After the government decided to reform the administrative and public services, our work nowadays is more effective and we can see our citizens are happy with it, so we still hope people vote for the CPP,” he said.
Previously, the CNRP sent a letter to the National Election Committee (NEC) requesting voter registration sites, such as in Cambodian embassies, be established in countries with heavy concentrations of Cambodian workers.
The request was rejected and Hang Puthea, a spokesman for the NEC, who said the change was impossible unless a new electoral law amendment was created.
