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Khmer Times/Taing Vida Friday, 26 August 2016
As the country gears up for next year’s commune elections, plans for the army to step in if police are unable to maintain the safety of voters were aired at a meeting of senior police officers at the Interior Ministry yesterday.
The meeting, which announced the creation of a permanent working group tasked with ensuring safety during the registration and voting process, stressed the importance of maintaining security and public order.
“In case of a lack of police, the royal military forces or royal army forces will be used and royal military forces and royal army forces have to be used as reserve forces for intervening in each district and city and to be prepared to intervene in their authorized bases,” National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun said.
He said security forces also need to be involved in each step of the election process, from voter registration to ballot counting.
The working group, formed on August 17 but announced yesterday, will be headed by Deputy National Police Commissioner Kirth Chantharith and features 28 other high-ranking police officers and officials.
Its stated purpose is to ensure security, public order and safety in the election process so it runs smoothly with no fear, intimidation or threats or violence and police will be present at each voting center to ensure this.
Interior Minister Sar Kheng said that during all stages of the election anything can happen to impede or hamper the process, especially during campaigning, despite a recent law reducing campaign time.
“Local authorities and forces must quickly react to unexpected incidents that arise in their areas and stop any groups seeking political advantages. They must ensure the race is transparent and fair,” he said.
Cambodia National Rescue Party spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday that the presence of police before and after the election may intimidate voters.
“In my view, police should not be there during voter registration. And few police should be deployed during the polls. Otherwise, voters would feel threatened.”
Sik Bunhok, the chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC) who heads the group tasked with planning and conducting the elections, called on police
to remain neutral and nottry to influence the results.
“Police should prevent all acts of intimidation, threats to candidates, party activists and voters in all forms. Please use legal ways to maintain calm in the political situation before, during and after the elections.”
The NEC plans for voter registration for the 2017 commune council elections to start next month at a cost of $23 million.
Clik here to view.
Khmer Times/Taing Vida Friday, 26 August 2016
As the country gears up for next year’s commune elections, plans for the army to step in if police are unable to maintain the safety of voters were aired at a meeting of senior police officers at the Interior Ministry yesterday.
The meeting, which announced the creation of a permanent working group tasked with ensuring safety during the registration and voting process, stressed the importance of maintaining security and public order.
“In case of a lack of police, the royal military forces or royal army forces will be used and royal military forces and royal army forces have to be used as reserve forces for intervening in each district and city and to be prepared to intervene in their authorized bases,” National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun said.
He said security forces also need to be involved in each step of the election process, from voter registration to ballot counting.
The working group, formed on August 17 but announced yesterday, will be headed by Deputy National Police Commissioner Kirth Chantharith and features 28 other high-ranking police officers and officials.
Its stated purpose is to ensure security, public order and safety in the election process so it runs smoothly with no fear, intimidation or threats or violence and police will be present at each voting center to ensure this.
Interior Minister Sar Kheng said that during all stages of the election anything can happen to impede or hamper the process, especially during campaigning, despite a recent law reducing campaign time.
“Local authorities and forces must quickly react to unexpected incidents that arise in their areas and stop any groups seeking political advantages. They must ensure the race is transparent and fair,” he said.
Cambodia National Rescue Party spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday that the presence of police before and after the election may intimidate voters.
“In my view, police should not be there during voter registration. And few police should be deployed during the polls. Otherwise, voters would feel threatened.”
Sik Bunhok, the chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC) who heads the group tasked with planning and conducting the elections, called on police
to remain neutral and nottry to influence the results.
“Police should prevent all acts of intimidation, threats to candidates, party activists and voters in all forms. Please use legal ways to maintain calm in the political situation before, during and after the elections.”
The NEC plans for voter registration for the 2017 commune council elections to start next month at a cost of $23 million.
