EU calls for international probe into Cambodian election



BANGKOK: -- In the strongest international reaction to the contested result of July’s national election yet, the European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday calling on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government to conduct an independent, internationally led investigation of the election and the killing of five garment factory protesters earlier this month, The Cambodia Daily reported.

The resolution by the parliament of the European Union —Cambodia’s single largest aid donor— comes after the US House of Representatives passed a draft spending bill on Wednesday that would cut some aid to Cambodia unless similar demands regarding the flawed election are met.

Adopted by some 740 members of the European Parliament on Thursday, the resolution also urges the government to “recognize the legitimate role played by the political opposition in contributing to Cambodia’s overall economic and political development,” and to implement reforms in the judiciary as well as the electoral process, particularly the voter list and free access to media.

“The European Parliament calls on the Cambodian Government to accept an independent, internationally assisted investigation into allegations of vote fraud and other irregularities around the July 2013 elections,” states the resolution.

Legal action against CNRP President Sam Rainsy and Vice President Kem Sokha, as well as union leaders, who were questioned over their alleged role in the recent garment worker protests, should be dropped, the Parliament said.

Extending its condolences to the families of the protesting garment workers who were shot dead and wounded by military police on Pur Senchey district’s Veng Sreng Street, the European Parliament condemned “the disproportionate and excessive use of force by security forces.”

In a total of 17 points, the European Parliament also urged that the 23 people “unjustly arrested” during the strike protests be freed and that the government ban on freedom of assembly be “immediately revoked.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/eu-calls-international-probe-cambodian-election/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-20

Looks like Mr T's Pal is now in trouble, but no doubt it will take time to unravel.

This could be an 'interesting' precedent if/when any election takes place in Thailand.

Calling Mr Amsterdam. You better get your Brussels office busy.