Opposition Casts Doubt on NEC Leadership, Staff

The National Election Committee (NEC) yesterday appointed Tep Nytha to another term as secretary general, in a selection process that civil society and opposition party members have criticized as fraudulent and closed from public scrutiny.

Along with Mr. Nytha’s appointment, Mao Sophearith, Sorn Sorida, Ny Chakrya, and Mok Dara were voted into office as deputy secretary generals, and another 350 people who formerly worked as part-time NEC employees have been made civil servants and put on the government’s payroll.

Koul Panha, the executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel), criticized the selection process that chose Mr. Nytha as secretary general, saying that the lack of transparency would decrease faith in the NEC. The breakdown of the NEC vote that returned Mr. Nytha to office has yet to be released.

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