U.S. Envoy Hopes ‘Conducive Environment’ for Multi-Party Elections Will Prevail

[geovalin]

Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on Thursday met officials from the government and opposition as well as civil society leaders, expressing hopes for “free and fair” elections in 2018.

PHNOM PENH — 

A senior U.S. diplomat has said the United States wants to see a “conducive environment” for all political parties to operate in Cambodia, during a visit to the country this week.

Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on Thursday met officials from the government and opposition as well as civil society leaders, expressing hopes for “free and fair” elections in 2018.

Speaking to reporters at the U.S. Embassy, he said that the Cambodian constitution and Paris Peace Accords, which officially ended the civil war in 1991, had declared the country a multi-party democracy and the United States hoped it would live up to this commitment.

“It is very much our hope that [Cambodia] will operate as a multi-party democracy. Without a doubt, we want to see an environment in which political actors are able to campaign and operate in safety with freedom throughout the country,” he said.

Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, the leaders of Cambodia’s main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, are facing possible jail sentences in separate cases. Rainsy is living in exile in France, while Sokha has sought shelter at the party headquarters.

“We do not support one party in a democratic election. We don’t take a partisan position. We don’t take sides, but we are strongly committed to assist in both creating an environment that’s conducive to the free and fair exercise of democratic rights, but also to assist in the mechanics,” Russel said.

Yem Ponharith, CNRP spokesman, said the opposition was willing to enter into negotiations with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party, but said that there needed to be an “environment in which the minority CNRP and the majority can talk.”

Sok Eysan, CPP spokesman, said the legal cases against the CNRP leaders were a matter for the courts.

“If the election [is held] with the participation of 10 political parties or fewer, this also means that we are following the path of multi-party democracy,” he added, in response to Russel’s comments.

 

source http://www.voacambodia.com/a/us-envoy-hopes-conducive-environment-for-multi-party-elections-will-prevail/3570218.html

 

 

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[BuaBS]

Pot & kettle ....

Shouldn't the US take care of their own elections , see that it's in a "conductive environment" ?

Multi party elections in Cambodia .... what about multi party in the US ?

[Junkyarddog]

This big mouth diplomat Moron makes me sick. If he could learn to keep his mouth shut the relationship between USA and Thailand would be better than it is now. Ironically as it turns out Thailand is on the road to becoming a full democracy with controls on corruption more so than the USA. Seems we have little democracy and are the most corrupt government in the world. But we are so stupid it took is thirty give years to figure it out.

However we are still going to send diplomats from our most corrupt state department to countries all over the world telling them how we demand they do things.

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, Junkyarddog said:

Ironically as it turns out Thailand is on the road to becoming a full democracy with controls on corruption more so than the USA

Hmm open for debate. I think the post started out as a Cambodian issue but thats alright there are parallels. Might not be long before president's Trump bigger improved bank financed army comes knocking on Asia's door after all the US must keep filling the maw of the military machine.