VUTHASURF

Five political parties’ parliamentary members in fourth mandate will be playing important role to push for the adoption of the long-awaiting anti-corruption law, which failed to be passed from mandate to mandate. International donors, international and local non-governmental organizations, along with common Cambodians were waiting to see the adopted corruption law.

The new government will be formed at the end of September 2008, with five parties wining National Assembly seats. Among those parties, they pledge to pass the anti-corruption law at least first 6 months after forming new government while conducting the election campaign if its party won 2008 election. Nowadays, it is seen that all parties which made promise in front of voters won seats in Assembly.

According to the Press Release by Coalition of Civil Society Organizations Against Corruption (CsCSOAC) dated on June 25, ten of eleven political parties registered to compete in 2008 general election declared that if they win election, they would pass anti-corruption law within the first six-month of the new government , with law meeting international standard.

Only the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) did not respond to the letter of CoCSOAC by declaring that it would pass the law if it won election until by the deadline of June 23, 2008.

Even though, in the interview between The Cambodia Daily with CPP’s lawmaker, Cheam Yeap, he said that if the CPP won election in fourth mandate in 2008, the anti-corruption will be adopted, adding that the Royal Government has already finished the criminal code.

In the interview, he said that “we recognize that there really is corruption, and so far we may not have an anti-corruption law, but we have other laws that are implemented against offenders. We have the criminal code from 1956; we have law decree No 01 from 1980; we have law No 02 from 1991; we have the Untac interim criminal code; these laws can punish all criminals who commit corruption.”

However, the civil society also observed that the present draft anti-corruption law has not yet met international standards to which the Government agreed with the donors during the Consultative Group meeting in December 2004. And the civil society also urges the government and Assembly to review some points such as: Definition of Corruption; The independence of the Anti-corruption body, particularly The Secretary General’s executive power; Asset declaration; and Whistleblower/ witness protection.

Until now, the Cambodians wait and see whether the new government will play critical role in passing the long-awaited anti-corruption law.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The inflamed military dispute with Thailand more than 10 days before Election Day after Preah Vihear temple was listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in Canada. Until a handful of Thai nationalist infuriated by claiming temple to Thailand, while Cambodian citizen were taking their attention to election.

The troop stand-off with Thailand made the ruling party (CPP) get a boost for votes from this situation. At the time, most of people turned their attention fully to Thai’s encroachment on Cambodian territory rather than the election. Meanwhile, Cambodians expressed concerns that the war with Thailand would break out, especially people living along border with Thailand. The Buildup of troops along border really affected the people’s minds when they would be ready to cast a ballot for the party they love.

The tension conflict distracted people from the election until they forgot what hurt them in the past such as corruption, land-grabbing, human trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery, murder…etc.

People who were prepared to not vote for CPP changed their mind to cast a vote for CPP because they thought that if they voted for other parties, the war between Thailand will erupt. By the way, they thought that all military are in the hand of the CPP, other parties have no troops.

Therefore, the build-up of troop at Preah Vihear was a major distraction for voters. And then people changed their mind to vote for. However, the CPP’s senior official declined that border conflict would not make the party gain advantage or get a boost from this situation because they already knew that their party would win over the majority of voters and form new government on their own without coalition with other parties.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is the richest and more mature party than other political parties, which are competing in July 27 National Election. According to the obvious activities during the election campaign, the CPP has spent so much money on promotion materials in comparison with other political parties.

In Phnom Penh capital, you really see the big party Billboards placed at the main streets and the attractive points for voters to be easy to see. By the way, the CPP’s members who participated in campaign utilize luxury cars and more vehicles. While the small and unknown parties just only employed Tuk-tuk, old trucks and motorbikes as well.

While I was riding through traffic light near Olympic Stadium, I saw big video screen installed close to big water basin, playing activities of previous achievements done under the CPP’s ruling. The CPP uses hi-technology more than the poor political parties that are trying to participate in competing with the well-known and big party.

That is the big Video screen installed at traffic light off Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh capital.

Popularity: 9% [?]