Friday 17th August, 2018
The main opposition party had been dissolved
well ahead of the vote, which some foreign governments have called neither free
nor fair.
Besides the ban on the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), the UN office also pointed t
Accra, Aug. 17, (DPA/GNA) – The UN Human
Rights Office added its voice to criticism of the recent elections in Cambodia
on Friday, saying voters did not have a real choice.
The main opposition party had been dissolved
well ahead of the vote, which some foreign governments have called neither free
nor fair.
Besides the ban on the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), the UN office also pointed to voter intimidation,
harassment of civil society groups, and the blocking of 17 websites.
“We are concerned about the human rights
environment around the elections,” spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a press
conference in Geneva.
The ruling Cambodia People’s Party received 76
per cent of votes to secure all 125 seats in the National Assembly after the
July 29 vote, the election body announced on Wednesday.
Now that the election is over, the government
should open a broad political debate, release detained political adversaries,
and lift the ban on opposition activities, Shamdasani said.
Political prisoners include opposition
figures, journalists and human rights advocates.
The CNRP was dissolved by court order last
year at the government’s request, following the jailing of party president Kem
Sokha on widely-decried treason charges. More than 100 CNRP officials have been
banned from participating in politics for five years.
GNA