CPP Reaffirms Its Stance to Continue Negotiations with CNRP

25 March 2014

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is still optimistic and will continue the negotiations with the main opposition Cambodia National Recue Party (CNRP) following the working steps of the joint commission to study and prepare a framework for future election reform. CPP has no intention to delay the implementation of the top leaders’ joint statement.

In response to the CNRP’s statement on 24 March 2014, CPP would like to inform the national and international opinions that the request to postpone the joint commission’s meeting is the CNRP’s personal view, it added. CPP has no idea to postpone the negotiations, but to follow strictly the joint statement of Feb. 18, 2014 stating that election reform framework has to be submitted to a consultative national workshop first and thereafter both parties’ joint commission will discuss and make decision.

According to CPP, the joint commission agreed on 14 points of the election reform framework during their meetings on March 3, 10 and 17, which will be submitted to the consultative national workshop. Even though the meetings did not reach a total agreement, they saw progress and were congratulated by national and international opinion, and the general social situation goes forward well. However, CNRP forced CPP to answer in advance only about an agenda, i.e. making the election institution a constitutional one and the institution’s members are approved by 2/3 vote of the Members of National Assembly, and they (CNRP) also exaggerated about the re-election date. “This is unacceptable,” stressed CPP.

The agreed points include the preparation of voter registration and list to guarantee the right to vote of all citizens; the creation of the law on finance of political parties; election institution reform; neutrality and integrity of civil society organizations; medias and disseminating means of political parties; conflict resolution mechanisms; election observation; neutrality of the civil servants and armed forces; election date; election regulations and procedures; modification and strengthening of penalties in the election law; election campaign; and survey.

Source:

http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=43463