Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - NEC: Setha’s arrest will not affect election or eligibility to participate

NEC: Setha’s arrest will not affect election or eligibility to participate

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
NEC deputy secretary-general Som Sorida speaks at a meeting at its headquarters in Phnom Penh in 2021. Heng Chivoan

NEC: Setha’s arrest will not affect election or eligibility to participate

The National Election Committee (NEC) said the recent arrest of Thach Setha, vice-president of the Candlelight Party (CP) on the order of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court will not affect the process of organising this year’s national election, scheduled for July 23.

NEC deputy secretary-general and spokesman Som Sorida said preparations are proceeding normally, with each of the parties that have registered with the Ministry of Interior welcome to run in the election.

“If the CP chooses not to participate because of the arrest of some of its leaders, this will not affect preparations or the election itself,” he said.

He noted that relevant authorities also have the duty to enforce the law. Any offences committed during the election process answer to the law.

Sorida claimed that in almost every parliamentary election, there are allegations of irregularities or a deterioration of the political environment.

“It could be said that it has become a tradition for opposition parties or civil society organisations to claim that the enforcement of the law has a negative effect on the political atmosphere,” he added.

“We should consider how the CP came to be. Before the 2017 election, the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party [CNRP] also made allegations about a negative political environment. It is clear that this is part of the opposition’s playbook,” he said.

Son Chhay, another CP vice-president, told a January 17 press conference that the judiciary had been used to threaten the leadership of his party. This included the seizure of property of some members and the arrest of Setha. These events, he claimed, have strained the Kingdom’s political scene ahead of the national election.

“The decision to withdraw or contest the election is not up to two or three leaders. The party will have to review the facts clearly before making a decision. In the meantime, party leaders are negotiating with the ruling party to ease tensions. If we cannot find a way to improve the political climate, then a final decision must be made,” he said.

“Setha should not have been arrested at this time. He should have been left to continue his political work until after the election is over. His case is civil, and the arrest was a threat that cannot be allowed to stand. His case has already been resolved, but I will not speak on behalf of his legal team,” he added.

The CP’s Standing Committee convened a January 18 meeting resolutely opposing all forms of political repression, intimidation or persecution by the ruling party. It demanded an end to these activities, saying it will continue to build its party structure so it is in a position to contest free, fair and just elections.

Setha was arrested on January 16 in Phnom Penh and detained overnight for allegedly issuing bad cheques.

Sok Eysan, spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), said that only the Cambodian people have the right to assess that situation on the ground. Participation in the upcoming election is the right of each party, but it is the voting public who will decide the outcome.

“If a party that believes the election will somehow be unfair, they should not register with the NEC, but let other parties contest at the polls. Joining the election is the right of all registered parties, and no one has the right to block their entry,” he added.

Eysan said more than 40 political parties are registered with the interior ministry, so if one chose to drop out, another would take its place.

“Thach Setha was arrested – based on a court order – for issuing bad cheques. This is clearly a criminal offence, so there is no way people can suggest that the arrest was politically motivated,” he added.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one