Opposition parties threaten to boycott next year's election

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - The opposition Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties threatened Thursday to boycott next year's election if the National Election Committee leadership is not reformed.

The announcement came after a meeting between the parties and Ministry of Interior Secretary of State Prum Sokha, who rejected a request to change NEC leaders.

Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovan told a news conference that the NEC was neither independent nor neutral and that elections were not fair.

The NEC is a national institution and does not belong to the ruling Cambodia People’s Party, he said, noting that UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Surya Subedi had also called for the committee to be reformed.