Election watchdogs have called on the ruling and opposition parties to reconsider a restriction on dual nationals serving as members of the overhauled National Election Committee.

Seventeen NGOs released a statement under the banner of the Electoral Reform Alliance calling on the ruling CPP and opposition CNRP to allow more diverse candidates to sit on the NEC, including those who were born in Cambodia but possess other passports.

Rather than rejecting members with multiple nationalities, the statement says, the committee should only require members to have had Cambodian nationality from birth.

“[They] must continue to respect the spirit of national unity and increase the choice of human resources [eligible] for the NEC composition.”

CPP negotiator Keut Rith said that while he did not understand the NGOs’ objection to the single-nationality rule, they could raise recommendations at a workshop to be held after parties have fully drafted the new law.