Interior minister Sar Kheng speaks at a meeting about security during the upcoming election. SAR KHENG VIA FB
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng has instructed police and security forces to ensure that all political parties are able to campaign freely ahead of this July’s national election.
He issued the orders as he oversaw the April 6 dissemination of the contents of the Joint Instruction on the Operations and Organization of Election Security Agencies.
Sar Kheng said each capital-provincial administration is directly responsible for ensuring security and public order within its jurisdiction and must ensure that the election process runs smoothly, calmly and transparently, with no threats or violence.
“The relevant authorities, especially election security agencies, must be neutral and respect the election law, regulations and procedures. They are to provide security services to all political parties, candidates, representatives of political parties, national and international observers and all citizens in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner,” he was quoted as saying in a ministry social media post.
He reminded them to take full responsibility for their duties, especially during the election itself and the ballot counting process, which he referred to as important stages.
He also instructed them to cooperate with election committees at all levels and the polling station and ballot counting chiefs, in order to better manage the situation at each location.
Sar Kheng called on political parties and the public to participate in maintaining security and public order so the election process would be peaceful and non-violent.
“In order for the upcoming 7th parliamentary election to be peaceful, non-violent, free, fair, and transparent, I call on all political parties, people from all walks of life, organisations, civil society, and national and international observers to contribute to the maintenance of public order security, especially security and order.”
Additionally, he advised them on how to improve information exchange mechanisms with the national level election officials and their subordinate organisations, in order to effectively analyse, evaluate, and resolve issues within their domain of authority.
“I advise all forces to make an effort to settle all localised disagreements rather than allowing them to fester into chronic confrontations that could cause societal unrest and become tools for political exploitation,” he said.
He exhorted them to use all available resources, in a manner that complies with the law, to prevent accidents and to stop and suppress all forms of criminality.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on April 6 that the security forces have a responsibility to maintain peace, order, and security, and that all political parties have equal rights and freedoms during the election period.
“The government has an obligation to ensure security and order. If it does not do so, the parliamentary elections may be disrupted. This point is very important,” he said.
He said unrest or disruptions could lead to complaints that there is no equal protection of security and order.
Yang Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, said he hoped that no one at any level would act in a way that contradicted the minister’s instructions.
“I hope that close attention will be paid to the upcoming election, and that all political parties will be able to act freely. In addition, I hope that civil society organisations who are observing the election will be able to carry out their activities without being threatened or disturbed,” he told The Post.
