UN urges Cambodia to ensure “free and fair” elections

June 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, urged the Cambodian authorities this Friday to guarantee the holding of “free and fair” elections ahead of the elections scheduled for July 23.

Thus, he has stressed the importance of facilitating and protecting an “environment that is conducive to this type of election” and has expressed his “great concern about the curtailment of civil liberties in the face of the electoral process”, as indicated in a statement.

“There must be a plural and open atmosphere that guarantees freedom of expression and opinion, assembly and association. These elements are sustained on the basis of free societies within the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he asserted.

His words come after the government indicated this week that it would amend electoral law to bar those who seek to boycott the process from standing as candidates in future elections.

“Such an amendment, if enacted, would constitute an overly broad restriction of the right to freedom of expression and a violation of the right of all citizens to stand for election, which is guaranteed by the Cambodian Constitution and international instruments,” he said. Turk manifested.

In this sense, he has emphasized the importance of international treaties on Human Rights, which “guarantee peace, prosperity and a better future for Cambodia” and has asked the country’s leaders “to change course now to facilitate the creation of a vibrant civil society, a space for open debate and respect for Human Rights,” he said.