The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will train 60 party activists from Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) in monitoring and protesting on election irregularities in the upcoming communal election, an official confirmed Monday.
NDI country director Jerome Cheung tells VOA Khmer, that the training is essential for the newly formed opposition party, because it is considered to be one of the most popular political parties in Cambodia.
“They will have an opportunity to observe and file complaints at all of the polling stations”, he added.
Jerome Cheung says that his organization's main purpose is for political parties to file complaints based on evidence, this is different from other “independent monitoring organizations, such as Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections (NICFEC), and the Committee for Free and Fair Elections (COMFREL) in Cambodia [because they] do not allow any complaints about the election procedures”, he added.
Norodom Ranariddh party spokesman Muth Chantha supports NDI’s missions because it reflects democracy, progressive monarchy, and the need of the people.
The 2007 commune council’s election started on Sept. 21, 2006, and will end on May 23, 2007. Results are to be published on April 1, 2007.