Rights monitor tapped for 'neutral' NEC seat
Licadho president Pung Chhiv Kek has been selected as the ninth
member of the reformed National Election Committee following a
cross-party meeting this morning, a government official and sources in
the rights group she heads have said.
Kek, who has yet to officially accept the role on the election body, could not be immediately reached, but senior Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yeap confirmed that she had been approached for the job.
“This morning, [Prime Minister] Hun Sen met with [Cambodia National Rescue Party president] Sam Rainsy to agree on the ninth member,” he said. “They choose Pung Chhiv Kek.”
Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator for Licadho, said Kek had yet to receive an official letter offering her the position.
“I cannot say on her behalf, because it is her decision. But the official letter will be coming this afternoon or tomorrow,” he said.
Another Licadho staff member, who declined to be named, said that the long-time human rights advocate would make an announcement tomorrow following a “long internal meeting” today.
“She has not made a decision yet. But she will say something tomorrow about this,” the staff member said.
The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, known as Licadho, was founded by Kek in 1992 after she helped broker the Paris Peace Accords between Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihanouk, ending the civil war of the 1980s.
Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party president Sam Rainsy, however, said he had not received official confirmation that Kek had been chosen for the job.
“I am waiting for an official acceptance from the person concerned. If the person accepts, it could be as soon as one hour. But until that time I would not like to comment on the name.”
Kek, who has yet to officially accept the role on the election body, could not be immediately reached, but senior Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yeap confirmed that she had been approached for the job.
“This morning, [Prime Minister] Hun Sen met with [Cambodia National Rescue Party president] Sam Rainsy to agree on the ninth member,” he said. “They choose Pung Chhiv Kek.”
Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator for Licadho, said Kek had yet to receive an official letter offering her the position.
“I cannot say on her behalf, because it is her decision. But the official letter will be coming this afternoon or tomorrow,” he said.
Another Licadho staff member, who declined to be named, said that the long-time human rights advocate would make an announcement tomorrow following a “long internal meeting” today.
“She has not made a decision yet. But she will say something tomorrow about this,” the staff member said.
The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, known as Licadho, was founded by Kek in 1992 after she helped broker the Paris Peace Accords between Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihanouk, ending the civil war of the 1980s.
Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party president Sam Rainsy, however, said he had not received official confirmation that Kek had been chosen for the job.
“I am waiting for an official acceptance from the person concerned. If the person accepts, it could be as soon as one hour. But until that time I would not like to comment on the name.”
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