Main Ideas to create neutral political atmosphere and security for the election

Bitter event of July 5-6, 1997 has provided the Cambodian people, political parties, and politicians with much experience. The immoral democratic game, the intentional violations of laws, the political treachery, the pursuits for military balance in favor of the party's political activities by ignoring the principles of political neutralization towards the military and civil administration are very dangerous options. They not only obstruct the democratic competition in the condition of democracy and pluralism but also threaten the national security and even cause bloody war.

Though Cambodia was endangered by the extremists in collusion with the outlawed Khmer Rouges in July 1997, we have been determined to sustain the achievements of the Paris Peace Accords and the outcome of the 1993 election by maintaining and respecting the Constitution, the continuity of the National Assembly and Royal Government under the leadership of the King. Our moves forward is aimed at ensuring the rules of law in the condition of democracy and pluralism. Therefore, the 3 priorities of the major strategic tasks in the short term and in the long term, as well, are as follows:

1. Maintain political stability, security and public order, and neutral political atmosphere for the election;

2. Maintain macro-economic stability, prevent inflation, and maintain the economic growth rate;

3. Continue to reform the economy, administration, and military.

These 3 major strategic tasks will be simultaneously carried out as the 3 different end lines of a tie to keep Cambodia on track towards political stability, democracy, respect for human rights, national reconciliation, and economic and social development with realism.

After the event in July 1997, the Royal Government has still maintained its commitment to holding general elections in May 1998. While the National Assembly examines the electoral law and the political party law, the Royal Government as well as the Commander in Chief Headquarters, through the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff, the Ministry of Interior, the General Direction of the National Police, the governmental institutions, and the local authorities at all levels, have to make every effort to assure the neutral political atmosphere and security for the election.

I. Neutral Political Atmosphere

Neutral political atmosphere can be assured when all parties and politicians have equal right and opportunity to take part in political life, including the electoral campaign. The people have the right to vote without intimidation, fears and threats. To reach these goals, it is necessary that the following broad range of measures be taken:

1. Political neutralization in the armed forces and civil administration

Neutral armed forces and civil administration are permanent mechanisms of the liberal democracy and pluralism. So they may stay neutral and provide protection to all parties taking part in the political life of the society and the electoral campaign. Public services such as meeting place, electoral campaign, freedom to travel without restriction, security protection by the armed forces, etc. must be equally provided to all parties.

The "Neutrality" term in this case means neutrality in the function. It does not mean to waive the right to vote from members of the armed forces and civil administration. They have the right to vote for any party or any politician that they favor, but they must not use their functions in the armed forces and civil administration to serve the electoral campaign for any party and against the other. Article 79, Chapter 1 of the 1993 Constitution provides for the incompatibility of functions as a member of the National Assembly with that of the active public function for the armed forces and civil administration.. And therefore, there was in 1993-1994 replacement of some deputies who had taken up functions in the armed forces and territorial authorities.

2. Social security and public order

- Social security and public order are not only essential to the people's peaceful living and socio-economic development but also influential to the climate of the election to proceed without violence and fears.

- In order to assure the security and social order contributing to creating the neutral political atmosphere for the election, it is necessary to:

a - Continue to crack down on armed robberies, kidnappings for ransom, drug trafficking, counterfeit dollars, illegal casinos which are the sources of serious threats to the national security;

b - Control toughly the weapons and explosives, search for and confiscate the weapons and explosives illegally used or imported; Destroy the mines that have been taken; Destroy some weapons that are deemed not necessary to be kept for national defense;

c - Remove illegal checkpoints and cut down the legal ones on the nation's roads and highways;

d - Disarm the militia. The militia can only be maintained in the Khmer Rouge activity areas following the concrete requests from the General Staff;

e - Re-define the persons who are entitled to hold weapons and the regulations for the use of weapons;

f - Determine the regulations for the use of bodyguards by government officials, military, politicians, investors, businessmen, companies, manufactures, enterprises, residences, etc.;

g - Reexamine the delivery of vehicle plates and order the remove of dark strap from all vehicles;

h - Strengthen the enforcement of the disciplines and orders issued by the Co-Commander in Chiefs of the Armed Forces, Chief of Staff, and Director General of the National Police.

The realization of the above mentioned 8 tasks will contribute not only to assuring the national security and social order but also to strengthening the mutual trust for holding a free and fair election that is a prefix for the rules of law and liberal democracy and pluralism in the future.

II. Reform

Reform is a complicated work that needs times to carry out. The important works that are necessary to address in the short term are: concentrate to strengthen political stability, social security and public order so as to successfully organize the free and fair election, prevent inflation, and maintain the economic growth rate.

Apart from these 8 tasks, we have to promote the reform in the military by cutting off the "phantom" soldiers (non effective soldiers), remove the soldiers who are under 18 years old and assist them to receive education or any career and funds to earn their livings as civil citizens.