Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association

Candlelight Party vice president Son Chhay questioned in NEC lawsuit

Son Chhay, vice president of the Candlelight Party waves to the media and his supporters as he arrives at Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, July 12, 2022. CamboJA/ Pring Samrang
Son Chhay, vice president of the Candlelight Party waves to the media and his supporters as he arrives at Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, July 12, 2022. CamboJA/ Pring Samrang

Son Chhay, Candlelight Party vice president, appeared at Phnom Penh Municipal Court Tuesday for questioning regarding a lawsuit filed against him last month by the National Election Committee (NEC) after he criticized the recent commune elections in the media.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Chhay expressed dismay at the lawsuit, saying that the case should be addressed by the NEC.

“I was very disappointed that this case was brought to court because there should be an explanation [from NEC],” he said. “I am a politician; I must fight to gain support from the people and want people to vote freely without fear or intimidation.”

Chhay was sued by both the NEC and the ruling Cambodian’s People Party after criticizing the June 5 election saying there had been irregularities and election fraud.

The NEC filed a lawsuit against Chhay claiming he had defamed the committee by claiming there had been vote-rigging.

The ruling CPP filed its own complaint seeking $1 million in compensation over what they maintain were slanderous remarks by Chhay, who accused the NEC of bias in favor of the ruling party.

Chhay will appear at the court again on July 15 to answer questions over the CPP lawsuit. He told reporters that the lawsuits against him are a political distraction and a bad example for the democratic process.

“It’s a political nuisance because we just want to do something good for society but receive such [threats] instead,” he said. “For me, demanding $1 million is too unreasonable, I have no money to pay them and let it go.”

Son Chhay, vice president of the Candlelight Party, meets his supporters after questioning at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, July 12, 2022. CamboJA/ Sorn Sarath

Plang Sophal, Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor told CamboJA there had been no decision yet in the case and the court would consider all the evidence.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea declined to comment on the lawsuit. “The case has been filed to the court and we are just waiting to see the court’s decision,” he said. He denied the committee had any bias toward the ruling party.

Korn Savang, an election observer with monitoring group Comfrel, said he was surprised to see the election body file suit against a political party and said the NEC is likely to face public criticism for doing so.

“For me, using the courts is not a good approach, it is not a solution that arbitrator itself sues contestants and NEC should reconsider,” he said.

The NEC results showed the CPP won 1,648 out of a total of the country’s 1,652 commune chief positions, with the Candlelight Party taking just four. 

Nine out of the 17 political parties that contested the poll received commune council seats, but the CPP took by far the lion’s share.

The ruling party won 9,376 seats, followed by the Candlelight Party with 2,198 seats, while royalist Funcinpec won 19 seats. 

The Khmer National United Party won 13 seats, the Grassroots Democratic Party took six seats, the Khmer National Love Party won 5 seats, and the Cambodian Youth Party three. The Kampuchea Niyum Party and the Beehive Social Democratic Party received one seat each.

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