Geneva, July 27, 2023—In response to recent comments made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, regarding Cambodia's general elections, the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva has issued a firm rejection, asserting that the remarks are misleading and politicized. The Cambodian Mission seeks to provide clarifications on several key points to set the record straight.
Firstly, the Mission emphasized that the application of administrative and legal measures to uphold the rule of law does not equate to a restriction of freedom for specific groups. The laws of Cambodia apply equally to all political parties, candidates, activists, trade unions, NGOs, and media, promoting a fair and just political environment.
Secondly, the assertion that the general elections were held in a restrictive setting is refuted by the substantial voter turnout. Over 8.2 million Cambodians exercised their constitutional right to cast their ballots, choosing from 18 political parties competing in the elections. The impressive voter turnout of 84.58%, the highest in Cambodia's recent history since 2003, demonstrated the nation's vibrant democracy and genuine political pluralism.
To ensure transparency and credibility, the electoral process was meticulously observed by a wide array of stakeholders. A total of 422 international observers representing 65 nationalities from 61 institutions, including international organizations, foreign governments, and Cambodian diaspora communities, were present during the elections. Additionally, approximately 60,000 political party agents and 90,000 independent national observers also monitored the process. Public statements from these monitoring teams consistently commended the general elections for being free, fair, transparent, peaceful, and inclusive.
In light of the above facts, Cambodia remains committed to upholding political pluralism, promoting peaceful democracy, and safeguarding human rights. The Cambodian Mission urges external parties to respect the will of Cambodian voters, who exercised their right to choose the political party they believe is best suited to lead the country towards peace, stability, and long-term prosperity.
The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva calls on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to take these clarifications into consideration and to act with impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity in accordance with the founding Resolution of the High Commissioner’s mandate, A/RES/48/141. This resolution emphasizes respecting the sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction of states and adhering to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states, as prescribed by the United Nations Charter.
