Lawmakers re-elect National Election Committee

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Members of parliament unanimously re-elected Im Suosdey as president of the National Election Committee Thursday as two opposition parties boycotted the session.

The session, presided over by National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin, was attended by 87 lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the two royalist parties, Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party.

The lawmakers also re-elected Sin Chumbo as NEC vice president along with Havan Sivilai, Mean Sathi, Em Sophat, Soum Chan Dina, Mao Sophearith, Sour Samphry and Sin Dim as members.

The nine members, who will serve for a period of five years, comprise five CPP members, two from Funcinpec and two from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.

Lawmakers from the Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party, which have both been calling for changes to the NEC, nevertheless boycotted the extraordinary session of parliament.

Im Suosdey was first elected as NEC president in 2003.
Under Cambodian law, the National Assembly has to elect nine NEC members within seven months of general elections, which are scheduled for July next year.

source: the cambodia herald