[JURIST] Following the country’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) [official website, in Khmer] alleged in an email that an opposing party’s claims of victory were incorrect due to poll irregularities. The CNRP claimed in its email [AFP report] that names disappeared from the electoral roll and that some voters were unable to vote because someone had previously used their ballot before they attempted to vote. The CNRP also claimed that suspicions were raised because the ink used for ballots was easily washed off. The long-standing Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won the election, taking 68 of 123 parliamentary seats. The CPP has yet to comment on its victory or respond to the CNRP’s allegations.

The Cambodian government has recently come under criticism for its abuse of its political powers. Last month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] called on Cambodia’s donors to oppose a land titling campaign, alleging [JURIST report] that it lacks accountability and transparency and is prone to abuse. Last year, Dr. Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association (IBA) [official website], published the second in a series of reports examining the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) [official website] and asserting [JURIST report] that the legitimacy of the ECCC has been undermined and that a criticism of the court’s failure to meet international standards must be undertaken to ensure justice. Earlier that year the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed concern [JURIST report] that recent restrictions on non-governmental organizations in the country may fundamentally affect freedoms and human rights.