NEC Opens Ballot Packages from Batambang Constituency

Cambodia (Kohker) -   The National Election Committee (NEC) has begun to open ballot packages from eight polling stations in Battambang province to investigate alleged election irregularities.

The opening of the packages known as "Safety Packages A" in which original polling data are kept was made at the NEC's headquarters in Phnom Penh this morning at around 8 O'clock following the Constitutional Council's order.

In a statement issued August 26, the Constitutional Council, the final body of recourse on elections, ordered the NEC to open the Safety Packages A from polling stations No. 1185, 0193, 0188, 0216, 0217, 0202, 0204 and 1122 for verifying election results in accordance with demand by the opposition party.

No noticeable irregularities have been found yet.

The NEC on Sunday opened ballot packages from 13 polling stations in Kratie province's Svay Chreah commune. Representatives of opposition Cambodia national Rescue Party and NGOs who joined the opening process claimed that many irregularities were identified including some ballot packages being left unsealed, loss of invalid ballots and improper record of polling documents etc., but NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said at a press conference held that evening that the irregularities were technical mistakes and did not had impacts on the election results.