IRI Issues Preliminary Statement on National Assembly Elections

August 5, 2003

July 21-30: IRI fielded an observation mission to monitor Cambodia's parliamentary elections. Headed by Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, the delegation included IRI President and CEO George Folsom, Members of Parliament Peter King of Australia and M. Enksaikhan of Mongolia, former Indonesian Election Commission Chairman Imam Prasodjo, former U.S. Ambassador Michael Samuels, and other election and foreign policy experts. The delegation of 61 credentialed observers found that while the election represented an improvement over past elections, it still failed to reach international standards. While Election Day -- July 27th -- proceeded without widespread instances of violence, questionable vote counting and reports of intimidation and violence against opposition party activists in the period leading up to the election were commonplace.

The IRI has fielded three assessment missions to observe the political atmosphere during the months leading up to the Cambodian elections. IRI will release its final report in September 2003.

Associated Press, July 26, 2003 (excerpt):

"The world does care what happens here," said Christine Todd Whitman, the former New Jersey governor and Environmental Protection Agency administrator who is leading a delegation of about 50 U.S. election observers. "Certainly the United States is very focussed on a free and fair election." To view, please click here

Associated Press, July 29, 2003 (excerpt):

Former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Christine Todd Whitman, led 50 American observers from the Washington, D.C.-based International Republican Institute. She said the "elections were an improvement (over previous ones), but they still fell short of international election standards." To view, please click here

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