US, Australia Continue Call for Credible Election Inquiry

The Cambodia Daily 20-08-2013

According to John Ciorciari, a Cambodia expert at the Uni­versity of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, international donors would be unlikely to risk their relations with Cambodia over the government’s failure to cooperate in an election investigation.

“Beyond public and private exhortation, the main levers for immediate U.S. and E.U. influence are cuts to foreign aid. That is a card neither the U.S. nor E.U. is keen to play unless they believe the cuts will precipitate a serious inquiry and possibly lead to significant CPP concessions or even a re-vote leading to a possible change in power,” Mr. Ciorciari said.

“If [donors] expect cuts would simply drive the existing leadership away and would not generate meaningful concessions, they are less likely to find that strategy appealing. International pressure may be necessary to bring about an investigation, but it isn’t likely to be sufficient,” he added.

Hit this link for details. http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/us-australia-continue-call-for-credible-election-inquiry-40185/