Australian Senate Calls For Election Investigation

The Australian Senate has passed a motion that calls for an international investigation into the conduct and disputed result of last year’s national election.

The motion, which was tabled by Australian Greens party leader and senator Christine Milne, also took note of the January 3 killing of at least five people and arrest of 23 unionists and rights activists.

According to a copy of the motion, which was signed by Ms. Milne on Tuesday, the Senate “condemns the use of violence and excessive force by the Cambodian government” and calls for the repeal of a January 4 ban on gatherings.

It also wants the government to “accept an international independent investigation into allegations of fraud and corruption during the July 2013 election.”

In October 2012, the Australian Senate tabled a resolution that called on government to hold “free and fair elections.”

In August 2013, Ms. Milne urged then-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to support an investigation into allegations of widespread irregularities in the election. The latest motion was passed on Thursday.

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