CPP-controlled authority used police force to destroy opposition banner (Photo: SRP)By Suon Kanika, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
01 May 2008
[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues 2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the first in a two-part series examining election monitors.]
There has been tranquility ahead of national election campaigns, but election monitors say there is still violence as Election Day approaches.
Election monitors have been recording pre-election violence. So far, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections has recorded 29 cases of violence.
Most of the cases have occurred in Kampong Thom, Kampong Speu, Kompong Chnang, Kampong Cham and Kandal provinces.
“The intimidation of activists of the political parties are very disturbing aims at the approach of elections,” said Mar Sophal, a Comfrel monitor.
Meanwhile, Yang Kim Eng, director of the Youth Council of Cambodia, said that although there are cases of irregularities, including the destruction of party signs, the violence that has marred other elections is not as serious.
However, he said, the National Election Committee must still resolve some complaints of violence by political parties.
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha told VOA Khmer the committee pushed for investigations into political violence, but some of the worst cases were the duty of the courts.
Though the violence has been less than in the past, there is still enough to affect the electoral outcome, said Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections.
Last year’s commune election saw a drop of voter participation: 68 percent, compared to 90 percent in 1993.
There has been tranquility ahead of national election campaigns, but election monitors say there is still violence as Election Day approaches.
Election monitors have been recording pre-election violence. So far, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections has recorded 29 cases of violence.
Most of the cases have occurred in Kampong Thom, Kampong Speu, Kompong Chnang, Kampong Cham and Kandal provinces.
“The intimidation of activists of the political parties are very disturbing aims at the approach of elections,” said Mar Sophal, a Comfrel monitor.
Meanwhile, Yang Kim Eng, director of the Youth Council of Cambodia, said that although there are cases of irregularities, including the destruction of party signs, the violence that has marred other elections is not as serious.
However, he said, the National Election Committee must still resolve some complaints of violence by political parties.
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha told VOA Khmer the committee pushed for investigations into political violence, but some of the worst cases were the duty of the courts.
Though the violence has been less than in the past, there is still enough to affect the electoral outcome, said Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections.
Last year’s commune election saw a drop of voter participation: 68 percent, compared to 90 percent in 1993.
5 comments:
I hope we can work out with each other not to resort to violent to win. We must come of age. It will go for everyone.
Last year’s commune election saw a drop of voter participation: 68 percent, compared to 90 percent in 1993.
If one insisted to take the number of voter particpation from the 1993election then that particular person doesn't understand or has not realized the reason behind such a turn out at that time.
Of course, the number of voter particpation at that time
a] was huge due to the fact that it was the 1st time ever since the 70's Cambodia was ever holding any election.
b] people thought at the time that it was good time to participate in and express their freedom, exercise their rights which has been oppressed since the 70's.
c] people thought that Former King for sure would be still led the country.
3 elections so far, people are weary of the election, political parties, therefore they are more or less thing at the back of their mind that it will never make any different if they don't go and cast theirs vote; which is a shameful act and will never going to see changes that they wished and wanted before long.
In picture, the blue bagful is andiot of power.
Please khmer stop being a slave of power where those are fatter and lighter color than you.
Praise khmer be awoken.
No cheating in the election! You can't put any sign or banner in the CPP supporters territory. Get it outta there.
Thank you.
Bullshit, the only thing that will happened next is Ah psychopath Hun Sen (CPP: Communist Pro youn Party)will be lock up in jail because ah Hun Sen is a former Khmer Rouge soldier who killed about 1.7 Khmer people during 1975-1979.
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