Opposition leader Sam Rainsy campaigning in Santuk (Photo: SRP)Saturday, July 26, 2008
ABC News (Australia)
Cambodia's long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen looks set to notch up another election victory tomorrow.
He is expected to take more seats in the national parliament.
Hun Sen is still popular even after 23 years in power. But the main opposition party is making headway.
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) boasts that it has five million signed up members.
That is impressive when there are only eight million registered voters.
With so much flag waving and patriotic music, electioneering in Cambodia can feel like a big street party, but for many, campaigning is dangerous.
Sam Rainsy is the leader of the main Opposition party that bears his name.
At a campaign stop in Sang Ke District in the western province of Battambang, he finds himself literally unable to go on.
"They are deliberately blocking our way," he said.
Mr Rainsy says the CPP are trying to block change in the country it has ruled for 23 years.
"They don't want us to spread our message," he said.
"They are afraid of our message. They don't want the Cambodian people to hear the message of change from the Opposition."
Election violence
At least 12 people have been killed in this election campaign, including an Opposition journalist.
The president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Thun Saray, worries about a general rise in lawlessness at this time, because government officials, the military, and police are engaged in campaigning.
"We observed in the recent week there were also the increasing robbery, the ordinary crime, killings, something that is happened," he said.
"We worry about people who be frightened by this atmosphere."
While his supporters have been out in force, Prime Minister Hun Sen has done little in the way of campaigning.
His Government is being criticised for the huge spike in fuel and food prices and cannot shake corruption allegations relating to misuse and abuse of public land and forests.
But foreign investment is strong and the Government is benefiting from a wave of nationalistic pride because of its tough stance in the Preah Vihear Temple dispute with Thailand.
The ABC was denied an interview with the Prime Minister, but Cheam Yeap from the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party did speak to us.
Mr Cheam says that Sam Rainsy's push for change is a trick on the people.
Based on a report by Karen Percy for AM
He is expected to take more seats in the national parliament.
Hun Sen is still popular even after 23 years in power. But the main opposition party is making headway.
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) boasts that it has five million signed up members.
That is impressive when there are only eight million registered voters.
With so much flag waving and patriotic music, electioneering in Cambodia can feel like a big street party, but for many, campaigning is dangerous.
Sam Rainsy is the leader of the main Opposition party that bears his name.
At a campaign stop in Sang Ke District in the western province of Battambang, he finds himself literally unable to go on.
"They are deliberately blocking our way," he said.
Mr Rainsy says the CPP are trying to block change in the country it has ruled for 23 years.
"They don't want us to spread our message," he said.
"They are afraid of our message. They don't want the Cambodian people to hear the message of change from the Opposition."
Election violence
At least 12 people have been killed in this election campaign, including an Opposition journalist.
The president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Thun Saray, worries about a general rise in lawlessness at this time, because government officials, the military, and police are engaged in campaigning.
"We observed in the recent week there were also the increasing robbery, the ordinary crime, killings, something that is happened," he said.
"We worry about people who be frightened by this atmosphere."
While his supporters have been out in force, Prime Minister Hun Sen has done little in the way of campaigning.
His Government is being criticised for the huge spike in fuel and food prices and cannot shake corruption allegations relating to misuse and abuse of public land and forests.
But foreign investment is strong and the Government is benefiting from a wave of nationalistic pride because of its tough stance in the Preah Vihear Temple dispute with Thailand.
The ABC was denied an interview with the Prime Minister, but Cheam Yeap from the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party did speak to us.
Mr Cheam says that Sam Rainsy's push for change is a trick on the people.
Based on a report by Karen Percy for AM
4 comments:
THIS IS THE TIME CAMBODIAN PEOPLE NEED CHANGE.
FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS, MOST OF CAMBODIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN POVERTY AND HARDSHIP UNDER THE RULE OF CPP.
THEREFORE, WE MUST CHANGE OUR SOCIETY BY VOTTING OUT THE CURRENT RULING PARTY AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE WHO HAS ABILITY TO BRING REALL PROSPERITY AND DEMOCRACY TO OUR COUNTRY.
IF YOU VOTE FOR CPP, OUR COUNTRY FACES A DANGER OF CORRUPTION, DICTATORSHIP, INJUSTIC COURT, CULTURE OF IMPUNITY, HIGH PRICES OF GOODS AND GAS, ILLEGAL VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS, HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR, WIDE-SPREAD LAND GRABBINGS, ETC.
IF YOU VOTE FOR SAM RAINSY PARTY, OUR COUNTRY WILL ENJOY DEMOCRACY, PROSPERITY AND VARIETY OF EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE.
THUS, PLEASE VOTE OUT CPP!! AND VOTE FOR SAM RAINSY PARTY FOR THE SAKE OF OUR KHMER PEOPLE.
BRAVO SAM RAINSY PARTY!!
DOWN WITH CORRUPT CPP!!!
THANKS,
DEMOCRATIC KHMER
Nope, we are going in the right direction. Only idiot will want to change to go back to year-zero.
Bullshit, 1:15PM,
Right direction?
Do you want to mean right direction to:
- dictatorship?
- power addiction?
- wide-spread corruption?
- illegal Vietnamese immigrants?
- high inflation?
- land grabbings?
- social Injustic?
- nepotism?
Go and think again, man.
Cambodia is in poverty because it has such a brainless person like you.
Thanks,
We're heading in the right erection.
Post a Comment