Campaigning begins for Cambodian general election

Campaigning begins for Cambodian general election

Kyodo News | 27 June 2013

Cambodia's general election campaign got under way Thursday, with eight political parties contesting the July 28 National Assembly election.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, along with leaders of his ruling Cambodian People's Party, gathered with more than 10,000 supporters at Diamond Island in central Phnom Penh, while Kem Sokha, acting leader of the newly merged and largest opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, also held a rally and led more than 10,000 supporters in a march around the capital and in neighboring Kandal province.

The royalist FUNCINPEC party led by Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, the youngest daughter of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, led a rally in Kompong Cham province, the most populous province located 130 kilometers east of the Phnom Penh.

According to campaign materials sent out to the media, FUNCINPEC pledges to "protect the monarchy regime, follow Sihanouk's style of leadership and lift the status of women and livelihood of the people."

Of the country's 14.46 million people, some 9.68 million aged 18 or older have registered to vote.

Political observers said they expect the CPP and CNRP to win seats in the 123-seat lower house election, but are unsure about the six other smaller parties.

Hun Sen has in recent weeks expressed confidence that his party will win enough seats to form a new government on its own.

In the 2008 election, which was contested by 11 political parties, the CPP won 90 seats, the Sam Rainsy Party 26, the Human Rights Party three, while the Norodom Ranariddh Party and FUNCINPEC won two seats each.

The CNRP was formed by the merger last year of the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, while the Norodom Ranariddh Party was changed to another party but most of its members have jumped ship to FUNCINPEC.

At Thursday's gathering, Hun Sen and his senior party leader Chea Sim claimed credit for the CPP in liberating Cambodians from the genocidal Khmer Rouge and implementing major development projects.

"The CPP has prevented the return of the genocidal regime and has rehabilitated and restored society and the economy from ground zero to the current growth and development status," said a campaign message released at the gathering.

"It has been clearly prevailed over the past 35 years that at all stages and circumstances, the CPP is the only political force which is always attached to the people's living and has done everything for the people," it added.

But at the CNRP rally, Kem Sokha criticized the CPP, accusing the party of failing to protect the country's territorial integrity, mishandling illegal immigrants, selling state properties, and being corrupt.

Banners stuck to trucks loaded with supporters say the CNRP, if it wins the election, will offer $10 per month to every Cambodian 65 years old and over, raise civil servants' salaries by up to $250, reduce the high prices of gasoline, power and fertilizer as well as provide free health services to the poor.

The party also criticized the CPP leadership as "dictatorial" and asked the voters to "change, change and change."

Sam Rainsy, 63, who emerged as Cambodia's "democracy icon" when he joined the political arena in 1998 with his self-named party, has been named leader of the merged CNRP. However, he is not only living in self-exile abroad, he also faces a 12-year jail term at home after three convictions by Cambodian courts.

Critics claim his convictions for removing markers on the border with Vietnam, for publishing a map of that border deemed false and for defaming Foreign Minister Hor Namhong by calling him a member of the Khmer Rouge were for trumped-up charges lacking merit, but the fact remains that Sam Rainsy is not free to campaign at home.

The 30-day campaign period will last until July 26, two days before the general election.

During this period, nearly 20,000 police have been deployed to secure public safety and social order, according to Kirt Chantharith, the national police spokesman.

The other parties are the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party, the Democratic Republic Party, the Khmer Economic Development Party, the Cambodian Nationality Party, and the League for Democracy Party.

Cambodia holds a general election every five years.