Hun Sen urging safety for all parties is nothing but "hot air"

Hun Sen Urges Safety for All Parties

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 April 2008

"What Hun Sen called for is just a good picture for the public ... In fact, the CPP has ordered its men to threaten and intimidate the Sam Rainsy Party" - Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-General

"I don't believe Hun Sen. Because today my Human Rights Party sign in Kratie was knocked down. Hun Sen's appeal is meaningless. I ask Hun Sen to condemn the perpetrators, and if he cannot condemn the perpetrators, then what Hun Sen just said seems to push the perpetrators to do more" - Kem Sokha, HRP President

Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday he wanted to ensure the safety of all political parties in the run-up to July's national elections.

Speaking at a school inauguration in Prey Veng province, Hun Sen called on the authorities and security forces to take strong measures to protect the safety of "all political parties competing in the national election in July."

The appeal comes on the heels of accusations that ruling Cambodian People's Party officials were discriminating against competing parties.

"I would like to take this opportunity to call for all authorities and armed forces to take care of protecting the security for all political parties to work the election process with democracy, freedom and non-violence, in an atmosphere that all can accept.... All are very good choices for Cambodia."

Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha called the appeal a "political maneuver."

"I'm very disappointed," he said. "I don't believe Hun Sen. Because today my Human Rights Party sign in Kratie was knocked down. Hun Sen's appeal is meaningless. I ask Hun Sen to condemn the perpetrators, and if he cannot condemn the perpetrators, then what Hun Sen just said seems to push the perpetrators to do more."

Eng Chhay Ieng, secretary-general of the Sam Rainsy Party, said Wednesday that a good security atmosphere ahead of the elections was ultimately up to Hun Sen.

"What Hun Sen called for is just a good picture for the public," he said. "In fact, the CPP has ordered its men to threaten and intimidate the Sam Rainsy Party."

Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee, said Wednesday there are 45,000 security personnel from the military, military police and interior police to be deployed at 15,000 polling stations nationwide during elections.

There are 20 security personnel in each district, and 10 in each commune, he said.

"This strong security measure can ensure security and safety for the election," he said.

Sam Rainsy: "Only dictators are afraid of people power"; Hun Sen: "Don't play people power"

Crime Reported Down, as Police Eye Elections

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 March 2008

Prime Minister Hun Sen warned police to ensure peaceful elections in June, while cautioning against political parties who have called for "people power" change in the government.

The prime minister issued his warning in a closing address at the Ministry of Interior's annual meeting, where police reported a nationwide fall in major crime.

"Don't play people power," he told the gathered officials, saying Cambodia was not the the Ukraine, Indonesia or the Philippines.

It would take more than 2,000 people to topple the governemnt, he said, when there are 8 million voters. If the ruling Cambodian People's Party loses the election, he will turn over the government, and he appealed to the would-be winner to form a government quickly.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday he would accept free-and-fair results in July's national polls, but if the election was not free and fair, he would urge "people power."

"Only dictators are afraid of people power," he said.

Hun Sen meanwhile appealed to police to be cautious about crime during the election, even as the ministry reported a fall in major crime in 2007.

The Ministry of Interior reported this week that major crimes like murder, rape and armed robbery decreased last year, compared to 2006.

Murders dropped from 458 in 2006 to 408 in 2007; reported rapes dropped from 262 to 250; and armed robberies fell from 713 to 641.

"This is a source of pride for Cambodia," said Lt. Gen. Sok Phal, deputy chief of national police, after the close of the meeting.