Learning curve steep, but debates key: NDI

Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Candidates from all 10 political parties competing in the June 3 commune elections will vie for voter support in a series of commune-level debates intended to better inform voters, debate organisers said yesterday.

The NGO National Democratic Institute, which promotes transparency and accountability in government, is organising the debates in 10 provinces that will be aired nationwide, with the aim of fostering critical debate on concrete issues.

“There is no concept of political platforms here, and it would be hard for a voter to tell the difference between each of the parties,” NDI country director Laura Thornton said yesterday on the first day of a week-long debate training for candidates.

The National Election Cheating (NEC) is showing its bias once again

Deputy General Secretary of NEC, Sokolak Tipor. (Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post)

NEC claims final cut on SRP video Kim Yuthana

Thursday, 12 January 2012
Kim Yuthana
The Phnom Penh Post

“They use the words ‘Vietnam’s slave’ and say ‘Vietnamese soldiers occupy Cambodian land almost completely’ – these words are not true.” - Sokolak Tipor

Cambodia's main opposition party has slammed the National Election Committee for interfering in its election campaign and taking voting decisions away from the voters, party officials said yesterday.

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party yesterday sent a letter to the NEC, accusing it of editing out important parts – including images of a woman being beaten by police during an eviction – of two campaign videos that were aired by state-run National Television Kampuchea (TVK) on Tuesday.

“The Sam Rainsy Party is very shocked and finds it deeply regrettable that the NEC has cut out pictures and words from the SRP campaign video without a discussion beforehand,” SRP’s letter to the NEC said.

“The NEC shows that it is biased and willing to cover up the cruelty of the ruling party.”

Under electoral campaign rules, the opposition Sam Rainsy Party and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party were both allocated two 30-minute slots on TVK on Tuesday to campaign for votes in the upcoming Senate elections to be held on January 29.

សម រង្ស៊ី អន្ទងសមាជិក-សមាជិកា ក្រុម ប្រឹក្សា ឃុំ-សង្កាត់ គណបក្សហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច និង គណបក្ស នរោត្ដម រណឫទ្ធិ បោះឆ្នោតឱ្យខ្លួន

Wednesday, 11 January 2012
ដោយ ៖ សយ សុភា
DAP-news

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ មេដឹកនាំគណបក្សសម រង្ស៊ី ដែលកំពុងស្ថិតនៅក្នុងសភាពនិរទេសខ្លួន បាន អំពាវនាវឱ្យសមាជិក-សមាជិកា ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា ឃុំ-សង្កាត់ មកពីគណបក្សហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច និង គណបក្ស នរោត្ដម រណឫទ្ធិ បោះឆ្នោតឱ្យគណ បក្សសម រង្ស៊ី នៅក្នុងការបោះឆ្នោតជ្រើសតាំង សមាជិកព្រឹទ្ធសភា ដែលគ្រោងធ្វើថ្ងៃទី២៩ ខែមករា ខាងមុខនេះ ។

នៅក្នុងលិខិតផ្ញើជូនសមាជិក-សមាជិកា គណបក្សទាំងពីរ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បានរំលឹកអំពី ដើមកំណើតរបស់ គណបក្សទាំងបី រួមទាំង គណបក្សសម រង្ស៊ី ខ្លួនឯងថា ជាគណបក្ស ចេញពីប្រភព កំណើតគណបក្ស ហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិចតែមួយថា ។ “ យើងជា គណបក្ស ចេញមកពីគ្រួសារអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិ ខ្មែរអ្នកតស៊ូ ខ្មែរដែល មាន ព្រលឹងជាខ្មែរ និង មានឈាមជ័រជាខ្មែរពិតប្រាកដ ខ្មែរដែលប្ដេជ្ញា តស៊ូដើម្បីការពារជាតិ មាតុភូមិ របស់ខ្លួន ”។

Campaign season: SRP seeks Funcinpec, NRP votes

Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

In the fourth day of the Senate campaign, opposition Sam Rainsy Party yesterday called on council members from rival parties to help the SRP gain seats in the upcoming election.

In a statement issued by exiled leader Sam Rainsy, the SRP called on Funcinpec and the NRP to vote for SRP lawmakers in the January 29 election since those parties are fielding no candidates.

“Because Funcinpec and NRP have no candidates standing for Senate election, I believe that you should clearly cast the ballot for the SRP,” Rainsy said in the statement.

“Only the SRP can challenge the ruling CPP in the Senate election.”

SRP MP Kuoy Bunroeun asks the NEC to re-broadcast the original TV spots prepared by the SRP

លោក គួយ ប៊ុនរឿន អ្នកតំណាងរាស្រ្ត ស្នើអគ្គលេខាធិការរង គ.ជ.ប ឲ្យចាក់ ផ្សាយ ស្ប៉តវីដេអូ ច្បាប់ដើម ទាំងពីរ របស់ គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី ឡើងវិញ សូមអាន

ខុទ្ទកាល័យគណបក្ស

Sam Rainsy hopes to win in the upcoming election

Sam Rainsy meeting with commune councilors and candidates in Battambang Province in preparation for the provincial/district council election (Photo: SRP)

11 May 2009
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that he hopes his party will be successful in the upcoming 17 May non-universal election to elect city, province and district councilors.

At the same time, Sam Rainsy declared that, even if next week’s election is non-universal, this is an opportunity for his party members to move forward to serve in national institutions in larger number.

Sam Rainsy said: “This is an opportunity for those who love justice to stand up to defend the people who are victimized from injustice. This is better than nothing. We want to see a universal election, i.e. voters who can cast their ballots directly to elect their representatives at the village, commune, district, province and national levels. However, now, we are not obtaining our wish yet, but what has been organized already up to now, we must take this opportunity to allow the representatives of the people who have a clear standing to occupy positions at the city, province and district levels.”

This is the first time that Cambodia organizes a non-universal election to select councilors for cities, provinces and districts. Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), indicated that there will 215 election booths, the election will see 4 parties competing: the CPP, the SRP, Funcinpec and the NRP.

Only commune councilors can vote in this non-universal election. That is why civil society groups declared that the outcome of the election is already known in advance: the CPP will win because it has the largest number of commune councilors.

Nevertheless, Sam Rainsy claimed that his party will win votes also: “Not only do I hope for it, I am confident because the ruling party is using their money power, but the SRP is counting on the people’s will. I am confident that the willpower will win over the power of money, therefore the SRP will receive good results that reflect nationalism, that reflect the love for justice by elected councilors in the entire country.”

The total number of candidates and reserve candidates amounts to 17,290.

Ka-set's Pi Nis Pi Nous: Politics? A matter of dates …

23 July 2008
By Ka-Set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the original article in French
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

On Tuesday 22 July, the Human Rights Party (HRP) organized at its party headquarters a religious ceremony to free all the citizens from the “forced” election promises they made to other parties in exchange for gifts. The objective was to “free” the voters so they can vote for the party of their choice. In front of about 300 participants and HRP leaders, the ceremony went on under the direction of a dynamic “achar” (Master of Ceremony). “Long life the Human Rights Party! Vote for the HRP and support the candidacy of Kem Sokha for premiership!” the achar shouted under the public clapping. The achar then said: “And, long life the 07 January!” Some clapping was heard, then a deep silence fell… The HRP president took over the microphone from the achar and made the correction: “Uh, it’s not 07 January [date of the fall of Phnom Penh to the Vietnamese], but 27 July!” Outside of the party headquarters, some were whispering while laughing: “This achar will not get any pay for his performance!”…

Thank Lord Buddha! A one-month reprieve from Hun Sen's invectives

PM distances himself from CPP electoral campaign

Thursday, 05 June 2008
The Mekong Times

“Don’t beat other people’s head until their heads are fractured” - Hun Sen's advice to CPP members

Prime Minister Hun Sen, the deputy president of the Cambodian People’s Party (CCP), announced yesterday that he will not join the Jun 26-Jul 25 electoral campaign as he wants to avoid “confrontation.”

“From Jun 26, my voice will be no longer heard,” he said at a speech in Takeo province, “[I want] to avoid confrontation with other [leaders].”

He added that he was unafraid of criticism from other politicians. “To win or lose is one thing, and we want to gain victory. But what’s more important is that the election must be held freely, justly, and non-violently.”

Hun Sen appealed to CPP members to avoid causing any problems with other parties. “Please, CPP members, adhere to a [Buddhist] Dharma of patience. People have the right to have their own beliefs and support their own party’s leadership.”

“Don’t beat other people’s head until their heads are fractured,” advised the premier. “File a legal complaint instead.”

Monarchy remains politically divisive issue for election

Tuesday, 03 June 2008
Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times

In what many saw as an assault on the Royalist support base ahead of election campaigning, Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday appealed for King Sihamoni to ban political parties from using the monarchy in campaigning. The request comes after a National Election Committee (NEC) prohibition on campaign references to the retired monarch Norodom Sihanouk, including photos, words and messages.

“I would like to appeal to the King to … stop political parties from using the monarchy as their own possession,” the premier said yesterday during a Siem Reap address.

The premier said that problems begin “when royalist parties cannot win the common people’s children ... They are always using the former King.”

“We want to protect monarchy but they destroy it,” he added.

The premier’s remarks were supported by Prince Sisowath Thomico, a member of the Cambodian royal family. “[I]f we cite the monarchy during campaigning, some Cambodian groups will no longer support the monarchy,” he said. “To avoid rejection and to show Cambodian people are unified and have a consensus on the monarchy, we mustn’t talk about the monarchy when campaigning.”

Muth Chantha, a spokesman for the royalist Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), totally rejected Hun Sen’s statement. He said he opposed the NEC’s ban because “monarchism belongs to all Cambodian people.”

“We are the NRP, the royalist party, and we have a bigger obligation than the CPP in protecting monarchism, because we do not want the Kingdom of Cambodia to become a second Nepal,” he said. “We intend to maintain constitutional monarchism.”

Keo Puthreasmy, president of the pro-royalist Funcinpec, said that while “Funcinpec adheres to the politics of monarchism … when conducting field visits, we do not use the name of the King to campaign.”

“We just remind [people of] the history of forming Funcinpec. Funcinpec also adheres to policies based on Sihanoukist policies and Sihanoukist leadership, like the policies of various countries adhere in the rest of the world,” he said. “It does not mean that the ex-King [Norodom Sihanouk] is involved in politics in Funcinpec.”

Thun Saray, director of local human rights group Adhoc, said political parties often twist monarchism to fit their own political ends. “What the civil society wants is a free and fair election,” he added.

Tep Nytha, NEC secretary general, warned that the NEC would take legal action if any party violates election rules.

Voters: "If anyone makes an empty promise, I will not vote for them any more"

K'Cham Voters Wary of False Promises

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Orignal report from Kampong Cham province
02 June 2008

Click here to listen to the program in Khmer

Rural voters in Kampong Cham province say they will not tolerate broken promises from campaigning officials, and they are waiting to hear from parties in the official election campaign period before making their decision.

The villagers, from O Raing Au district, told VOA Khmer they were tired of empty political promises that were never followed up on once ballots were cast.

"How can I believe?" asked Chab Noy, a farmer with nine children. "There are people who just talk, but no people who respect promises."

Nam Sophal, a motorcycle taxi driver in Ampil Tapok commune, said he was waiting to see what politicians will say in the campaign period, but he wasn't optimistic that words would lead to action.

"Any party is the same," he said. "Just promise to do this, to do that, and then never apply."

Grocer Hai Meng Kong said any politician breaking a promise was risking losing a supporter.

"If anyone makes an empty promise," he said, "I will not vote for them any more."

Hun Sen, a former communist, is worried about the specter of "class struggle" resurrection

Comrade Akkak Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho Hun Sen (L)

Hun Sen: Stop the campaign that leads to class division

Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

On Monday, prime minister Hun Sen called on all parties to stop using the (election) campaign to create class division between the merchants and the poor. Hun Sen considered such campaign to be unreasonable. Hun Sen said that past experience had clearly shown about the danger stemming from group painting (classification), the division of class, and the elimination of classes. He said that now, the shadow of class struggle starts to appear once again as the election campaign is approaching. Hun Sen stressed that considering the rich people, the investors, the merchants and industrialists as enemies is a sign of danger. However, he said that this theory will not be successful as it was under the Pol Pot regime. Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, said that, currently, there is no class division anymore, and nobody is attacking the rich in their campaign. However, Eng Chhay Eang said that: “People talked about the oppressors, the profiteers who are taking advantage of the poor people only. Right now, we talked about the democracy goals, the legal goals. Those who are doing business according to the law have nothing to worry about.”

Hun Sen apologizes for violent land dispute in Sihanoukville ... it is election season alright!

Man shot three times by government cops guarding the private Thai Bun Rong company land will receive $750 in compensation. One has to wonder if he would receive anything should there be no upcoming election (Photo: Ta Som, Koh Santepheap)

Land conflict turned violent: Hun Sen apologizes

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Prime minister Hun Sen made a surprise visit to Sihanoukville on Monday 24 march. He arrived by helicopter in the afternoon, after a violent land conflict took place earlier.

On 20 March, in Commune No. 3 of Sihanoukville, a man, who was participating in a protest movement, was shot three times by a cop. The villagers were demonstrating against the construction of a fence by the Thai Bun Rong Company which is also the owner of the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh. According to the villagers, the fence trespasses on their lands. Tension rose and led to the shooting. Four other demonstrators were arrested and the injured man was transported to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen visited the area personally to “clearly find out about the events.” In front of the villagers gathered on the disputed land, Hun Sen “apologized to the villagers for providing bad advise to his personnel.” He directly blamed the local authorities “which prevented the villagers from protesting while authorizing the company to built its fence.” He ordered the release of the 4 demonstrators and compensated them with $300 each. The man who was shot will receive $750 in compensation.

Another gesture by Hun Sen: out of the 92-hectare of lands rented by the state by the company, Hun Sen decided to provide 16-hectare to the villagers: 14-hectare for building the village and the remaining 2-hectare for building infrastructures needed by the villagers.

Son Chhay: “There is a possibility that [Hun Sen] might be voted out of office in the near future, so he has to say something good..."

21st March 2008
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
(on the web at http://khmerization.blogspot.com)

The prime minister has declared that he will move the Army Command Headquarter outside of the capital to make way for a construction of a hospital: that is to transform a war zone into peace.

Speaking in an inauguration ceremony of Royal Rattanak Hospital in Phnom Penh on the 20th March, Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) said that the transformation of an Army Command Headquarter into a hospital is to make the city a safe place, a tourism site, a cultural site and a comfort site.

The PM said: “This land is very huge and very beautiful. The Army Command Headquarter was located there since the French colonial period. And I want to transform a war zone, a killing zone into a fine hospital. So, please help me to check out the place, if we can put the hospital there it would be nice. It is a junction, the ground is very nice and that land, if we offer the buyer for $30 million they will buy it without hesitation. Not only $30 million, even $50 million they will buy it. But we will not sell it because it is an historic site where we will transform it from war into peace.”

The PM reiterated that: “The issue of school lands and hospital lands must be preserved because, perhaps in the future, we have the money to build them but we don’t have the lands in which to build them on.”

This declaration was made following the launching of the construction phase of a 42-story Gold Tower, which will be the tallest building in Phnom Penh, and which is located at the site of the old Cambodian-Chinese Friendship Hospital.

In relation to the prime minister’s speech, an opposition MP from the Sam Rainsy Party, Mr. Son Chhay, has criticised the PM’s word as good for listening in order to canvass votes. In reality, many of the state land sites had already been sold.

Mr Son Chhay said: “There is a possibility that he might be voted out of office in the near future, so he has to say something good to persuade the people to change their mind and their stance.”

The president of the Cambodian Economic Association, Mr. Chan Sophal, spoke in support of Prime Minister’s declaration by explaining that, at present, state properties are getting less and less, so it is best that there is a measure to prevent the sales.

In Funcinpec Hun Sen trusts

2008 General Election: Hun Sen “wants to pursue the alliance with Funcinpec”

08-10-2007
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The head of the government launched into the election campaign by revealing some of his desires in the event of a victory by the CPP during the upcoming general election.

The prime minister, while reacting to the declaration made by opposition leader Sam Rainsy, has revealed on Monday 08 October, during a distribution of university diplomas, some of his election program. Sam Rainsy promised that, if he wins, he “would lower the price of gasoline,” in order to attract votes from the underprivileged. Hun Sen counter-attacked by claiming that the victory of his party, the CPP, would allow him to remain prime minister and, thus, to improve the salary of government employees by 20% (increase) each year, starting from 2009.

Hun Sen also revealed his scenario for the management of the country in the future. Hun Sen affirmed that “the CPP would never abandon its ally, the Funcinpec.” He added further, aiming at the SRP: “talking about a coalition government, if you win the election, you will have to govern by yourself. No. The alliance with the Funcinpec only is sufficient for us.” Hun Sen indicated “that he will only work with the current Funcinpec.”

Reacting to Hun Sen’s remarks, Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, explained that the formation of the government depends on the verdict of the popular votes. Whether the SRP would join the CPP in case the CPP victory, Eng Chhay Eang said that “it is too early to speculate on such a case.”

Hun Sen failed to mention that his cronies and relatives control the distribution of gasoline in Cambodia

Cambodian prime minister criticizes OPEC

Mon, 08 Oct 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen railed at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Monday in response to recent attacks by political opponents at home over the country's high cost of gasoline. The price of gasoline hovers at just above a dollar a litre in an impoverished nation where hundreds of thousands of people earn less than a dollar a day.

"A few days ago there was a man who claimed he would decrease the price of gasoline (by 25 per cent) if he won the election. For me, if OPEC decreased the price of oil to 25 dollars a barrel, I will decrease the price of gasoline (by 50 per cent) or more," Hun Sen told a graduation ceremony in the capital.

"The best way is to ensure political stability in Cambodia first," he added.

The comments appeared to be a direct swipe at opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who held an informal meal catering to hundreds of the capital's thousands of motorbike taxi drivers at his Sam Rainsy Party headquarters last week and criticized the country's hefty petrol prices.

World oil prices are currently hovering at around the 80 dollar per barrel mark, and OPEC countries keep a tight reign on prices.

Campaigning for next year's general election is officially still months away, but political parties have increasingly moved into election mode, with inflation and the cost of living already emerging as key issues.

OPEC consists of Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

The group is estimated to produce about 40 per cent of the world's oil but to hold more than 77 per cent of the world's proved oil reserves. OPEC also claims nearly all of the world's excess oil production capacity.

Although Cambodia is expected to tap into its own potentially lucrative offshore oil reserves by the end of the decade, it currently remains totally dependent on imports, with inflation running at 4.7 per cent in 2006, according to the Ministry of Finance.

SRP election campaign in Phnom Penh

Campaigning over, voting day to come for Cambodian 2nd local election

March 31, 2007

Cambodian political parties call an end on Friday for their 15-day campaign from March 16 to March 30 for the commune councils election.

During this period of time, the four main political parties, namely the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), Funcinpec Party, Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), used hundreds of cars for election campaign.

They spoke with loudspeakers on the cars about policies of their parties and what they will do if they win this election, while some party members distributed leaflets about their parties.

Altogether 7,799,371 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots on April 1 and official announcement of the results will be made on April 24.

"The commune councils election campaign of Cambodia in this second term has lasted smoothly and had a good process in common according to our arrangement," Secretary General of the NEC Tep Nytha said at a press conference.

Tep Nytha said that they had 50 complaints from political parties, including six cases for threat, 16 cases for disturbing, 14 cases for cursing and using bad words, four cases for conducting election campaign in wrong time, three cases for giving gifts and seven cases for tearing down the leaflets in campaign.

"In the 2002 commune councils election, we had 144 complaints from political parties. So this time (the number) reduced," he said.

Meanwhile, Kol Panha, head of election observation organization, Comfrel, told Xinhua that in fact, there were some irregularities during the election campaign but they were not serious ones.
This week, Cambodian King Sihamoni said in his rare statement that he appealed to all people to vote without fear, threat and pressure from any political parties.

In addition, Honorary President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Heng Samrin said this week that his party will win 90 percent in this election because Cambodian people knew the CPP and knew clearly about the party's principles.

A supporter of the CPP, Nean Cheang from Chak Tuk Mok commune in Phnom Penh city, told Xinhua on Friday that he will vote for the CPP because the CPP helped poor people."I have supported the CPP for more than 20 years," he said.

Sam Rainsy, president of the SRP, said that if his commune council members win this election, they will not take money from issuing death certificates, birth certificates and wedding certificates and that if they corrupt, they will be fired.

"We will deal with the illegal land grabbing by top people," he said, adding that they will get justice for the poor and increase salary of laborers.

Muth Chantha, spokesman of the NRP, said that even their president Ranariddh did not stay with them because he was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail for "injustice," but members of the party have worked hard and tare all solidaric.

Ranariddh could speak during the election campaign through tapes and messages, Muth Chantha said, adding that the NRP will fight with the corruption in present commune councils and that it is a royalist party.

Nov Sowathearo, spokesman of the Funcinpec party, said that his party is a co-ruling party in the government, adding that the Funcinpec party contributed to the present achievements of Cambodia in cooperation with the CPP.

According to official statistics, 102,266 candidates from 12 political parties will compete for 11,353 seats in 1,621 communes nationwide, during Cambodia's second ever commune councils election.

Source: Xinhua

Cambodian NEC satisfied with "smooth" electoral campaign [- Do you agree with this statement?]

March 31, 2007

The National Election Committee (NEC) of Cambodia was satisfied with the 15-day electoral campaign from March 16 to March 30 for the commune councils election, NEC officials said in Phnom Penh on Friday.

"The commune councils election campaign of Cambodia in this second term has lasted smoothly and had a good process in common according to our arrangement," Tep Nytha, Secretary General of the NEC, said at a press conference.

The NEC drew this conclusion according to real situation in Cambodia and not politically biased, he added.

Tep Nytha said that they had 50 complaints from political parties, including 6 cases for threat, 16 cases for disturbing, 14 cases for cursing and using bad words, 4 cases for conducting election campaign in wrong time, 3 cases for giving gifts and 7 cases for tearing down the leaflets in campaign.

"In the 2002 commune councils election, we had 144 complaints from political parties. So this time (the number) reduced," he said.

There were 327 national reporters from 40 organizations and 103 foreign reporters from 19 institutions who were registered to cover this election, said a press release from NEC.

Tep Nytha added that they have 19,353 national election observers and 235 international observers who have registered at NEC already.

Meanwhile, Muth Chantha, spokesman for Cambodia's Norodom Ranariddh Party, said at the press conference that the smooth process of election campaign is "biased smoothly" to the ruling parties.

An official from Cambodian Sam Rainsy Party said that the name of a woman in Sihanoukville city was canceled from the election list of NEC but that woman is still alive while the chief of commune told the NEC that she was dead.

"In that case, she automatically could not vote in this election and she needs to wait next election," Tep Nytha said, adding that the chief of the commune "will be fired or punished by law".

In addition, Kol Panha, head of election observation organization, Comfrel, told Xinhua that in fact there were some irregularities during the election campaign but they were not serious ones.

According to official statistics, 102,266 candidates from 12 political parties will compete for 11,353 seats in 1,621 communes nationwide, during Cambodia's second ever commune councils election.

Altogether 7,799,371 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots on April 1 and official announcement of the results will be made on April 24.

Source: Xinhua

Heng Samrin: CPP is faultless

Pro-Hun Sen supporters jump from their truck to attack opposition protesters during a parade through the streets of Phnom Penh (circa 1997).

30 March 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

While 2 major parties, the SRP and NRP, are complaining about the violence and intimidations committed by CPP party members against its activists during the last 10 days of the election campaign, Hen Samrin, the president of the National Assembly and CPP honorary president, said that the CPP did not commit anything wrong. The Cambodia Daily reported Heng Samrin’s claim in today’s edition. He also said that the complaints brought up by other political parties, claiming that the CPP violated the election law, is not true. He said that these complaints are only political pretext, and that CPP activists never use violence. He added that violence during the election campaign is normal and it is caused by personal dispute.

Campaign Period Comes to Roaring End

VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
30/03/2007

[Editor's note: For full audio to VOA Khmer's coverage of this story, scroll throughout. (Real Media Player required)]

Fifteen days of slogans and shouting, mayhem and motorcades across the country came to an end Friday, with mass political rallies in many cities and continued allegations of irregularities and abuse.

Saturday was expected to be calm, as the nation readies itself for a long day of voting Sunday, when more than 100,000 candidates from 12 different parties will be whittled down to small councils in 1,621 communes.

Reporters for VOA Khmer spread across the country, checking in as each party made a final bid to woo local voters. Commune councils are meant to take some of the decision-making out of the hands of central government. But the ruling Cambodian People's Party has said it expects to win a sweeping majority, and commune councils often take marching orders from the national leadership.

To listen to Part One in Khmer, click here.

To listen to Part Two in Khmer, click here.

In Phnom Penh, opposition leader Sam Rainsy led party supporters through the streets in a mass nighttime rally that lasted until midnight. No campaigning will be allowed on Saturday, so this was the last night for candidates to convince nearly 8 million voters they would serve them best. VOA Khmer followed the rally for a live report.

To listen to Mean Veasna report in Khmer, click here.

Voters in Bantey Meanchey saw a major rally at a CPP headquarters, although the other three main parties were relatively quiet. But the CPP was facing accusations in the province it had distributed up to 2 million fake ballots. Observers said these were intended to frighten voters into selecting candidates from the ruling party in the real election Sunday, potentially swaying tens of thousands of votes. A National Election Committee official said the mock ballots were a means of educating voters.

To listen to Kong Soth report in Khmer, click here.

The CPP was also facing accusations Friday it had forced villagers to put their fingerprints to a promise to vote for the ruling party. Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said he had not received a complaint but would forward any allegations of abuse to the NEC.

To listen to Suon Kanika report in Khmer, click here.

Sam Rainsy Party supporters in Kampong Thom province told VOA Friday that members of a Provincial Election Committee overstepped their neutral bounds when they interfered with an opposition rally. PEC officials said they were working to ensure large rallies from different parties near a market did not clash.

To listen to Heng Reaksmey report in Khmer, click here.