NEC call for Senate campaigns to stay ‘peaceful, non-violent’
NATIONAL Election Committee (NEC) chairman Prach Chan has appealed to all political parties, candidates, members and supporters to respect the rules and guidelines of the upcoming Senate election. He also called on authorities at all levels to stay neutral and unbiased during the campaign period.
He issued the call on February 7, as the registered candidates and political parties prepare to propagate their political programmes to voters.
The campaign period for the fifth legislature of the Senate is scheduled to run for 14 days, from February 10-23. Four political parties – the ruling Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP), FUNCINPEC, Khmer Will Party (KWP) and Nation Power Party (NPP) – have registered to contest the February 25 election.
In order to ensure that their election campaigns are peaceful, non-violent and safe, Chan called on all political parties, candidates, members and supporters to respect the rules and procedures laid out by the NEC and in the electoral laws.
“We call on all the authorities at all levels to remain neutral and unbiased towards the candidates campaign activities, and ask that they facilitate public spaces and roads, as well as timetables, for each of the parties to publicise their political programmes and conduct election campaign activities equally,” he said.
The committee explained that during the campaign period, each party may conduct two processions, parades or rallies in each constituency.
The NEC expressed hope that all four parties that are contesting the election, as well as the authorities, would heed its calls and behave responsibly, with respect for the law.
Kim Sour Phirith, a candidate for the KWP, supported the NEC message.
“Our party depends mainly on support of the commune council members of the Candlelight Party [CP]. Therefore, the KWP candidates of the KWP would meet with them to discuss our forthcoming campaign,” he said.