Cambodia bans selling, drinking alcohol during local elections

PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian government has issued a directive to ban selling and drinking of all types of alcohol for two days — a day before the commune election day and the election day, reports China’s Xinhua news agency.

“To prevent violence, intimidation, traffic accidents, and other incidents that can arise from consuming alcohol, the traders and vendors must suspend alcohol sales and the Cambodians and foreigners living in Cambodia must stop drinking alcohol a day before the election day and on the election day from June 3 to 4, said the directive, signed by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

The directive said the prohibition was made in accordance with the Election Law, which aims at ensuring that the forthcoming elections will be held in a free and fair atmosphere without violence and intimidation.

Leaders of ministries, institutions, and the armed forces have been ordered to instruct their subordinates about the ban and advise local authorities to promote the ban to the residents and foreigners in their control areas.

Twelve political parties will contest in the upcoming commune elections, with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) being the major contestants in the elections, according to the National Election Committee (NEC).

The commune elections are to elect commune chiefs and councilors for the kingdom’s 1,646 communes, the NEC said, adding that around 7.87 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots.

Held once every five years, the commune elections are seen as a bellwether of the party’s support ahead of the general elections in July 2018.

In the last commune elections in June 2012, the ruling CPP gained 61.9 per cent of the votes, compared to about 30.6 per cent for the opposition. — Bernama