Cambodian election body warns against polls boycott
PHNOM National warned to election boycott that or the Election otherwise PENH: anyone upcoming urging Cambodia’s interfere Committee general voters in the charges to a boycott polls and could call be fined, by the face in head response criminal of the tion country’s Sam party. Rainsy, now-dissolved the self-exiled opposi- leader National of what Rescue had been Party, the Cambodia said that over not vote the if weekend his party voters is not allowed should to contest the July 29 election.
The party was dissolved in November by a court order after
the government filed a complaint
alleging it was involved in trea
sonous activities.
All of its lawmakers were tossed out of parliament and party leaders have been subject to legal harassment, with one founder in exile and the other in jail awaiting trial on a treason charge.
“I call on all my Cambodian compatriots who believe in democracy to boycott the 29 July election if the CNRP is not allowed to participate,” Sam Rainsy said on his Facebook page.
“I also call on national and international observers to refrain from observing an electoral farce with a foregone conclusion.”
The moves against the opposition, along with a crackdown on the media that has silenced almost all critical voices inside the country, is seen as an effort by the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen to ensure that it prevails at the polls, after signs of softening support in the last general election in 2013 and local elections last year.
The statement from the National Election Committee took note that “some individuals” urged voters and observers to boycott the election, having described it as illegitimate.
It said the planned participation of many small parties proved that the polls were legitimate and allowed opposition.
Critics have charged that the parties that plan to take part are either small or irrelevant, or creations manipulated by Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
The statement warned that any people appealing to voters not to turn out to vote or cause trouble to the election process could be fined between five million riel (RM4,839) and 20 million riel (RM19,357), along with criminal penalties it did not specify.
Sok Eysan, the spokesman for Hun Sen’s ruling party, said the appeal by Sam Rainsy was useless and the voters will go to vote as normal, with at least 10 political parties taking part in the election.
“I have no worry at all in regard to the appeal of Sam Rainsy calling for the Cambodian people to boycott the election,” he said.