Supporters of election boycott face fines

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian interior minister Sar Kheng said individuals advocating for a boycott of July 29 elections could face a fine of up to US$5,000 (RM20,300) for what he claimed violated a law against obstructing voters, local media reported on Monday.

“It’s not a serious crime, so authorities cannot make arrests,” Kheng said on Sunday, according to the Khmer Times. “We can only fine them.” The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, is expected to easily sweep the elections since its only viable challenger, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was outlawed by court order last year at the government’s request.

CNRP leaders – many of whom fled the country amid a broader government crackdown on the opposition, media and civil society – have called for an election boycott in protest.

Five former CNRP officials were accused by a local ruling party official last week of violating the election law after Chea Chiv, an opposition member, posted a photo on Facebook showing 30 ex-CNRP officials holding up a “clean finger” to symbolise that their digit would not be inked on election day.

Indelible ink is used to show if someone has voted in order to prevent fraud.

Legal expert Sok Sam Oeun said he understood obstruction to mean an act of preventing someone from voting, although verbally promoting a boycott in person could be interpreted as a physical act in some cases.

Sam Oeun did not think the CNRP photo constituted an act of obstruction. – dpa