Foreign parties to observe Cambodia poll

PHNOM PENH: A mishmash of populist and far-right party members from Europe and Asia are serving as election observers in Cambodia’s vote on Sunday while many western governments are keeping their distance after the main opposition was outlawed.

With mainly obscure groups on the ballot the ruling Cambodian People’s Party is all but assured of victory, extending Prime Minister Hun Sen’s 33 years in power and solidifying the drift towards a virtual oneparty state.

Hun Sen backed a crackdown on the political opponents last year. Authorities charged one of its leaders with treason while the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the main opposition party.

The US and EU have declined to send assistance or monitors.

But officials have drawn on participation from observers with ties to the UK Independence Party, Italy’s Fratelli d’italia, a progovernment party in Belarus and India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, among others.

“We’re here for the people, to do this for the people,” said Richard Wood, who stood for parliament in 2015 for UKIP.

He dismissed questions about whether their presence might legitimise a poll tainted by the lack of choice for those who supported the opposition.

“It’s not my position to say who’s who and what’s what,” he said. “I’m here for one reason only, to make sure that I observe.” — AFP