With the dust now settled after last month’s commune elections, Southeast Asia Globe asked experts what to expect in the lead-up to next year’s crucial polls
Cambodia’s ruling party came out on top in last month’s local elections, winning 70% of communes and 51% of the popular vote, But the continued gains made by the opposition were perhaps just as significant. We asked experts what to expect in the run-up to next year’s national elections.
Cham BunthetPolitical Analyst
Can the opposition CNRP capitalise on this result?
They [must understand that] they are not just building trust with their own supporters – they need to build trust with the opposite side as well, so that when [the CNRP] win, the [CPP] are safe. [Otherwise] I don’t think the ruling party will give up power even if they lose the election. They will fight to the last man to make sure that they remain in power.
David TanBusiness and policy adviser
What would a potential change in government mean for investors both locally and internationally?
The business community in general would expect any government that is produced of 2018 elections would remain business-friendly as Cambodia has a lot on her plate to compete regionally with the neighbouring countries in competitiveness in the hunt of foreign direct investment.
Koul PanhaElection monitor
What can Cambodians do to push for a free election in 2018?
Young people will keep demanding their freedom. A political agenda on economic issues is very important, but many people still demand freedom of expression and the genuine democratic process that Cambodia really needs. Social media has given them a lesson – that they’re able to use that freedom to influence the government.
Chak SopheapHuman rights advocate
What’s your main worry leading up to the poll?
It remains a serious concern that the Cambodian government may continue its crackdown on the political opposition in the lead-up to the national elections next year. With the newly amended Law on Political Parties in force, and the arbitrary powers it gives to government institutions, the coming year is likely to throw up even more challenges to the opposition.
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HOW TO SAVE CAMBODIA FROM BECOMING A PART OF VIETNAM ?
Hun Sen had risen to power by strictly following Yuon's orders to bring down his own leader Pen Sovann, who refused to implement Vietnam's policies such as the deadly K5 project.
People are still wondering how many thousands of Khmer people did Hun Sen kill in order to convince his master Yuon that he will be a forever faithful slave to Vietnam and put him in power to replace Pen Sovann?
If we follow all the critical events that Hun Sen had created to destroy his opponents, we could clearly understand that Hun Sen is an exceptional ruthless tyrant. Hun Sen is far worse than any tyrants in the world. He has never hesitated to destroy Cambodia, to violently suppress Khmer people to satisfy his master Vietnam's ambitions to annex Cambodia.
For instance, the destruction of Khmer natural resource, condoning millions of Vietnamese migrants to fill Khmer land, the 99 years massive land concessions to Vietnam including the strategic area of Phnom Bokor, the 2005 supplemental treaty with Vietnam, etc...are undeniably Hun Sen's traitorous acts. Additionally, he has put the "triangle area" under Vietnam's control already.
The result of the 2017 recent communal election proved that the CNRP is still a party for Khmer people. And that prompted Hun Sen and Yuon to amend again the party law.
This newly amended party law will further infuriate and alienate Khmer people - sinking the CPP in a deeper hole.
So far, with its reputation remains intact, the CNRP will have a good chance to win this next election. To ensure the win, the CNRP should try to get the international community to help monitoring this 2018 election.
After the NEC declares that the winner is the CNRP, Khmer people must be mentally prepared and ready to mount a nationwide peaceful demonstration if the loser CPP refuses to transfer the power to the winner. And that will be the RIGHT MOMENT for Khmer people to sacrifice their life to save Cambodia from the evil Yuon.
Finally, we must stay united to OFFICIALLY win the 2018 election first, then ready to sacrifice our life to save Cambodia. We need to help ourselves first before the international community could help us.
Bun Thoeun
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