Top monk urges support for ruling party

Soth Koemsoeun | Publication date 13 December 2017 | 18:08 ICT

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A monk places his vote at Sisowath High School’s ballot station in Phnom Penh during the 2013 national election. Hong Menea

Cambodia’s top monk, Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, urged his subordinates today to vote for the ruling Cambodian People's Party, while explaining that the 2018 national election has already been decided.

“We are alive until now because of the solidarity of the government … We need to consider the many good points of the government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen,” Vong said at a national conference for monks at Chaktomuk Hall today.

Vong urged the gathered monks to think carefully about what the ruling party has provided before voting.

“The CPP’s principles are highly valuable and they are the lives of our nation. Further, the CPP has developed human resources, natural resources, and the environment,” he said.

“The [opposition] party has never won the election and it should not try anymore because it is arranged already. The winner and loser are assigned already,” Vong added.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the only viable competitor to the CPP. For years, Vong has argued that monks, often seen as leaning towards the CNRP, should not have the right to vote.

Sam Kuntheamy, director of election watchdog Nicfec, raised concerns about Vong’s comments.

“They can choose any party they like,” he said, adding that the “chief monk is supposed to be neutral”.

Updates to follow.

Additional reporting by Andrew Nachemson