Khmer Circle:
It's been said that if voting changes anything they would have abolished it. Cambodia is an exception to this principle: one of the world's longest ruling regimes instead abolished only its strongest and nearest competitor for strong showings in rigged elections.
The regime itself is the living legacy of Vietnam's invasion of December 1978 to deny the country its de facto national leadership, self-determination, independence and sovereignty. At least, in this regard Cambodia fares worse than the likes of Myanmar or even N Korea with her future and fate out of her own hands.
^^^
June 6, 20229:27 AM GMT+1Last Updated 3 hours ago
By Prak Chan Thul
2 minute read
By Prak Chan Thul
2 minute read
Campaign rally for upcoming local elections in Cambodia
Supporters of the opposition party, Candlelight Party, wave flags as they take part in a campaign rally for the upcoming local elections on June 5, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia May 21, 2022. REUTERS/Prak Chan Thul
PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Reuters) - Cambodia's ruling party scored a landslide win in local commune elections although a new opposition party gained more posts than expected, official results showed on Monday.
Communes are Cambodia's lowest administrative division but the vote is viewed as a bellwether for parliamentary elections due next year. Supporters of the new Candlelight Party hailed its gains as a return to democracy, but also accused the ruling party of intimidation and cheating, which the party denied.
With nearly all votes counted, the National Election Committee (NEC) said the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had won 80% of 11,622 commune councillor positions, while the opposition Candlelight Party took 18%.
The CPP previously controlled 95% of the posts.
Supporters of the opposition party, Candlelight Party, wave flags as they take part in a campaign rally for the upcoming local elections on June 5, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia May 21, 2022. REUTERS/Prak Chan Thul
PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Reuters) - Cambodia's ruling party scored a landslide win in local commune elections although a new opposition party gained more posts than expected, official results showed on Monday.
Communes are Cambodia's lowest administrative division but the vote is viewed as a bellwether for parliamentary elections due next year. Supporters of the new Candlelight Party hailed its gains as a return to democracy, but also accused the ruling party of intimidation and cheating, which the party denied.
With nearly all votes counted, the National Election Committee (NEC) said the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had won 80% of 11,622 commune councillor positions, while the opposition Candlelight Party took 18%.
The CPP previously controlled 95% of the posts.
NEC chief Prach Chan said the turnout was 77.91 percent of 9.2 million registered voters.
The Candlelight Party largely regroups the former main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) that was dissolved by a court before the last parliamentary elections. Its members and supporters are among hundreds of people who have been jailed for sedition under a widespread government crackdown. read more
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has run the country for 37 years, and the CPP have faced international condemnation for their actions.
Son Chhay, vice president of Candlelight Party, has said it hopes to win as many local government positions as possible in the hopes of gaining representation on the national level next year.
Opposition supporter and former CNRP chief, Sam Rainsy, said on Twitter the results showed the Candlelight Party had successfully revived democracy in what has effectively been a one-party state in recent years.
"Today, thanks to the courage and intelligence of Cambodian democrats who refuse to give up their struggle, the monopoly of power exercised by Hun Sen has been broken at the local level, despite the unjust character of these communal elections," said Rainsy, who lives in exile in France.
CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan denied allegations made by the opposition of intimidation and cheating, saying the ruling party had won because it had "served the people well".
Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky
2 comments:
we knew that ah yuon's slave Hun Sen would do whatever necessary to hold on to power so that he could serve his master Yuon.
But we have no choice. We must participate in the election to keep the spirit of nationalism, and the movement for democracy alive.
Hopefully, Ah Roleuy Hun Sen would die this year or next year. Then we would see some light on our struggle.
The popular revolution or the struggle with arms would empower Ah Chker Chkuot Hun Sen and the evil Vietnam to massively kill Khmer people one more time. In addition, the chance to win in the revolution is absolutely zero.
Don't worry, there will be another election in 5 years.
The same idiots will participate in the next election, the same idiots will surely lose the election, and the same idiots will complain about cheating, violence and intimidation. The idiot cycle continues for a long time to come.
The definition of an idiot is someone who is trying to do the same thing over and over again and expect to have a different result. Congratulations Cambodia! You have done it again!
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