The Hindu : Violence feared in Cambodia poll campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

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Violence feared in Cambodia poll campaign

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) JUNE 25. As candidates prepare for a month-long run-up to Cambodia's national elections, observers say the country could face more political violence.

The official campaign period for the July 27 poll starts on Thursday. Some 6.2 million voters in this war-ravaged nation will choose a new legislature to appoint a government for the next five years.

Critics and observers say the election process has already been blotted by violence and intimidation against opponents of the Prime Minister, Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party. They have also accused the Government of restricting media access to Opposition parties. So far, there have been fewer political killings than in the past. But ``killing is killing,'' said Kek Galabru, the director of an election monitoring group known as NICFEC. ``You cannot stop people from being scared.'' She said at least 11 activists have been killed since January, including Opposition backers and at least three CPP supporters. Kol Panha, director of another watchdog, COMFREL, noted that 48 activists were slain during the last election in 1998. He said despite fewer killings in the current campaign, the climate is still ``precarious'' and ``risky.'' Meanwhile, candidates have scheduled countryside tours, printed millions of leaflets and booked television airtime ahead of campaigning. Foreign Governments have pressured Cambodian authorities to ensure free and equal access to broadcast media, a key campaigning tool.

Leng Sochea, spokesman for the National Election Committee, said each party will get 10 minutes of airtime through 13 television and radio stations daily. ``There is going to be a fierce fight among the parties, but I'll wait and see who I will like most,'' said a housewife. It will be Cambodia's third national election. The country first held multiparty elections in 1993 under a U.N. peacekeeping mission, followed by a second election in 1998. — AP

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