News
Minor hiccups at elections
While yesterday’s commune elections went more smoothly than past iterations, they were not free from claims of irregularities, with opposition activists bearing the brunt of the legal punishments. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minor-hiccups-elections
Soldiers appear to have swung seats
Ta Siem, a remote commune in Siem Reap province, yesterday changed hands from the opposition to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party after several hundred soldiers were trucked there from another province to vote. ...
Shaun Turton and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/soldiers-appear-have-swung-seats
Business outlook still positive
Bun Mony, advisor to the Cambodian Microfinance Association (CMA) noted that though the interest rate cap could lower revenue and cut profit margins in the sector, overall neither the election nor the cap would have a lasting impact for the industry. ...
Hor Kimsay and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/business-outlook-still-positive
Independent observers say ‘smooth’ vote still marred by problems
Independent election observers praised Sunday’s running of the nationwide commune elections as largely smooth and peaceful, even while noting a raft of problems, including unauthorized officials at polling sites, intimidated observers and soldiers being brought to vote at some polling stations by the truckload. ...
Ben Sokhean and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/independent-observers-say-smooth-vote-still-marred-by-problems-130973/
Commune elections open
A total of 22,148 polling stations across the country opened their doors to registered voters at 7:00 AM. Some 7.8 million people are registered to vote for chiefs and councilors in more than 1,600 communes, with close to 12 political parties fielding candidates. ...
Cheang Sokha and Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39008/commune-elections-open/
CNRP’s Phnom Penh party head summoned over beating
Police have summoned the CNRP’s top party boss in Phnom Penh to appear for questioning today about a clash between a motorbike driver and a group of opposition supporters campaigning earlier this week in the capital. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrps-phnom-penh-party-head-summoned-over-beating-130855/
Cambodia daily reporters could be summoned after elections
Two Cambodia Daily journalists accused of incitement and violating voters’ rights for asking questions in advance of Sunday’s commune elections in Ratanakkiri province will likely be summoned for questioning after Election Day, a provincial court prosecutor said. ...
Van Roeun
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/second2/cambodia-daily-reporters-summoned-elections-130865/
NGOs under close watch for bias
The Ministry of Interior yesterday warned human rights groups that they are being closely watched for alleged bias towards the opposition CNRP, in a startling move targeting some of the country’s most prominent local NGOs. Ministry of Interior (MoI) spokesman Khieu Sopheak confirmed yesterday that ...
Andrew Nachemson and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ngos-under-close-watch-bias
Experts call on gov’t to encourage garment workers to vote
With the commune elections just around the corner, the government has yet to come up with a plan to help garment workers get to the polls.Many have come forward with concerns that they may be unable to get time off work or be able to ...
Hean Socheata
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/experts-call-on-government-to-encourage-garment-workers-to-vote/3877544.html
TRC: Ensure mobile networks OK
The Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia yesterday urged all mobile operators to ensure that their services remain uninterrupted throughout the remainder of the commune election campaign period and during this weekend’s polling. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38894/trc--ensure-mobile-networks-ok/
Age is no barrier for candidates
Parties competing in the commune elections are pinning their hopes on young candidates winning the popular vote. Nhek Bun Chhay, president of the Khmer National United Party, said his party is focusing on youth candidates, with people aged between 25 and 32 making up 40 percent ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38910/age-is-no-barrier-for-candidates/
Female opposition commune chief hopes to keep her post after elections
In the lead up to June’s commune elections, Sguon Samean, a former Sam Rainsy Party commune chief, say that she is hopeful that people will vote for her again.“I believe in my people. I have hope in my people since they trust me and they ...
Don’t intimidate, law enforcement warned
The Interior Ministry and the National Election Committee have banned all forms of law enforcement from using their power to intimidate or threaten voters during the commune election campaign period.In a joint announcement, the NEC and the ministry said that it was crucial for the ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38748/don---t-intimidate--law-enforcement-warned/
U.S. Democracy promotion group holds political debate in Battambang
Local residents in Battambang town took part in a political debate organized by U.S. Democracy promotion group, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) on Monday ahead of local elections early next month. Attendees asked prospective candidates questions related to citizen’s concerns over unemployment, migration, ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/us-democracy-promotion-group-holds-political-debate-in-battambang/3867567.html
Poll candidates kicked off list
The National Election Committee has barred 88 candidates from standing in the commune elections for a variety of odd reasons. Seven parties have had candidates stood down: the CPP, CNRP, Funcinpec, the Khmer National United Party, the Beehive Social Democratic Party, the League for Democracy Party ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38706/poll-candidates-kicked-off-list/
CPP asks employers to give workers day off to vote
“The CPP encourages all companies, owners of factories to give workers and their staff, particularly those registered to vote in the commune elections, appropriate time off so that they may have a chance to cast their votes,” a letter from the ruling party says. The CPP ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38711/cpp-asks-employers-to-give-workers-day-off-to-vote/
Commune Elections a big test for Hun Sen
Cambodians go to the polls early next month to elect more than 12,000 district officials, but the ballot is also shaping-up as a showdown between the two major parties amid threats of civil war and a crackdown on political dissent in the lead-up to national ...
Luke Hunt
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/commune-elections-a-big-test-for-hun-sen/3866975.html
Hun Sen limits his role in election campaign
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday explained why he will limit his role in commune election campaigning after coming under pressure from his party to help out in Siem Reap. Mr Hun Sen thanked those who wanted to see him campaign in the province but said: “Due ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38707/hun-sen-limits-his-role-in-election-campaign/
CNRP’s use of Rainsy ad draws ban
A CNRP television spot featuring former party president Sam Rainsy may have been rejected on Monday, but the country’s main opposition has found other ways to promote the exiled leader in its campaigning ahead of the June 4 commune elections. ...
Ouch Sony and Brendan O’byrne
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrps-use-of-rainsy-ad-draws-ban-130223/
Kem Ley lives on for Grassroots Democracy Party in elections
After Grassroots Democracy Party (GDP) candidates for the upcoming commune elections took their seats inside the leafy grounds of the party headquarters in Phnom Penh for a pre-election congress on Thursday, they rose to their feet and bowed their heads in remembrance of their founding ...
George Wright and Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kem-ley-lives-grassroots-democracy-party-elections-130233/
CNRP would dismantle Development Ministry
Opposition leader Kem Sokha said on Saturday his party would shutter the Rural Development Ministry and put the savings towards the goal of funding each of Cambodia’s more than 1,600 commune councils with half a million dollars a year if it wins power in 2018. ...
Touch Sokha and Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cnrp-would-dismantle-development-ministry
CPP complains of CNRP march
The CPP has filed a complaint to a commune election committee in Takeo province alleging that a group of CNRP supporters obstructed a ruling party parade of about 400 supporters on Saturday, officials said yesterday. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/second2/cpp-complains-cnrp-march-130163/
Unions reluctant to join CPP
Some unions seem reluctant to answer the CPP’s call for unionised workers to be allowed to join tomorrow’s launch of campaigning for the June 4 commune elections. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38522/unions-reluctant-to-join-cpp/
Commune vote pits CPP roots against CNRP momentum
As the country enters its first campaign period since the CNRP nearly upset the ruling party in 2013, the opposition party believes momentum is on its side. The researchers found that in the three communes they visited, the ruling party was deeply intertwined with the ...
Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/commune-vote-pits-cpp-roots-against-cnrp-momentum-129968/