The Ministry of Interior has warned against any form of intimidation by political parties and called on all eligible electors for the 5th Senate Election on Feb. 25 to fully exercise their rights.
The notification was reflected in a news release issued on Feb. 15 by the ministry, following reported cases of political intimidation of electors.
Reportedly, electors were threatened with being terminated by their own political parties if they are found not casting votes for the parties.
The Ministry of Interior stated that any intimidation of electors will be penalised in accordance with the Law on Election of Members of Senate.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protect and promote a free election guided by the Constitution of Cambodia.
It also reminded the four participating political parties in the Senate Election to fully comply with the election law and refrain from imposing any intimidation on their electors.
On the same day, the National Election Committee (NEC) issued a statement saying that
it has noticed that one political party not registered for the 5th Senate Election threatened its commune/Sangkat councilors, electors, to vote for this or that political party.
NEC calls on that political party to stop its illegal actions immediately so that the election campaign can be conducted smoothly and the election can also be organised successfully, said the statement, adding that NEC will take legal action in case of the party’s subsequent illegal actions. Eventually, secrecy of the election is a principle of democracy.
Cambodia is conducting the campaign of the Election of Members of the Senate, 5th legislature, from Feb. 10 to 23. According to NEC, to date, the election campaign has run smoothly. The political parties that have registered their candidates running for the election freely conducted the campaigns as per its respective programmes and capabilities. The Election Commissions at all levels together with the competent authorities provided facilitation, security and safety to political pa
rties to conduct election campaigns in accordance with laws, regulations and procedures for elections.
A total of 11,747 eligible voters, including 125 members (17 female) of the National Assembly and 11,622 commune/Sangkat councillors (2,568 female), will go to the polls on Feb. 25.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse