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Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) declared Monday that it won the 125-seat Parliament in a general election that, a day earlier, was neither free nor free. fair
to another chapter of the reign of strong man Hun Sen the day after an election strongly criticized by rights groups, the United States and other Western countries.
"The PCP won 77.5 percent of the vote and won all parliamentary seats," PCP spokesman Sok Eysan told Reuters by phone. "The other parties have not won any seats."
The White House said it would consider measures, including an expansion of visa restrictions placed on some members of the Cambodian government, in response to "defective elections" in which there were no Sen.
Critics say that the election was a step back for democracy in Cambodia after the dissolution last year of the main Cambodian National Rescue Resistance Party (CNRP) and the l '# 39; imprisonment of its leader, Kem Sokha, on treason charges. Former CNRP president Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile, said the election was a "hollow" victory for Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who led Cambodia for nearly 33 years. years.
Government members repressed critics and imposed sanctions in June on a senior official close to Hun Sen. The European Union has threatened Cambodia with economic sanctions.
Sarah Sander, White House Press Secretary "The flawed elections, which excluded the country's main opposition party, represent the most important setback to the democratic system enshrined in the Cambodian constitution," Sanders said. "The United States will consider additional measures to respond to the elections and other recent setbacks to democracy and human rights in Cambodia, including a significant expansion of the election campaign," she said. added. Cambodia's National Rescue Party (CNRP) deputy director of foreign affairs, Monovithya Kem, right, speaks at a press conference as CNRP vice-president Mu Sochua of Jakarta, Indonesia. Several opposition figures have fled Cambodia in recent years because of the persecution. (Willy Kurniawan / Reuters)
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the White House's statement was an attempt to intimidate Cambodia. The Cambodian President has not been worried
Even though the West has criticized the process, Hun Sen still has an important ally, China, who offered warm congratulations for a smooth run.
"I believe that the election of the Cambodian Parliament is an internal matter in Cambodia," said the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry. Geng Shuang said at a press briefing Monday in Beijing. "We hope the international community can help Cambodia stay stable and grow."
Monovithya Kem, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs of CNRP, told a press conference in Jakarta that the
CNRP also called on the international community to reject the election result.
"On July 29, 2018 marked the death of democracy in Cambodia, a dark new day in recent history," said Vice CNRP – President Mu Sochua. "The results announced by the CPP and the National Elections Committee must be totally rejected by the international community."
Cambodia's newspapers welcomed Hun Sen's victory on Monday.
"PPC dominates election: unofficial results show
Some independent media were targeted by Hun Sen and his allies during a pre-election crackdown.
More than 82% people registered to vote, vote, according to the National Elections Committee Participation was 90% in the 2017 local elections and 69.61% in the previous general elections in 2013.
Polling stations visited by Reuters in the capital, Phnom Penh, were silent on Sunday and some voters said they voted because
The CNRP called on voters to boycott the elections, but the authorities warned that whoever would do so would be considered a traitor. [19659002AttheKapkorMarketinPhnomPenhMeasSinuon60saidshewassatisfiedwithSunday'sresult
"This government has already done good things," she said in making the court his. "But I want the new government to do more to help people."
Another voter, a tuk-tuk driver from Phnom Penh who refused to be identified, described the result as " identical".
