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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia's ruling party won an expected Sunday victory in an election widely deemed illegitimate after the only credible opposition was silenced and which ensures Prime Minister Hun Sen still has a five-year term.
Although 20 parties contested the election, the Cambodian National Rescue Party was dissolved last year by the Supreme Court in a ruling. Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith confirmed to the Associated Press that the Cambodian People's Party was leading the polls. It did not specify how many of the 125 seats in the National Assembly had been seized by the PCP, but the preliminary totals broadcast on state television showed that the party had won at least 70% of the votes. voice in each of the 25 provinces of the country. According to the proportional representation system of the election, the party would probably get more than 100 seats.
Local and foreign rights groups, as well as several Western governments, agreed that the election would not be credible
. The former leaders of the dissolved CNRP had urged people not to vote in what was called a "Clean Finger" campaign because those who voted had to dip a finger in the indelible ink, a practice to counteract multiple voting.
According to detailed figures released by the National Elections Committee, more than 6.8 million registered voters, or 82.2%, vote
The figure, if it is correct, suggests that the promotion by the opposition forces of a boycott of the polls was ineffective. In the last general election in 2013, the turnout was 6.6 million, or 68.5% of the 9.7 million registered voters.
Hun Sen said on his Facebook page before the announcement of the results that he welcomed the high turnout and congratulated his compatriots exercising their right to vote.
However, threats had already been reported against anyone considering boycotting. In rural areas where the majority lives, someone who has not voted – recognized by the lack of ink on his fingers – could have been the subject of retaliation on the part of Local officials performing civic functions, such as land registration.
Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia and an opposition stronghold, were less susceptible to such threats because of their greater visibility and greater security. However, according to the electoral committee, even the turnout was about 80%.
Doubts are likely to arise about turnout, as several established watch groups – as well as US and EU contingents – refused to participate in polls deemed illegitimate. One of the largest Cambodian groups observing the elections is headed by one of Hun Sen's sons.
After the elections, the opposition leader in exile, Sam Rainsy, called for peaceful protests. Speaking from south Paris to Freteval where he lives, Sam Rainsy told The Associated Press that "it's a meaningless victory because (Hun Sen) won without a real challenger … before the elections he dissolved the only credible opposition party. "
The Cambodian People's Party of Hun Sen was alarmed by the results of the 2013 elections, when the race was close enough for the opposition to claim that it would have won if the process of the elections was over. voter registration was not handled
. political opposition – including putting pressure on Sam Rainsy in exile and imprisoning his successor, Kem Sokha – the Hun Sen government has also silenced critical voices in the media. Over the past year, about 30 radio stations have closed and two English-language newspapers that produced serious reports were eviscerated, one forced to shut down and the other put under government control
. the government ordered the temporary blocking of 17 websites, citing regulations prohibiting the media from broadcasting information that could affect security. The blocked sites included those of Voice of America, funded by the US government, as well as local media.
Hun Sen, whose 33-year-old power makes him one of the world's oldest national leaders, has promised peace and prosperity. Friday, but attacked the boycott appeal of the opposition and called those who listened to "the destroyers of democracy."
Hun Sen, 65, said he intended to stay in power for at least two five-year terms. was a member of the Khmer Rouge communist party during his five-year war to overthrow a pro-American government, and then defected to Vietnam during the 1975-1979 genocidal regime of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, which made nearly 2 million Cambodian dead. He became prime minister in 1985 in a one-party communist government backed by Vietnam and led Cambodia through a civil war against the Khmer Rouge, which fades with the Paris Peace Accords of 1991 which have also established a democratic political framework
. 19659024] Associated Press writer Grant Peck in Bangkok contributed to this report.
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This story has been corrected to show that Rainsy was talking about Freteval, not Paris.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This document may not be published, distributed, rewritten or redistributed.
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