Cambodian heir hails election victory, defying international criticism

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s heir apparent on Monday insisted on the legitimacy of the elections his party won against any significant opposition, defying international criticism that the polls were neither free nor fair.

Hun Sen presided over Cambodia for nearly 40 years – stifling any genuine opposition, freedom of expression and democratic reform – but recently indicated that he would soon hand over power to his eldest son Hun Manet.

The United States on Monday condemned the poll, in which the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is expected to win all but five of 125 parliamentary seats in the lower house.

But Hun Manet posted a triumphant message on several social media platforms hailing his party’s victory.

“The Cambodian people have clearly expressed their will through votes,” he wrote.

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“An overwhelming number expressed their support for the Cambodian People’s Party.

He thanked the Cambodians “for choosing to vote, and especially for all the love and trust in the CPP”.

Official results won’t be available for weeks, although the CPP claimed on Sunday night they had won a “landslide” victory.

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The small royalist party aligned with the FUNCINPEC government, led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth, is expected to win five seats – giving the new parliament at least a patina of diversity after the CPP won all seats in the last election.

The disqualification of the only viable opposition force, the Candlelight Party, on a technical point meant that there was no realistic outcome other than a major victory for the CPP.

The United States said the elections were “neither free nor fair”, pointing to “a series of threats and harassment against the political opposition, the media and civil society”.

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“These actions have deprived the Cambodian people of a voice and a choice in determining the future of their country,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement Monday.

He said Washington was preparing to impose visa restrictions on some people for undermining democracy and suspend some aid programs.

In the months leading up to the national elections, freedom of expression was severely stifled, with one of the few remaining independent news outlets, Voice of Democracy, closing in February.

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And Hun Sen has ordered changes to election laws, barring anyone who doesn’t vote in the polls from running for office – a move that will affect rivals in exile.

Authorities are investigating 27 people for inciting voters to spoil their ballots on polling day, interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak told AFP.

In the absence of significant opposition, the intentional invalidation of their ballots would have been a way for voters to show their displeasure with Hun Sen’s regime.

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As Election Day approached, election authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy – Hun Sen’s longtime nemesis – from running for office for 25 years for urging people to spoil their ballots.

While during the count AFP reporters witnessed a number of spoiled ballots – later downplayed by the CPP – there was little chance of protests in a country entirely under Hun Sen’s thumb.

On Monday, Phnom Penh was calm, with few people on the streets.

“The situation is normal, calm and good,” Khon Sokna, a 42-year-old newspaper seller, told AFP.

Behind her, a number of English and Khmer newspapers flapped like a string, celebrating Hun Sen’s victory at the polls.

“There is no problem,” she said.

In a country torn by genocide and war within living memory, many were grateful for Hun Sen’s continuity and intent to hand over power to his son.

Store owner Lon Mon, 52, said he would be sad if the prime minister retired.

“But it’s also good that his son continues. We will support him,” he told AFP.

ss-rbu/pdw/sco

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