2ND LD: Polls close in Cambodian general election

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 28, 2003

PHNOM PENH, July 27 Kyodo

Polls closed Sunday in Cambodia's general election largely seen as a three-way race among the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and two major opposition parties but marred by an explosion in the capital.

More than 12,800 polling booths, which had opened at 7 a.m. around the country for the 6.3 million eligible voters, closed at 3 p.m. Vote counting will begin Monday.

Voter turnout was around 80%, according to preliminary estimates.

Shortly after the polls closed, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a statement expressing satisfaction over the election and appealed to all political parties to bravely accept the preliminary result that is scheduled to be announced Aug. 8 by the National Election Committee.

A few hours after voting began, an explosion occurred outside the FUNCINPEC headquarters in Phnom Penh, slightly injuring one man, party officials said.

The homemade grenade exploded at 11:35 a.m. in front of the gate of the party headquarters located next to the French Embassy, said Chhim Narith, a senior party official.

Yin Khorn, 38, suffered an injury to his right leg while riding his motorbike with his wife after voting. He was hospitalized but told Kyodo News that his injury is not serious.

Prince Norodom Sirivudh, King Sihanouk's half-brother and FUNCINPEC secretary general, deplored the attack on election day.

Also Sunday, two Chinese-made grenades were found some 30 meters from the front gate of the Royal Palace where King Sihanouk is now residing.

Police sources have speculated that an antigovernment group known as the Cambodian Freedom Fighters might be responsible.

Of the 22 parties competing in the poll to elect a new 123-seat National Assembly, only Hun Sen's CPP, the Sam Rainsy Party and FUNCINPEC are expected to win seats.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for nearly two decades, is widely expected to remain in office.

Although 15 people were reportedly killed during the 30-day election campaign, this year's electoral climate has generally been described by election monitors as better than in previous polls.

Voters said they hope for a positive outcome from the election.

''I have voted for the same party already two times, now I want to support a different party that I expect will change the country and improve living conditions,'' said 67-year-old Yim Hor Eang.

San Sokheang, a 24-year-old Buddhist monk residing at Saravoan Pagoda in the capital, said he expects the current situation to change after the election.

''I voted for a leader to change the current situation, but whether the change occurs or not depends on the leader, otherwise, we have to wait another five years,'' he said.

Most markets and shops in Phnom Penh are closed Sunday as the city's residents rush to cast their ballots.

In the 1998 election, the CPP won 64 seats, FUNCINPEC gained 43 and the Sam Rainsy party got 15 in a 122-seat parliament.

During this year's election campaign that ended Friday, the ruling CPP claimed achievements in toppling the genocidal Khmer Rouge government in 1979, infrastructure development and the integration of Cambodia into regional and international groupings such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the upcoming accession of Cambodia into the World Trade Organization.

The other contending parties, especially the Sam Rainsy Party and FUNCINPEC, have slammed the CPP for failing to protect Cambodia's territory, flows of illegal Vietnamese immigrants into the country, corruption, deforestation and poverty.

Some 30,691 national and international election observers were deployed around the country, including those from the European Union, the United States, Japan and other Asian countries.

Cambodia holds a general election every five years.