As Cambodia gears up for a general election this Sunday, Prime Minister Hun Sen told Cambodians that a victory for his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is a victory for the kingdom.
Hun Sen said under his leadership, Cambodia had transformed from a “killing field to a beautiful kingdom”, according to Phnom Penh Post.
Posting a message on his Facebook page along with an old photo of him and his wife, he said: “Under the CCP’s leadership, Cambodia has been transformed from a killing field to a beautiful and progressive kingdom.
“In fact, it was extremely difficult to end the war and build peace. The CPP is determined to defend peace and prevent people from returning to a new catastrophe.”
He followed up with another post that said, “[if the] CPP wins, it means that the whole of Cambodia wins”.
However, Ou Chanrath, a former lawmaker of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) said while the ruling party will win the election, it is only because it does not have a worthy competitor, according to Phnom Penh Post.
“The CPP will win, but it doesn’t mean Cambodians are winners. In this election, the supporters of the [CNRP] are not happy and protest the elections, which means we do not have national unity,” he was quoted as saying.
He said the will of what he claimed as less than half the country should not be forced on everyone.
Former exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy has slammed the election as a political sham and called on Cambodian voters to boycott it.
