CPP is accused of using money from the national treasury to bolster its politicking
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 26 Mar 2007 16:14:01 -0700
CPP Faces Financial Abuse Charges, Smaller Parties Find Niches and
Union Leaders Demand Day Off to Vote
VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
25/03/2007
An independent monitoring group said Saturday it suspected the ruling
Cambodian People's Party of using money from the national budget to
bolster its politicking, as commune election campaigning entered its
second week.
Smaller parties, meanwhile, focused their efforts in tight areas and
union leaders stepped up pressure on factory owners to allow workers
time off on Election Day, as VOA Khmer followed the run-up to commune
elections.
In every election, the CPP is suspected of using money from the
national coffers, Koul Panha, executive director for the Committee for
Free and Fair Elections, told VOA. And this one was no different.
"Actually, every time, the ruling party is the target for the monitors
on the operations involved with state assets," Koul Panha said.
Chiem Yiep, chairman of the CPP's finance committee, said money for
elections comes from members of the party, not the government budget.
"For the CPP, all active members must give contributions to the
party," he said. "Other than that, our local parties might have some
businesses which give us income."
To listen to Mony report in Khmer, click here.
Villagers in Takmau, Kandal province, meanwhile, say they have heard
the same campaign promises for five years, with little result.
Back then, candidates said they would fix the roads, clean the
environment and create jobs, villagers told VOA during a debate
organized by the National Democratic Institute. Now, they are making
the same promises.
To listen to Kong Soth report in Khmer, click here.
More than 400 people attended a similar debate in Siem Reap Sunday.
All of the 12 parties campaigning for commune council positions were
invited, officials said, but only three participated: the CPP, Sam
Rainsy and Norodom Ranariddh parties.
A number of onlookers told VOA that the debates gave them a chance to
see candidates face to face and that they would like to see more in
the future. Cambodians increasingly are understanding that no one can
tell them whom to vote for, observers say.
To listen to Kong Soth report in Khmer, click here.
As VOA Khmer continued its election coverage, Sam Rainsy Party
officials said they continued to experience intimidation and their
complaints were being ignored.
Small parties, meanwhile, were focusing their efforts in tight areas
where they might have a chance of winning, and villagers in Kampong
Thom found a grenade dangling from a tractor in what political leaders
suspected was a failed attempt to harm candidates.
To listen to Khemara Sok report in Khmer, click here.
Nearly 8 million Cambodians are registered to vote, but some ethnic
minorities told VOA Sunday they had not been issued voter IDs.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh has written a letter to his father, former
King Norodom Sihanouk, complaining that the courts were poltically
biased and had sentenced him unfairly to 18 months prison in absentia.
His self-named party is emerging as a second opposition after the
prince was ousted form Funcinpec, the government's coalition partner.
Prominent union leaders, meanwhile, said over the weekend they would
file complaints in court for factories that don't allow their workers
a day off to vote on Election Day, April 1.
To listen to Khemara Sok report in Khmer, click here.
http://voanews.com/khmer/2007-03-25-voa5.cfm
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