NRP Activist Murdered, as Campaigners Count Down and Women Speak

NRP Activist Murdered, as Campaigners Count Down and Women Speak Out
VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
27/03/2007


Sihanoukville police were investigating a murder that activists said
could be linked to the commune elections, and women candidates
discussed their individual positions Tuesday, with five days remaining
before Cambodians select commune leaders.

Debates continued, as voters weighed heavily the benefits of their
promises, and the National Election Committee said it would dispatch
thousands of observers for Election Day, Sunday.

The campaigns had seen some violence-mainly shouting and poster
destruction-but party leaders said the killing of a reported activist
for the Norodom Ranariddh Party was the clearest link yet to violence
and politics, which sometimes go hand in hand in Cambodia.

NRP activist Hak Sok, 50, was stabbed to death in Sihanoukville as his
daughter looked on, according to a party statement. The party called
on authorities to investigate political motives, but Sihanoukville
police said they had not ruled out a "grudge" killing.

The party said Hak Sok's murder was the latest in a string of violent
incidents, including an arson attack in Pailin.

To listen to Chun Sakada report in Khmer, click here.

Women candidates, meanwhile, told VOA they would be working not only
on civic projects that all Cambodians need-sewage, road improvement,
an end to corruption-but they would also seek to protect women against
domestic violence and disrespect.

"If I win, I will improve the roads, stop corruption, and curb
domestic violence," Tum Hoeun, a Sam Rainsy Party candidate in Kampong
Cham province told VOA. "If some unusual things happen to women, I
will defend them from the condescending attitudes of men."

To listen to Suon Kanika report in Khmer, click here.

Voters in Siem Reap, some of whom attended an open political debate
this week, said they were losing faith in candidates to deliver on
campaign promises-echoing sentiments from other voters across the
country.

To listen to Kong Soth report in Khmer, click here.

The National Election Committee said Tuesday it was set to dispatch
about 13,000 observers for the impending commune elections.

Twenty-three NGOs have submitted requests to participate, along with
officials from 160 embassies and international organizations, Tep
Nith, secretary-general of the NEC said.

To listen to Seng Ratana report in Khmer, click here.

Meanwhile, VOA Khmer continued its Q&A sessions with political
parties, interviewing Tith Tha of the Khmer Socialist party.

The party's platform included democracy, development, defense,
national pride and progress, Tith Tha said.

Twelve parties are fielding candidates for the election, although some
of them only have candidates in a few communes.

The party was not focused on winning so much as competing, Tith Tha
said.

To listen to Suon Kanika report in Khmer, click here.

Also Tuesday, King Norodom Sihamoni called for peaceful elections. His
father, the former King Norodom Sihanouk, has said he himself will no
longer be involved in politics.

To listen to Thida Win report in Khmer, click here.

Nearly 8 million Cambodians are expected to go to the polls Sunday for
local elections meant to decentralize government power. These are only
the second such elections since the Paris Accords in 1991, in which
leaders for 1,621 administrative zones, called communes, are chosen.

http://voanews.com/khmer/2007-03-27-voa4.cfm

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