The ruling CPP has distributed approximately half-a-million copies of its election handbook, which instructs officials at all levels how to capitalize on the party’s successes and attack the opposition in the run-up to July’s national election, an official said Monday.
According to senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap, the little blue book, entitled “Spiritual Guidance for CPP Officials to Use During the Campaign to Fight Against the Opposition Parties’ Campaign,” was printed following the party’s national congress in April and has already been distributed to provinces across the country.
“About 500,000 copies have been sent out. We have both a Khmer and an English version. They have been sent to the local [officials], and more copies will be made accordingly,” Mr. Yeap said. “The book entails the highest historical achievements the CPP has accomplished…. It is very important to have a clear policy for the party.”
Among the advice given in the book are pointers on what to emphasize to voters. For example, the book tells officials to remind the electorate of the CPP’s role in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, new infrastructure projects and the record of Prime Minister Hun Sen. It also instructs officials to undermine policies of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party by arguing that a minimum wage increase to $150 per month would scare off garment factory owners.
Kampot provincial governor Khoy Khunhor said Monday that authorities had even photocopied additional copies of the handbook to provide to lower level officials inside the party.
“This book sets out what the CPP has done,” Mr. Khunhor said. “It explains to people so they understand the reality and helps them to not be fooled by the other parties’ explanations, which are just easy hyperbole.”
Deputy chief of the CPP’s Siem Reap province headquarters Ung Hoeun said the book was important, although he admitted that he had only read parts of it.
“It is a very useful book, since it helps communicate the party’s policies,” he said.
