In its latest bid to attract the country’s youth voters, the CPP released a sleek, new karaoke video on Monday featuring scenes—shot from a helicopter—of scores of young supporters, dressed in light blue uniforms and hats emblazoned with the CPP logo, waving flags atop of Phnom Penh’s Canadia Tower.
The scenes of the CPP youth standing in various formations, including a top-down shot in the shape of the Khmer character for the numeral 4—the CPP’s ballot number—were shot in Phnom Penh last month and are interspersed with scenes of Cambodia’s cultural landmarks, infrastructure projects, factories, rural life and pastoral landscapes.
Along with numerous appearances by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife, Bun Rany, the video, which was posted to YouTube, also shows footage of Mr. Hun Sen’s three sons, Hun Manet, Hun Manit and Hun Many. Mr. Many is running for the first time as a National Assembly candidate in this month’s national election.
The video shows images of Cambodia looking more like a Singapore-style economy complete with high rise buildings and modern day farming techniques than it does a country still included in the U.N.’s list of 49 least developed countries.
The accompanying song, sung by Cambodian pop star Nop Panharith, is both an ode to Cambodia’s heritage as well as a call for unity around the infallible—and “iron-fisted”—leadership of Mr. Hun Sen.
“We Khmer children must rally to make Cambodia more famous in the era of the iron fist of Techo,” the lyrics go, referencing one of Mr. Hun Sen’s many honorifics.
“We Khmer youth must continue to conserve our ancestral heritage with great care,” Mr. Panharith sings as scenes of various temples flash on the screen.
“Stand up. We are united shoulder to shoulder with one heart. The nation needs us. The youth will not be ignored under the win-win policy,” the song continues, referencing Mr. Hun Sen’s development policy—which he often credits for bringing peace and economic growth to the country.
Kep Chuktema, who stepped down as Phnom Penh governor in May and is running as a CPP candidate for National Assembly in Phnom Penh, said that the video was sure to secure a greater share of the youth vote come July 28.
“This is one of the crucial ways to connect with the CPP’s supporters. All the artists support the CPP. When they sing for us, it is an essential way to attract support from the youth,” he said.
