Members from Cambodia’s three main election watchdog groups say they are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen today to discuss the tentatively planned communal elections, though no one from Hun Sen’s cabinet confirmed the meeting.
If the meeting occurs, it will be the highest-ranking government audience election monitors have had yet in their push to modify parts of the communal election draft laws.
According to watchdog group heads Kek Galabru and Thun Saray, the 12-member delegation hopes to discuss election candidacy and increased female participation in the elections. Election monitors have consistently opposed a point in a commune administration draft law that would force people to vote for members of specific political parties rather than individual candidates—saying that this would give dominant parties unfair advantage over those with less sway in a particular area.
Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy has agreed to meet the delegation on Friday, according to party cabinet chief Phi Thach.
