SRP Deputy Secretary-General Mu Sochua has accused a CPP deputy village chief in Kampot district of attempting to hit her with his motorbike following an election campaign argument.
Mu Sochua, who is the SRP candidate in Kampot, said by telephone Sunday that she approached deputy Prey Khmum village chief Vot Vanny in Prey Khmum commune at 10 am Saturday, after noticing that he was a wearing a CPP baseball cap, which she said is in violation of the law requiring neutrality from local officials throughout the month-long campaign period that began Thursday.
Provincial Licadho official Yon Phally and provincial Adhoc official Try Chhuon said Mu Sochua told Vot Vanny and Such Hear, police chief of Kampot’s Stung Keo commune, who was on the bike as a passenger, that she would block their way unless Vot Vanny did as she said.
Vot Vanny refused her request and became hostile, according to Mu Sochua.
“He said to me ‘I will run you over,’” Mu Sochua said, adding that he then began to drive off even though she was in the way. “If I had not stepped aside, I would have been knocked down very seriously because he was going at full speed.”
Mu Sochua said she now fears for her life and planned to file a complaint at the commune election committee Sunday and at Kampot Provincial Court today.
Such Hear did not answer repeated calls Sunday, and contact information for Vot Vanny could not be obtained.
National Election Committee Secretary-General Tep Nytha confirmed that neutrality is required from village officials during the campaign period, but said the case in question occurred outside work hours, when the election rules don’t apply. He emphasized that Mu Sochua should not have personally intervened and should have gone directly to the NEC.
