Cambodians face intimidation, threats as they head to polls for local election

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party is certain to sail to easy victory again following what UN Human Rights Office calls a pattern of ‘threats and obstruction’.

Cambodians headed to the polls on Sunday in local elections that are their first chance to vote since the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen swept a 2018 general election that was widely criticised as unfair.

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party is certain to sail to easy victory again following what the UN Human Rights Office charged on Thursday was a pattern of “threats, intimidation and obstruction targeting opposition candidates”.

“Candidates have faced numerous restrictions and reprisals that have hindered their activities, with imprisonment of a number of candidates that appears designed to curb political campaigning,” the agency said. It added that at least six opposition candidates and activists were in detention four days before the polls, awaiting trial, while others summonsed on politically motivated charges had gone into hiding.

In full: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3180493/cambodians-face-intimidation-threats-they-head-polls-local

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