Cambodian parties begin election campaign amid crackdown

Record ID: 876530

  • Title: Cambodian parties begin election campaign amid crackdown
  • Date: 20th May 2017
  • Summary: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (MAY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) CAMBODIA NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY (CNRP) LEADER KEM SOKHA JUMPING ON THE STAGE TO SPEAK TO SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS CHEERING WHILE LISTENING TO SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) CAMBODIA NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY (CNRP) LEADER, KEM SOKHA, SAYING: "Voting for the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) is voting for the progress and harmony for the nation and our Cambodian people." SUPPORTERS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) CAMBODIA NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY (CNRP) SUPPORTER, HIM SOKCHEA, SAYING: "I am very excited today because we have the chance to meet and march on the streets. Normally, the government doesn't allow us to do it so now I am so happy to be here even though the weather is hot."
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2017 08:49
  • Keywords: political parties crackdown Hun Sen election campaign
  • Location: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
  • City: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016HN6X51
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Cambodian parties on Saturday (May 20) launched campaigns for June 4 local elections against the backdrop of a political crackdown by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has vowed to stay on after more than three decades in power.
    Hun Sen's main rival, opposition leader Kem Sokha, held a rally with tens of thousands of supporters in the capital, Phnom Penh.
    His supporters flew flags from motorbikes, tuk tuks and trucks as they headed to other provinces to campaign.
    The local elections next month could be a springboard for next year's general election.
    Opponents accuse Hun Sen of stepping up political attacks ahead of the elections - stopping demonstrations, detaining activists and threatening journalists. Hun Sen has said that if his party doesn't win there could be civil war in the country devastated by the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 1970s.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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