Sunday, 27 July 2008

Millions vote in Cambodian elections

Radio New Zealand News
27 July 2008

Cambodians went to the polls on Sunday in an election almost certain to hand another five years in power to Hun Sen, the former Khmer Rouge guerrilla who has been prime minister since 1985.

His Cambodian People's Party holds 73 assembly seats out of 123, and analysts say his majority is likely to increase.

Tens of thousands of Cambodia's eight million registered voters have left the cities to vote in their home villages.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has gained huge approval for taking a tough stance in an ongoing dispute with neighbouring Thailand.

The countries are arguing over land surrounding a 900-year-old temple

Both nations have massed troops near the Preah Vihear temple - which belongs to Cambodia.
Each claims the land surrounding the temple, and the dispute has raised nationalist fervour in Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

The Cambodian People's Party is so confident of victory it has scheduled talks over Preah Vihear with Thailand's foreign minister in the tourist town of Siem Reap, home to Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex, on Monday.

Eleven parties are contesting polls, but most analysts believe the CPP will secure another five-year term in power.

The ruling party has presided over an economy that has enjoyed five years of near double-digit growth, helped by revenue from the garment and tourist industries.

But the country is also experiencing soaring inflation and there is growing discontent over endemic corruption - both of which could favour opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

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