Heng Chivoan

The European Union will deploy 124 observers to monitor the July 27 general election, the head of the EU election observation mission, Martin Callanan, has said. Observers began arriving in Cambodia earlier this week to assess pre-poll preparations. They will later monitor voting and ballot counting, according to Callanan. The mission would remain in Cambodia for several weeks after the election. "Election observation is an important part of the EU's policy of promoting human rights and democracy throughout the world," Callanan said on June 20. National Election Committee secretary general Tep Nytha said on June 25 that 14,155 Cambodian and foreign election observers were registered with the NEC.