Angkor Borei district - It hasn't happened everywhere, but in this district at
least the three parties campaigning in the commune election seem to get on. None
of the candidates from the CPP, Funcinpec or the SRP admitted to any
pre-election tensions.
"Since we started we have had no serious
problems," said SRP candidate Khieu Eng. "We have faced some minor problems, but
we have solved those between the three parties."
The CPP, Funcinpec and
SRP apparently find it easy to talk to each other here. Any problems, they said,
were solved through the Commune Election Committee (CEC).
Ngoun Sagnem,
CPP district head, agreed things had gone smoothly.
"We have a strict
rule that none of our members threatens or commits violence against anyone," he
said. "We simply tell the electorate what our policies are to develop the
commune." When the CPP felt the other parties violated election law, Sagnem said
he asks the CEC to intervene and ensure they respect the rules.
Kot Noy,
Funcinpec's candidate, said his members had had no problems and were in "a good
situation at the moment".
Men Makara from independent monitor Comfrel
said the atmosphere had been fairly good, but expressed some concerns about
post-election day violence.
The SRP's Eng agreed: "It is good now, but I
cannot tell you what will happen tomorrow or the next day. I hope tomorrow's
situation will be like today's."
