Prime Minister Hun Sen renewed his call to Cambodians to cast their vote in a safe and peaceful manner at the upcoming commune council elections, adding that they are free to elect any political party.

“I ask that the upcoming elections in our country not become violent in any form. Please think clearly, the competition here – the normal democratic process is not about killing each other to defeat each other.

“Seventeen political parties are due to take part in the competition to garner votes,” Hun Sen said during a meeting with 1,753 students who earned grade As in Phnom Penh on May 3.

Yang Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, said the call was good in order to improve the environment of the elections.

“At the same time, I hope lower-level officials will disallow pictures of intimidation and abide by the calls made by the prime minister,” he said.

Late last month, Hun Sen announced that he would not campaign for the election which begins on May 21, the day he is expected to meet with the Cambodian diaspora in Switzerland on his visit there.

Recall that in February, he urged the authorities to “make it easy” for political parties to take part in commune elections, so that they can meet with their members and supporters without obstruction at the grassroots level.

Nine million people have registered to vote, according to the National Election Committee (NEC), with more than 20,000 election offices ready for the voting season across the country.