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BBC : Big turnout in Cambodia poll



Sunday, July 26, 1998 Published at 10:14 GMT 11:14 UK 

World: Asia-Pacific

Big turnout in Cambodia poll 


The people of Cambodia have turned out in large numbers to vote in the
country's general election, with observers predicting a strong challenge to
the government of Hun Sen. 

The polling passed off peacefully in many areas, despite an election
campaign marred by violence and criticised by the opposition and human
rights groups as unfair. 

The general election is the first since Prince Norodom Ranariddh was
violently ousted from his position as First Prime Minister a year ago. 

It is also the first run by Cambodians themselves, although funding has
come from abroad. 

Cambodians waited patiently for a chance to cast their votes. There were
long queues at many of the 11,600 polling stations. Election officials said
one problem being encountered was that the voting process was taking a long
time. 

In Pailin, a former Khmer Rouge heartland, former guerrillas lined up at
polling stations for the first time. 

One of the first people to vote on Sunday was Chan Somphon who, like one in
300 Cambodians, has been injured by a landmine, millions of which are left
over from decades of war. "I want peace for Cambodia," he said. 


"Democratic credentials" 
The Second Prime Minister, Hun Sen, who has dominated political life in
Cambodia since ousting his rival, Prince Ranariddh, a year ago, was among
the first to cast his ballot. 

Speaking afterwards, he described the poll as a victory for the Cambodian
people. 

In a BBC interview, Hun Sen said the fact that 39 parties were taking part
underlined the country's democratic credentials. He pledged to recognise
the results of the vote and arrange a rapid transfer of power if his party
lost. 

He said it was time for the international community to grant Cambodia its
seat at the United Nations and entry to the grouping of South-east Asian
nations, Asean, denied it after last year's factional fighting. 

"Not free and fair, but broadly representative" 

International and local observers do not expect the vote to be completely
free and fair. 

But they expect the result to be broadly representative of the will of the
people. 

The BBC South-east Asia correspondent Simon Ingram says Hun Sen needs a
credible election to legitimise his hold on power. 

Hun Sen's Cambodia People's Party has dominated the campaign and he is
widely expected to win a majority, but not by a big enough margin to rule
alone. 

Analysts believe that even massive vote-rigging would be unlikely to bring
Hun Sen the necessary majority, making a coalition the most likely outcome.



Intimidation 

Opposition groups and the human rights organisation Amnesty International
have accused Hun Sen's supporters of murder, kidnap and intimidation during
the campaign. 

The main local observer group, Comfrel, said there had been more than 100
killings during the campaign - fewer than had been feared. 

The main challengers are the Funcipec Party, led by Prince Ranariddh, and
the Sam Rainsy Party, led by a former finance minister of the same name. 

Prince Ranariddh said the election was a "choice between democracy and
totalitarianism". 

About 20,000 people are observing the elections, 600 of them from abroad.
Preliminary results are not due until 1 August.