Cambodia's 'unfair' election - 26 Jul 08
  • 12 years ago
Cambodians head to the polls this weekend, however, Human Rights Watch says conditions are not in place for free and fair elections.

Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister, is widely expected to retain power. But the watchdog group says his party's grip on the media, and use of harrassment and intimidation undermine the credibility of the poll.

Nationalist sentiment is running high over a border dispute with Thailand. However, many Cambodians also want to see an end to rampant corruption and solutions to rising living costs.

Eleven parties are competing, including the new "Human Rights Party".

Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) continues to dominate. He has effectively been in power since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.

But many of Cambodia's younger voters may be looking for a change of rule, as Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Phnom Penh.
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