A Cambodian’s People Party (CPP) official shows how to correctly tick for his party during an election campaign in Svay Rieng province on July 5. MNASRI
With the general election drawing nearer, Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued an appeal to members of his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to identify individuals falsely claiming to be CPP representatives, who have allegedly been instructing citizens to mark sample ballot papers incorrectly, thus rendering them invalid.
In an audio message delivered on July 5, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed concern over these impostors, purporting to be CPP leaders and providing voters with misleading information on how to spoil their ballots.
“Education on the proper way to mark ballots is a responsibility shared by the CPP and all other political parties. It is a collective duty for all parties to guide eligible voters in correctly marking their ballots,” Hun Sen articulated.
“These impostors have been deceiving voters, explaining that marking their ballots multiple times is an expression of their love for the CPP. Consequently, those who hold the CPP dear have been led to mark their ballots multiple times, invalidating them,” he added.
Hun Sen implored CPP members and representatives of other political parties to educate the public on correctly marking their ballots. He emphasised that this collaboration is essential for ensuring a smoothly run election that benefits the nation as a whole.
“I have asked the telecoms ministry to investigate and identify those who have been spreading false information online about marking ballots. We will ascertain who these individuals are, those falsely claiming to be CPP officials encouraging people to spoil their ballots, and they will be apprehended,” he warned.
The premier added that such arrests would aid the National Election Committee (NEC) and police in ensuring the fair execution of electoral procedures.
“I urge CPP officials at all levels, as well as other parties, to participate in this election with integrity and to kindly advise voters to mark their ballots correctly, thus preventing the spoiling of ballots,” Hun Sen stressed.
Men Sam An, minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspections and also vice-president of the CPP, urged all eligible voters to participate in the polls on July 23.
“I urge those who are eligible to vote to correctly mark their ballots in support of the CPP under the slogan ‘one ballot paper is support for the CPP’,” she said in a July 5 social media post.
Sam Kuntheamy, executive director of the NGO Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), informed The Post on July 5 that this issue was primarily a concern for the CPP. He observed that while the CPP often teaches local people how to mark their ballots, other parties appear less proactive in doing so.
He added that it is the responsibility of the NEC to monitor inaction and irregularities and to identify those falsely claiming to be CPP members.
“NEC bears the responsibility for the electoral process. It is not wrong to teach members of a political party to mark their ballot for their party. However, I was not aware of impostors instructing them to spoil their ballots as I am unsure of their party affiliations,” he noted.
NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told The Post on July 5 that upon receiving this information, the NEC would monitor the situation and take legal action against impostors.
Puthea added that impersonation was one issue, but another matter was that this misinformation was causing a distraction, hindering voters from receiving accurate information about the election process. As a result, these impostors would also face legal repercussions.
“Within our jurisdiction, the NEC will act on this case. If we have conclusive evidence, we will respond accordingly. This incident is a breach of the law and, as such, those implicated will face penalties and fines according to election law,” he said.
