Government, opposition begin election campaign in Cambodia

Funcinpec Party supporters out in force on the river front in Phnom Penh on the first day of campaigning for July elections in Cambodia. [RA]

The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, has called on political parties running in next month's general election to compete honestly and to accept the result of the poll.

The 11 parties began the designated one-month campaign period today.

In a statement broadcast on state-run television, Prime Minister Hun Sen said all political parties should compete with honesty, dignity and honour and must accept the result of the election which reflects the will of the voters.

The statement also called for parties to make the national interest their priority.

The last general elections in July 2003 saw the kingdom plunged into a year of political stalemate as parties wrangled over forming a coalition.

A government was finally formed in July 2004.

Hun Sen has been in power for 23 years, making him South-East Asia's longest-serving leader besides the sultan of Brunei.

Meanwhile, a Cambodian opposition lawmaker has accused the government of dishonesty because it has not published the country's rate of inflation for the past three months.

A Sam Rainsy Party member of parliament, Son Chhay, says Cambodia has not published its Consumer Price Index since March.

He has written a letter to the country's planning minister asking the Government about the matter.

Reports in local newspapers have speculated that the ruling Cambodian People's Party is not publishing the inflation rate because it wants to limit dissent before next month's general election.

A government spokesman, Son Sithan, says the rate hasn't been published becuase of a technical issue but said it would be released in the next two to three months.

The last published CPI stated that inflation rose 18.7 percent in January this year, however observers say the figure is closer to 30 per cent.