The Ministry of Interior issued a statement Wednesday accusing,
though not naming, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
of vandalizing 16 of their own party political signs in five districts
in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces this week.
According to the ministry statement, 16 CNRP signs were either
defaced or knocked down Tuesday night in Prey Veng province’s Preah
Sdech and Kompong Trabek districts as well as in Svay Rieng City and the
province’s Svay Teap and Kompong Ro districts.
Though providing no proof, the ministry said the vandalism was a
“cheap act that was systematically planned to ruin the good environment
before the election,” and to support those who might try to reject the
outcome of the vote.
Destruction of the signs “is to serve the negative purpose of
allowing for a denial of the election’s results, which is also what the
CNRP has previously said,” the ministry said in the statement, which was
signed by Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak.
Chan Ran, district governor of Kompong Trabek district, confirmed
that two CNRP signs were damaged, with one defaced with silver spray
paint, and the other knocked down.
“The police are investigating this. I think it’s the same people who
did it because it’s the same silver spray as in the other districts,”
Mr. Ran said, declining to say whether he believed that the CNRP was
responsible for destroying its own signs.
CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann denied that his party was behind the
vandalism, and pointed the finger of blame back at the ruling CPP.
“We’ve had almost 100 signs destroyed across the country, in
provinces like Kampot, Kep and Kompong Thom,” Mr. Sovann said. “The
ruling party knows that our popularity has increased so they want to
destroy us.”
“This is just another example to show that this is not a free and fair election,” he added.
Contacted by telephone, Lt. Gen. Sopheak refused to directly accuse
the CNRP by name of destroying their own signs, but he vouched for the
innocence of his ruling CPP and the six other parties contesting the
election.
“The CPP knows that they will win again so they won’t do such a cheap thing,” Mr. Sopheak said.
“And the other six parties are so happy to hear that the CNRP will
deny the [election] results because whatever seats the CNRP receives,
they will then be distributed to them.”
The National Election Committee confirmed Thursday that it would
redistribute seats won by the opposition CNRP if they should decline to
take their seats in Parliament after the election.
Sam Rainsy, the self-exiled opposition party president, said Saturday
the CNRP would not accept the results of the July 28 vote if there were
no reforms made to the electoral process, and that the opposition will
demand a re-election.
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