KOMPONG CHAM CITY – After nearly a week of criss-crossing the country
vowing change in return for votes, Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) president Sam Rainsy made his final provincial stop in the CPP
stronghold of Kompong Cham province on Friday, the last day of the
30-day campaign period.
The ruling CPP is deeply entrenched here in Prime Minister Hun Sen’s
birthplace: The party has held 11 of the province’s 18 National
Assembly seats for the past five years and will aim to retain them, if
not increase them, in Sunday’s vote for the fifth mandate of the
National Assembly.
CPP flags and stickers mark the entrances of most houses along
Kompong Cham’s rural roads and Mr. Hun Sen’s brother, Hun Neng, the
former Kompong Cham provincial governor who is standing in the election
for the CPP, owns an imposing three-story villa in the center of the
provincial city.
But it was here, with just two days to go before the vote, that the
CNRP’s manifesto to end corruption, land grabbing and low wages drew
thousands of people to the streets in a display of affection that at
times seemed at odds with some of the more staid rallies held by the
ruling CPP.
Sok Sophal, a 23-year-old monk from Wat Angkor Bancheay, stood on
stage at the rally with nine other young clergymen, filming the frenetic
crowd with phones bearing CNRP stickers.
“I am so pleased to see so many people here,” he said.
“I will vote on Sunday because I want change,” he continued, “because
nowadays, the Khmer leaders control the people who don’t have enough
rights.”
The supporters bore the scorching, hours-long wait well, but the
relief was palpable when Mr. Rainsy and his deputy, Kem Sokha—whose
voice has gone hoarse from a solid month of campaigning—slowly rolled
through the crowd atop an SUV, their hands thrust in the air in a pose
that has come to signify the party’s “change” movement.
As has been the case across the country, the crowd surged and
engulfed the two leaders as they made their way to the stage, but the
numbers don’t appear to be overwhelming Mr. Rainsy as they seemed to on
July 19, when he returned to Cambodia following almost four years of
self-imposed exile and was met by at least 100,000 people.
He quickly went to work on Friday, ordering party supporters in the
crowd in Kompong Cham City to remain vigilant when polls open on Sunday
in an election that monitors fear will not be fair.
“Activists, go to the polls on Sunday,” he said. “Be ready.”
A few kilometers away in Prey Chor Market, Mr. Rainsy told another
few thousand people that he returned “to lead the CNRP to success,” and
put an end to the corruption that has seen swathes of Cambodian land
sold off to foreign companies.
“There are only two days left; we’ll take them back,” he said.
At each of the stops over the past few days, local traffic police
have made notable efforts to ensure that the opposition rallies are
unimpeded—a sign of good faith that has also been apparent in the way
both CPP and CNRP supporters have peacefully co-existed on their
respective campaign trails.
This was no different in Kompong Cham province, where roads were
closed off in the center of the city to accommodate the CNRP rally and
to keep the CPP—which was also holding rallies—separate.
Despite a few delays, nothing has stopped the CNRP juggernaut from
snaking its way through the countryside. As it reached a rain-soaked
Skun Market on Friday, supporters there were told to “protect the vote.”
Veng Vuth, 52, intends to do just that.
“I’m so happy he has come back,” he said. “We will win. I have
supported him for many years, and the people here believe in him 100
percent.”
Should the CPP take the lion’s share of the vote on Sunday, as many
predict it will, Mr. Vuth predicts a darker future for Cambodia.
“If the CPP wins, Cambodian land will be totally destroyed,” he said.
Market vendor Trey Vichet, 37, said Cambodia has failed to prosper under the CPP.
“It has suffered. Prices have increased and if we compare it to other
countries, it’s not as developed. Once Sam Rainsy is elected, I want
him to lead the country the right way,” he said.
For fellow vendor Mang Chantha, 47, the right way is toward higher wages.
“I loved it when he talked about money,” she said, “because the economy will grow and the price of rice will rise.
“People have stopped loving the CPP because it’s so corrupt.”
2 comments:
overall, can't beat, can't compares to CPP rallies,,
CPP will win the elction.,
i will vote for CNRP without Kem s.
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