The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia Wednesday said politically motivated intimidation and killing continues to take place in the country, though the reported number decreased between 2002 and this year
“In 2002, there were a total of 18 killings and 48 threats, while there were five killings and 25 threats in 2007,” said Kul Panha, director of Comfrel. “It created an atmosphere we should worry about.”
At the same time, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party has received ongoing television coverage by private and state-owned television networks, Kul Panha said, which have been accused of providing biased coverage to the CPP.
Opposition leaders say the CPP takes advantage of the government’s resources, campaigning and distributing gifts outside election season.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said opposition leaders “like to talk more than CPP members,” referring to their airing of views in the media.
“Why has no one analyzed the time [Voice of America] and [Radio Free Asia] broadcast about the opposition parties, when the two radio stations can be heard all over the country?” he asked. “Why does no one count that?”