Cambodian people in Kandai province queue to make their votes during the senate election on February 25 (Source: Xinhua/VNA)Phnom Penh(VNA) - The National Election Committee (NEC) of Cambodia on April 9 warnedthat anyone calling on the people to boycott the upcoming general electioncould be fined and face criminal charges.
An NEC statementsaid under the Law on Election of Members of the National Assembly, anyonepreventing voters from casting ballots would be fined between 1,250 USD and5,000 USD, and could also face criminal charges.
Meanwhile, the NECcalled on eligible voters to vote on July 29, 2018 in order to exercise theirrights to elect their leaders.
The warning came aday after Sam Rainsy, leader of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia NationalRescue Party (CNRP), urged people to boycott the upcoming election if the CNRPwas not allowed to participate. Sam Rainsy has been living in self-imposedexile in France since November 2015 to avoid at least eight-year-prisonsentence for defamation and incitement cases.
In November last year,the Supreme Court of Cambodia ordered the dissolution of the CNRP after itsleader Kem Sokha, Sam Rainsy's successor, was arrested on charged with"treason" for conspiring with a foreign power in an attempt tooverthrow the government.
Cambodian people willelect 125 parliamentarians during the upcoming election. According to theMinistry of Interior of Cambodia, the country has 37 recognised politicalparties, many of which have announced their participation in the election.-VNA
VNA
