Cambodia prepares for local elections

There's deep disillusionment about levels of corruption

		By Jonathan Head BBC South East Asia correspondent

Campaigning has ended for Cambodia's first local elections in decades ahead of polling on Sunday.

Voters will choose representatives for more than 1,600 communes which for the past 23 years have been appointed by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP).

At least 18 political activists - mostly from opposition parties - have been killed in the run-up to the elections.

People are intimidated, but still they are brave enough to attend a rally and express their support

Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy

And there have been numerous complaints of intimidation and bias by government officials and the local media.

The CPP, which has ruled Cambodia for more than two decades, has a lot to lose in this election, so Prime Minister Hun Sen has been campaigning hard to try to persuade voters to stand by the government.

There is deep disillusionment among Cambodians with the levels of corruption among officials.

The opposition has complained bitterly about ruling party tactics

And the CPP is using every advantage it has to avoid losing too many seats, including its control of most of the media, and its domination of local government and the military to cajole people in the countryside into supporting the status quo.

The two main opposition parties, the SRP and Funcinpec, have complained bitterly about the CPP's tactics. But Hun Sen has refused to respond, saying he would not answer every question put by journalists.

There is little doubt, though, that the opposition is not being given equal treatment.

At a rally just outside Phnom Penh, the Funcinpec party found they had no voters to canvas, because the commune chief had summoned all the villagers to a meeting.

I don't think any country in the world could match the gain that Cambodian women have made

Minister for women

Even more serious are the charges of orchestrated political violence.

Eighteen activists or candidates have been killed, nearly all of them from the opposition. But SRP leader Sam Rainsy believes his own support will not be seriously affected.

"People are intimidated, but still they are brave enough to attend such a rally, and to express their support for the opposition Sam Rainsy party," he said.

Women likely to gain

But perhaps the most striking aspect of this election is the number of women who are contesting it, in a country where they routinely suffer abuse and discrimination.

The ruling party controls most of the media

The Ministry of Women's Affairs had agreed on a voluntary quota of 30% with the main parties.

Although the proportion of female candidates is actually just 16%, Minister Mu Sok-Huo is pleased with the result.

"Having 12,000 female candidates for the commune elections compared to four women today who are commune chiefs for the past 20 years, I don't think any country in the world could match this gain that Cambodian women have made," she said.

Even if a small proportion of those candidates win, that alone will be enough to change Cambodia's political landscape.