The European Union has suspended funding for Cambodia’s 2018 general election because the vote cannot be credible after the dissolution of the main opposition party.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by the country’s highest court last month at the request of the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen after the arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha for alleged treason.
The EU stated in the letter: ‘An electoral process from which the main opposition party has been arbitrarily excluded cannot be seen as legitimate … Under these circumstances, the European Union does not believe there is a possibility of a credible electoral process.”
The EU’s move was criticised by National Election Commission (NEC) deputy leader Som Sorida for mixing politics with election assistance.
However, Russia, South Korea, China and Japan are still offering their support for the country’s parliamentary vote set for next July.
