Elections

I intentionally placed myself in Kampot, because today is Election Day. The current ruling party is the CPP (Cambodian People's Party). In 1990 when diplomatic efforts were made to stop the civil war in Cambodia, an agreement was made between all parties. Elections were held in 1993 with a large turnout. The results were far from decisive, but the Funcipec Party by Prince Norodom Ranariddh (son of King Sihanouk) won. Some members of the CPP party, which represented the previous communist government threatened a secession of the eastern provinces of the country, which would divide it again. As a result Cambodi ended up with two prime ministers. Prince Norodom Ranariddh him is the first prime minister, and Hun Sen is the second prime minister. Needless to say, there was opposition by the people. The UN was quick to go home calling their efforts successful.

Corruption by the CPP has been rampant since. I read an article last week stating that Hun Sen had sold land owned by local communities to businesses. They basically relocated the people to another place owned by other locals without providing any compensation or aid to them. This is just one example.

As can be expected, elections are not usually a peaceful time. When there is trouble, it usually occurs in Phnom Penh. Many locals come to Kampot for this reason, and I chose to follow suit. The CPP is still the dominant party, and it is believed that they will win the election. According to one local, (I paraphrase) "If the CPP win, there will be fighting because they probably did so by corruption. If they lose, then the CPP may do something about it."

All of the businesses are closed. I see numerous people on the streets with black fingers. At the polling stations they die your finger black so they know that you have voted. This keeps anyone from voting twice. I wait on pins and needles to see how this turns out.