Raucous Rallies Sweep Through Capital
The one-month campaign period launched Thursday, as parties sought the attention of voters in the capital and beyond. (26 June 2008)
Five major parties undertook noisy, elaborate campaigning in Phnom Penh Thursday,sweeping supporters through the capital's thoroughfares and side streets to thebanging of drums, shouting of supporters and blasting of songs, new and old. Party supporters followed their leaders, bedecked in newT-shirts and ball caps bearing party logos, and adorned with face stickers of party symbols or, simply, the numbered slot each party holds on the ballot. Police sedans, sirens silent, headlights flashing, led the convoys, along with National Election Committee vehicles, keeping the streets relatively snarl free and preventing clashes betweenopposing supporters. The major parties, Cambodian People's, Funcinpec, SamRainsy, Norodom Ranariddh and Human Rights, hung pictures and slogans on carsand motorcycles, to parade through the capital. No minor parties held ralliesin Phnom Penh,reserving their efforts for the rural areas. The ruling CPP, fourth on the ballot, used around 100 trucks andnumerous motorcycles, loaded with activists, bringing together about 13,000people, a spokesman said. Prime Minister Hun Sen, a candidate for Kandal province, joined, as party loudspeakersbroadcast messages of relief for the poor. "Bravo, nation, religion and king!" people shoutedfrom trucks. Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the CPP would onlyhold rallies at the beginning and end of the campaign period, which runsbetween June 26 and July 25. The CPP also mounted large TVs on trucks, which broadcast activitiesof CPP leaders in rural areas, as well as sports, a new campaign technique this year,Khieu Kanharith said. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, festooned in jasmine flowers,stood in the back of a rally truck, his palms pressed in a sampeas tosupporters and crowds that gathered outside homes and shops. Sam Rainsy, whose oppositionparty is No. 9 on the ballot, is competing for a parliamentary seat in KampongCham. The convoy slowly passed Central Market, broadcasting politicalmessages and pop songs with altered lyrics, such as, "Change, change,change." In one song, a woman sings to a suitor, promising to marry himafter the SRP wins the election. Funcinpec held a quick rally of 100 trucks in Phnom Penh, before takingthe convoy to Kampong Cham province, where party president Keo Puthreaksmey iscompeting. HRP President Kem Sokha, also competing for a seat inKampong Cham, and other party leaders led about 70 trucks and an estimated5,000 supporters in yellow shirts and caps. "What party do you vote for?" supporters called."Human Rights Party, No. 11 on the ballot!" came the response. Around 3,000 activists joined the NRP, No. 1 on the ballot,for its rally of 50 trucks, and an official said the campaign showed that evenin the absence of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is in exile, the party still hadthe power to gather support. "Please vote for Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and vote forthe Norodom Ranariddh Party," voices sang to a recorded traditional drumbeat. Election observers said the process in Phnom Penh went smoothly, and no incidents ofviolence were reported.