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PHNOM PENH: Turnout in Cambodia’s weekend election was a “good
figure” at 75 percent, the country’s election committee said
Wednesday, amid opposition rejections of the results and demands for
a re-vote.
More than 6 million out of 8.1 million eligible
voters cast ballots in Sunday’s election.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian
People’s Party has claimed a landslide victory, saying it captured
at least 90 of the 123 seats in parliament.
Although turnout fell from the 83 percent who
voted in the country’s previous poll in 2003, Tep Nytha,
secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), said
there was still good voter participation.
“Generally, when the number of voters casting
ballots is 70-percent up, it is a good figure. In some countries,
the percentage of voters is only around 60 percent,” he said.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has estimated that
one million of the registered voters were cut from the rolls and has
demanded a re-vote.
But European Union election observers have said
only about 50,000 could not find their names registered when they
attempted to vote.
The NEC has denied opposition allegations that
voters were left off the rolls on purpose.
International monitors said Tuesday that the
election was flawed and did not meet key standards, despite a more
peaceful campaign and improvements in the electoral process.
-- AFP
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