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Cambodia Elections
By Casper | July 14, 2008
Well the election campaigns are in full swing here in Snooky. I know this as they drive in ‘convoys’ past my window every morning at around 7am …… speakers and ‘megaphones’ at full volume!
Everything seems very well organised, very friendly too with happy smiling faces and plenty of flag flying and waving by the loyal supporters in the Pick-ups and those along the roadside.
Not speaking the language, I’d very easily be taken in by the visual spectacle that I see. It’s only when I go online to read the news that I hear of the ‘darkside’ to this event.
Acid throwing against party members and the shooting of journalists seems to be common practice behind the relative ‘glamour’ of these campaigns. Two sides of the same coin. Local people that I’ve spoken with aren’t in the least bit shocked, not even surprised by these events.
Perhaps this is a sad reflection on the brutal past that many of the ‘middle aged’ Khmers have known all too well. Maybe because of this they are now toughened to the ‘reality’ of politics in Cambodia, maybe this also goes someway to explain their refusal to condemn it. Power through fear is an excellent way of silencing a population.
Sihanoukville is a sleepy Beach Resort town, it’s far away from the ‘grit’ of Phnom Penh so it’s very easy to forget or miss what is going on around us.
Whether you live or visit here, never forget you are in Cambodia.
Topics: Sihanoukville Blog |
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