The CPP gained advantage from border row
The inflamed military dispute with Thailand more than 10 days before Election Day after Preah Vihear temple was listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in Canada. Until a handful of Thai nationalist infuriated by claiming temple to Thailand, while Cambodian citizen were taking their attention to election.
The troop stand-off with Thailand made the ruling party (CPP) get a boost for votes from this situation. At the time, most of people turned their attention fully to Thai’s encroachment on Cambodian territory rather than the election. Meanwhile, Cambodians expressed concerns that the war with Thailand would break out, especially people living along border with Thailand. The Buildup of troops along border really affected the people’s minds when they would be ready to cast a ballot for the party they love.
The tension conflict distracted people from the election until they forgot what hurt them in the past such as corruption, land-grabbing, human trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery, murder…etc.
People who were prepared to not vote for CPP changed their mind to cast a vote for CPP because they thought that if they voted for other parties, the war between Thailand will erupt. By the way, they thought that all military are in the hand of the CPP, other parties have no troops.
Therefore, the build-up of troop at Preah Vihear was a major distraction for voters. And then people changed their mind to vote for. However, the CPP’s senior official declined that border conflict would not make the party gain advantage or get a boost from this situation because they already knew that their party would win over the majority of voters and form new government on their own without coalition with other parties.
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Comments
This how a CPP policy is. I know They tried to create something up to get advantage from the vote. I guest the border situation should be resolved better if CPP wants it to, but they might keep this bad situation longer to gain their credit. “Come on people if CPP lost, no one could fight with Thai Troops” Don’t you think this is a good play from CPP?
And just as I predicted, the tension at the border will not stop because the election is over. This is a scary time for Cambodia. A one party government. With no one there to overlook. They can do whatever they please.
Let’s just hope that the education system in Cambodia keep up the work of educating the young. With education, it will bring the citizen to a right state of mind and realize that there needs to be a time for change. Cambodia does not need a dictator.