JAKARTA - The United States considers the general election in Cambodia not to take place in accordance with democratic principles because there is a threat to opposition parties to participate in the election.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), won the majority of seats in the elections held Sunday without any competitors after the main opposition party was barred from taking part in the election.
CPP's heavy rival, the Light Candle Party, was declared last May not allowed to participate in elections by the National Election Commission because it was considered an administrative defect.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said his country felt "disturbed because the national elections in Cambodia were not free and unfair," as reported by ANTARA.
In a statement released by the US State Department on Monday, July 14, Miller said that ahead of the election, Cambodian authorities were involved in a pattern of threats and harassment against opposition, mass media, and civil society.
"This action eliminates the voices and choices of the Cambodian people in determining the future of their country," he said.
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To that end, the US has taken steps by imposing visa restrictions on individuals who injure democracy and will also stop foreign aid in certain programs. This is not the first time opposition parties have been banned from participating in Cambodian elections.
In 2018, the Supreme Court dissolved the opposition party of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) ahead of the election. At that time, CPP managed to win all of the 125 seats in the national assembly.
Hun Sen has served as prime minister of Cambodia since 38 years ago.
When interviewed by Hong Kong television station Phoenix TV, on Thursday (20/7), Hun Sen stated that after the election, in the next three to four weeks, he would hand over power to his son, Hun Manet (45).
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