Cambodian-Australians call for election boycott over Hun Sen

Protesters have gathered in cities across Australia to take a stand against Hun Sen.

Protests in Melbourne.

Protests in Melbourne. Source: SBS News

Cambodian-Australians have demonstrated in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide calling for a boycott of Sunday’s general election.

"Sham election, in Cambodia, fake election, in Cambodia," protesters in Melbourne chanted on Saturday.

Malcolm Ky fled Cambodia as a refugee in 1984. He drove from Sydney to join the protest in Melbourne. 

"Just to show my support, that I'm against tomorrow's election which I believe is not fair and it's not free and I'm against it," he said.  

Protests in Melbourne.
Protests in Melbourne. Source: SBS News

Voting isn't compulsory in Cambodia and the demonstrators in Australia are hoping to convince people to stay away from the polling booths.

The President of the Cambodian Australian Federation, Hong Lim said that outcome would send a strong message.

"So that, effectively, turnout is so low, it's a signal the whole international community to take action, further action, to condemn [Prime Minister] Hun Sen, the dictator," Mr Lim said.    

Cambodian-Australians are encouraging those in Cambodia not to vote.
These Cambodian-Australians are encouraging those in Cambodia not to vote. Source: SBS News

Hun Sen has led Cambodia since 1985 and his re-election will mean he will be in power for another five years.

There are 19 other parties standing in the election but Hong Lim from the Cambodian Australian Federation says many of them are just fronts for the leader.

"It's just a sham, it's just a front, it's just a stooge of Hun Sen literally because they did not exist, they only were created out of the blue from last month."

Australia has decided not to send diplomats to monitor the Cambodia election and the United States has taken a similar position.

A government spokesperson told SBS News: "We will continue to raise our concerns at the highest levels of the Cambodia government to allow its citizens to exercise their democratic rights."


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2 min read

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By SBS News, Greg Dyett

Source: SBS


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