Thvan Trel is one 10 officials implicated by the Interior Ministry in Mondulkiri land grabs, and is running again for commune chief at the June 5 election. Local Bunong residents blame her for the sale and loss of their burial grounds.
The ruling CPP has filed complaints against four Candlelight commune chief candidates in Pailin for using a slogan calling for the removal of “the commune chief serving the party.”
Pate commune chief Chhay Thy is proud of the two roads he built over the past five years. The former rights worker turned ruling party politician said he was confident of ongoing support from residents, but some said they wanted a Jarai leader, not a Khmer outsider.
Sor Sarath is the only woman commune-chief candidate for the Grassroots Democratic Party. Sarath, a 38-year-old tailor, says she is committed to pushing for women’s rights and participation in social activities in Kampong Chhnang’s Kampong Tralach commune. The task is not a simple one but would be a lot easier if men got out of the way, she says.
The ruling CPP will not have any major rallies when the campaign period kicks off on Saturday, said a party spokesperson, while a Candlelight Party official asked members to refrain from incendiary comments even once rallies kick off.
A ruling party official is facing a slew of charges brought by the Land Ministry after posting online a woman’s sexual allegations against minister Chea Sophara.
The opposition Candlelight Party told candidates to carry on competition against the ruling party amid lawsuits and disqualifications at a party congress on Sunday.
Kung Raiya has gone to jail for seeking a “color revolution” and later for selling Kem Ley commemorative T-shirts. The prison stints initially deterred him from being politically active, but with three weeks to go for the June election he is running for commune chief in Kampong Cham.
Candlelight candidate Sin Rozeth is in her third campaign to become O’Char’s commune chief, after losing her seat in 2017 following the dissolution of the CNRP. The former commune chief hopes to make a comeback in June and pick up her agenda to improve the commune’s infrastructure.
Kandal’s new airport development has raised tensions in Kandal Stung’s communes — residents have spoken about officers firing warning shots and loss of land. With the commune election a month away, Candlelight candidates are taking up the issue looking to capitalize on the growing discontent in the district.
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