Trans-Pacific View

Why Are Washington State Legislators Covering for Cambodia’s Sham Elections?

Recent Features

Trans-Pacific View

Why Are Washington State Legislators Covering for Cambodia’s Sham Elections?

Why are state legislators from Washington state in the United States cozying up to the Cambodian regime?

Why Are Washington State Legislators Covering for Cambodia’s Sham Elections?
Credit: Photo via Doug Ericksen

For those citizens eager to participate in the democratic process in Cambodia, tickets to the July 29, 2018 elections are now available on Eventbrite. The page says that the elections signal the “rebirth of democracy” and touts that they are “universally described as transparent, free, fair and in compliance with international standards.”

In reality, Sunday’s elections will be anything but free and fair, with Cambodia’s authoritarian ruler of 33 years, Prime Minister Hun Sen, all but guaranteed to sweep the polls. In November, the government disbanded the only viable opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), after accusing it of conspiring with the U.S. State Department-funded National Democratic Institute (NDI) to overthrow the government.

[...]
Dreaming of a career in the Asia-Pacific?
Try The Diplomat's jobs board.
Find your Asia-Pacific job