• Politics

Stay Neutral in Election, Sar Kheng Tells Security Forces

• By Meng Seavmey
• April 6, 2023 7:16 PM

PHNOM PENH – Interior Ministry Sar Kheng has called on security forces to remain neutral and for the public and political parties to help maintain security during the July 23 national election.

Kheng, chairman of the Permanent Security Command for the Election, spoke on April 6 at during the Dissemination Ceremony on Security Agency Organization for protection of the 7th mandate election.

He called on all parties to make the election process peaceful, transparent and fair without violence or threats.

He told security forces to facilitate processes  for political parties transparently without discrimination.

Hang Puthea, spokesperson for the National Election Committee (NEC), said about 100,000 police and armed forces would be assigned to maintain security during the election process.  

This was compared with more than 80,000 in 2018.

In an Interior Ministry post on April 6, NEC chairman Prach Chan urged all parties to obey the laws, rules and procedures of the election as well as the ethics.

Public authorities must follow a policy of neutrality without discrimination or bias. They may not use state materials or vehicles to advertise for any party.

The armed forces and police must also follow the neutrality policy prepared by the NEC, based on ethics, Prach Chan said.

Forces should prevent any threat to candidates, activists, political parties and voters by all means.

Sar Kheng also told the Permanent Security Command to strengthen the mechanism of information exchange with national-level officers and those under their command.

He said the Permanent Security Command would be responsible for guaranteeing security and public order, as well as social security within their authorized areas.

“All relevant police forces, especially election security agency, must follow the neutrality policy and the law on election, orders, procedures for the election, and ethics to make it easier and secure for all parties, candidates, party representatives, speakers, national and international observers, and citizens,” he said.

Sar Kheng reminded the Permanent Security Command to enhance consciousness, caution and a sense of responsibility for their own duties, especially during voting and the count.