Cambodian Prime Minister Mr Hun Sen told officials today to crack down on violence and intimidation as the country nears its first-ever local elections.
Several candidates from the royalist Funcinpec and the Sam Rainsy Party, both of which expect to make strong gains on election day, have been killed in the lead-up to the February 3rd vote for leaders of 1,600 communes, or village clusters.
Mr Hun Sen, whose Cambodian People's Party holds all commune leadership positions, said authorities must remain neutral and ensure the safety of election candidates, party activists and election observers.
"Local authorities must not provoke havoc or fear which will block the election," Mr Hun Sen said in a statement. "Authorities must monitor and curb in advance all crimes - kidnapping, murder, threats, intimidation and ambushes".
Mr Hun Sen told the police and military not to openly brandish weapons during two weeks of election campaigning which begin on Friday. "Show both the national and international public that the armed forces are neutral," he said.
Fourteen election candidates and party activists have been killed in the past 12 months, an independent election monitor group, the Committee for Free and Fair Election, said today.
Cambodia police dismiss any political links to the killings of candidates, blaming the deaths on personal disputes and robbery.