Japan donates ballot boxes worth US$7.5 mln for Cambodia election

PHNOM PENH: Japan donated over 10,000 ballot boxes for Cambodia’s 2018 election yesterday, the first international aid for the vote after European Union and the United States withdrew their support following the dissolution of the main opposition party.

Rights groups and members of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have urged foreign backers, including Japan, to halt funding for Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC) following a Supreme Court decision to dissolve the CNRP at the government’s request.

But last month Japan, which is among the largest funders of Cambodia’s elections, said it would continue to provide electoral aid in the lead up to Senate elections this month and a general election in July.

At a ceremony yesterday, Japan’s ambassador to Cambodia, Hidehisa Horinouchi, said the NEC was in need of new ballot boxes to replace the ones given by Tokyo 20 years ago.

“These ballot boxes are a symbol of Japan’s aid for democracy in Cambodia and I hope these ballot boxes will provide lasting benefits for holding future election smoothly,” Horinouchi said.

“I hope Cambodia achieves an election that reflects the true will of the people.”

The Japanese ballot boxes were worth US$7.5 million.

“Our Japanese friends have never abandoned us,” NEC’s Chairman Sik Bun Hok told reporters.