Observers: Cambodia's Pre-Election Mostly Peaceful
柬反对派指责政府玩手段骗取选举

　 
Foreign observers keeping a close eye on Cambodia's upcoming general elections have reported a more peaceful pre-election period than for previous campaigns. However, rights groups and opposition parties accuse the government of trying to steal the elections through threats and cheating, accusations the government denies.

密切关注柬埔寨大选的外国观察人士说，柬埔寨这次选前气氛比过去几次竞选活动都平和。但是右翼组织和反对党指责政府试图通过威胁和欺骗骗取选举胜利。柬埔寨政府对此予以否认。

This is Cambodia's fourth general election since democracy was reintroduced by a United Nations mandate in 1991.

这是柬埔寨1991年根据联合国一项决定重新实施民主制度以来的第4次大选。

Most observers expect the ruling Cambodian People's Party led by Prime Minister Hun Sen to sweep to an easy victory.

大部分观察人士预计，由洪森总理领导的执政党柬埔寨人民党会轻而易举地胜出。

In the past, two-thirds of parliamentarians were needed to form a government. But a recent change in Cambodia's election law means that a simple majority of 50 percent plus one are now all that is needed.

That means that for the first time, the ruling CPP is likely to be able to govern without the support of smaller parties.

While the run-up to polling day has been more peaceful than in previous elections, it has been marked by a spate of politically motivated killings and other alleged abuses, such as vote-buying and intimidation.

尽管投票前的这段日子比过去几次选举都平静，但仍然发生了一些政治杀害事件和其它所谓滥用权力的事件，例如买票和恐吓。

Kek Galabru, head of the local human rights group Lichadho, says that ruling party activists are threatening voters.

加拉布吕是当地一个人权组织的负责人。她说，执政党的活动人士在威胁选民。

"We continue to see intimidation everywhere, everywhere," said Galabru. "Like they say: we need your ID to be able to...I don't know what to do, so people are scared. Why they want my ID? Sometimes they come [and say]: if you join us you will have a good future. If you don't: be careful - look at the land-grabbing etc."

“我们继续在许多地方看到这类威胁。比如他们说，我们需要你的身份证，所以人们感到害怕，他们为什么要我的证件？有时候，他们会说，如果你站在我们一边，你就会有好前途，如果不干，你可要小心了，等等。”

Parliament member Son Chhay is a spokesman for the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party. He accuses the ruling Cambodian People's Party of trying to steal the election.

议员松蔡是主要反对党森朗西党的发言人。他指责执政的柬埔寨人民党试图窃取选举。

"If you have a free and fair election without vote-buying, without intimidation, without cheating, I doubt that the CPP would be able to get more than 30 percent of the vote," said Chhay. "So it's quite a big problem here. We're never going to be able to have a free and fair election. You know, you can compare Cambodia with Zimbabwe, if not worse than that."

“如果有一个自由公正、没有买票、没有恐吓、没有欺骗的选举，我怀疑柬埔寨人民党是否能够得到30%以上的选票。所以，这里有相当大的问题。我们不会有自由和公正的选举。你知道，你可以把柬埔寨和津巴布韦作比较，如果不比它更差的话。”

The government denies that widespread electoral abuses have occurred, pointing to the reduced number of politically-motivated killings reported during the pre-election period. Ke Bun Khieng is the Campaign Deputy Director for the ruling Cambodian People's Party.

政府否认出现过大范围的选举舞弊，并指出选举前夕有政治动机的刺杀事件有所减少。盖本金是执政的柬埔寨人民党的竞选副主任。

Khieng says he believes the campaign to choose party candidates for the fourth term in parliament went smoothly. He says incidents of politically-motivated violence were very low and that electoral monitors have reported big improvements since the last election.

他说，他相信挑选该党第四届议会候选人的竞选活动进展顺利。他说，有政治动机的暴力事件非常少，选举监督者报告说，自从上次选举以来，情况有了很大的改善。

While International monitors in Cambodia have reported an improved election environment this time around, they point to what they call "critical problems" in Cambodia, such as the governments monopoly on TV broadcasting.

在柬埔寨的国际监督人员报告说，此次的选举环境有所改观，但是柬埔寨仍旧存在他们所说的“严重问题”，例如政府对电视广播的垄断。

Tom Andrews is a spokesman for the National Democratic Institute which just released a report on the pre-election period.

"Cambodia has made some improvements - I think you have to recognize that," he said. "I was here in 1995 and again for the elections in 1998 - there are clear improvements, That said, are voters in Cambodia getting a clear opportunity to hear all sides in the election, no. Is the ruling party using the apparatus of power vis-a-vis the government to maximize it's advantage - yes."

With one day to go before voting begins, active campaigning has now come to an end.

现在距离投票开始还有一天时间，竞选活动已经鸣锣收兵。

The government has introduced a 24-hour alcohol ban to coincide with voting which begins early Sunday morning.

政府发布了一项24小时禁酒令，碰巧和投票时间一样，将从星期天清晨起执行。

First results are not expected for a few days.

首批选举结果需要在几天之后才能知道。