Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for peaceful local commune elections ahead of the vote in June.
He called on Cambodians, officials and the armed forces to ensure a stable environment during the election campaign.
“We will make a good atmosphere for peaceful, free and fair elections,” he said during a speech on Monday. “To avoid conflicts during the election campaign, all political parties should only promote their better sides and should not insult others.”
Yim Sovann, an opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party spokesman, said all CNRP members were advised to act ethically during the campaign.
“If our members commit wrongdoing, we will take action,” he said. “We will not allow them to run as commune chief candidates and will cancel their party membership.”
Hang Puthea, National Election Committee spokesman, said he expected the atmosphere leading up to the elections to be better than in previous campaign cycles.
“If we find that anyone has attempted to disturb the election process and acted illegally, they will be punished, either with fines or prison sentences.”
More than 7.8 million Cambodians are eligible to vote in the elections, which are scheduled for June 4.
