PHNOM PENH July 26 Kyodo The numb...

PHNOM PENH July 26 Kyodo

The number of killings and voter intimidation was down in the just-ended campaign for Sunday's general election in Cambodia from the previous catalogue of persons in 1998, according to brace nongovernmental organizations.

''Most provinces report the popular electoral climate as being better than in 1998'' said a statement released Friday through the Committee for at liberty and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) and the Neutral and Impartial Committee for liberated and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC).

''This year we have seen an overall reduction of politically motivated killings and serious cases of election-related intimidation, however, the forms of intimidation have become more artful and sophisticated, particularly in unallied areas,'' the statement added.

Comfrel and NICFEC said the victims came from the three main political parties -- the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) the Sam Rainsy Party and the royalist FUNCINPEC.

The statement said that during the four weeks of campaigning, 17 killings and 213 cases of intimidation and threats were reported.

According to conduct records, 15 people were massacreed -- seven from the CPP five from FUNCINPEC and three from the Sam Rainsy Party.

Besides the violence, violations of campaign regulations have been observ including prolific pre-election campaign activities through the three main parties and the use of the media to criticize other parties and politicians for historical and political events

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