Cambodia to deploy 37,530 security personnel for upcoming local election

Cambodian National Police chief Gen. Neth Savoeun said on Thursday that the Southeast Asian country will deploy 37,530 security personnel to ensure security and public order during the commune election on June 4.

The security forces, including 35,043 police, 643 military police and 1,844 soldiers, will be sent to protect all polling stations across the kingdom on the election day, the official said during a meeting here.

According to the National Election Committee (NEC), 12 political parties have registered their candidates for the upcoming election.

Major parties include the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party and the royalist Funcinpec Party.

The NEC said some 7.87 million Cambodians had registered to cast their ballots in the election to choose commune chiefs and councilors for the country's 1,646 communes.

The commune election, held once every five years, is the kingdom's second largest election after the general election.

In the last commune election in June 2012, the ruling CPP swept 1,592 of the country's 1,633 commune chief seats, followed by the opposition party with 40 seats and the royalist Funcinpec Party with one seat. Endit