UK Ambassador will monitor election

Outgoing British Ambassador Bill Longhurst shakes hands with National Assembly President Heng Samrin. National Assembly

Great Britain will participate in monitoring the national election on July 29. This was agreed upon at a meeting on Friday (June 15) between Heng Samrin, president of the NA (National Assembly), and Bill Longhurst, current British Ambassador to Cambodia. This will be the last Cambodian election he will experience as he will soon return to England.

“His Excellency Bill Longhurst said that during his four- year mission in Cambodia he joined the observers of the communal election 2017, but he will get new experience from the national election 2018,” was to read in the NA’s statement.

On behalf of British government, the ambassador pointed out that England hopes that the upcoming election will go smoothly, and that England will continue to work with the Cambodian government to maintain peace, political stability and economic progress.

Mr Longhurst confirmed that the UK will continue to provide scholarships for Cambodian students who wish to study in England, and will sustain its aid in demining Cambodia.

Mr Samrin told the ambassador that with 20 political parties on the ballot, the election will be free and fair.

Khmer Times
Ven Rathavong