As the 2022 commune election campaign is going on, a social user posted two pictures showing a leaflet of the Cambodian People’s Party being stuck over the logo of the Candle Light Party (CLP) printed on a banner. The social media user claimed that Sin Chanpovrozeth – the CLP’s candidate running for the election in the O’Char commune, Battambang province – and her supporters committed the act on purpose to get attention from the public. The claim had been shared with different social media groups. However, after our investigation, we prove the claim is misleading.
Social Media Claim
A Facebook user name គណបក្ស ផ្សែងទៀន (Candle Smoke Party) posted two photos on social media, showing an election campaign leaflet of the Cambodian People’s Party was stuck over the logo of the Candle Light Party (CLP) printed on a banner used for the election campaign in the O’Char commune, Battambang province.
The social media user claimed that the act was committed by Sin Chanpovrozeth – the CLP’s candidate running for the O’Char commune in the 2022 subnational election – and her supporters on purpose to get attention from the public.
The claim had was shared with a social group name កឹម សុខ វិរៈបុរស (Kem Sokha, a Stateman) which contains more 24,000 Facebook accounts as its members.
Below is the capture of the claim published on social media on May 27, 2022, just hours after the incident happened in Battambang province as the 2022 election campaign is underway.
The claim was also shared with another social group named TV Sorn Dara which contains more than 100,000 Facebook accounts as its members.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began verifying the claim by talking to relevant parties who have learned about the incident. This leads us to find out the truth as below.
The claim above is targeted at Sin Chanpovrozeth – a local well-known woman who was once elected as the chief of the O’Char commune in 2017 and is now the CLP’s candidate running for the same region. So, Chanpovrozeth is much related to being talked to.
In an interview on phone with Fact Crescendo Cambodia on May 28, 2022, Chanpovrozeth dismissed the claim, saying she never committed such misconduct to get the attention of the public.
Chanpovrozeth added the same incident happened twice in the last two days and that reported to the local election commission. She continued the local election commission summoned CPP representatives in Kab Kor village to see and remove the sticker.
Fact Crescendo Cambodia also talked to Aem Sophal – a CPP candidate who runs for chief of the O’Char commune in the election. In the interview, Sophal also dismissed any allegation linked to his political party. Instead, Sophal urged the CLP representative to file a complaint with the local police if firm evidence was available.
Responding to our inquiry, O’Char Police Chief Prak Ky said he had learned about the incident, but said his police officers did not take any action because no complaint has been submitted.
Speaking to Fact Crescendo Cambodia in an interview, Mao Nuon – a legal officer of the election commission in the O’Char commune – said the election body has learned about the incident, and a group of the election officers was assigned to find out the truth.
Ms. Mao Nuon added the local CPP representatives were summoned to see the incident and remove the sticker from the opposition banner.
However, Ms. Nuon said the local election body has not continued the case after both political parties agreed to end the spat.
An about 8-minute video shared on Facebook yesterday shows a group of men wearing clothes with the logo of the CPP presented at the incident site.
One of them said he went to remove the sticker and said his political party did not do that. Other men cleaned the spot where the sticker was attached.
Ms. Sin Chanpovrozeth was elected as the chief of the O’Char commune by Cambodian National Rescue Party (CRNP) in the 2017 sub-national election. She was removed from the post after the CNRP was dissolved in late that year.
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the claim mentioned above is misleading. Sin Chanpovrozeth – an opposition candidate for the O’Char commune – dismissed the claim and said she and her supporters never committed such misconduct to get people’s attention. The local ruling representative also dismissed any harassment against the banner. And the local election official has no clue to prove who harassed the opposition banner.
Title:The Opposition Election Campaign Banner Harassed by Unidentified Person
Fact Check By: Jay UdomResult: Misleading
