The international community, through the United Nations, helped Cambodia to organise its first and only "free and fair" elections in 1993. It was a wonderful moment for a country emerging from civil war, which has confidently moved forward ever since. Cambodia has been very much on its own, with up and down political contours. This past Sunday, Cambodia held its sixth election, with the Cambodian People's Party winning the majority of seats.
This time, the international community is no longer in the same mood, filled with beautiful dreams about electoral power in a democracy. Sunday's poll was branded a sham because there were no credible opposition parties in the contest. The 19 opposition parties did not have the same political weight as the outlawed Cambodia National Rescue Party. With a voter turnout of 80.49%, 10% more than the previous election, Hun Sen can now claim he has a mandate to rule for another term.
Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.
