Democracy - third world style

National elections are being held on July 27.

Strategies for winning the election have included charging opposition members with defamation, and throwing parties where attendees receive a “gift” of 20,000 riel (ie US$5). Some opposition candidates and even voters have been physically threatened or attacked (although it has been far milder than any previous elections where there were a number of fatal “accidents”).

My personal favourite is the convoy of trucks, tuk tuks or motorbikes (depending on party affluence / influence) decorated with flags and ridden by “party faithfuls” wearing printed shirts and caps while a loud speaker blasts out rhetorical messages, slogans and even music into the streets.

Although the current Government is expected to retain power, our team leader advised us to stock up on canned goods, medicines, water and batteries. I honestly felt silly about it… until I heard of a Khmer lady who has purchased an extra 5kgs of rice and prepared 30 salted duck eggs in case of an emergency.

All this sounds entirely absurd to Australian ears, but this is just normal here… a different kind of normal.