20/05/2010
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's ruling party has set up local committees nationwide to work out the political preferences of each citizen ahead of national elections in 2013, national media reported today.
A document seen by the Cambodia Daily newspaper said people would be classified as white, gray or black, depending on their affinity to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), with the party's strongest supporters categorised as white.
The object is to work out what motivates people who fall into the gray or black categories, then "transform the black and gray to become white”, the document said.
It said another purpose is to prioritise help for ruling party supporters while CPP officials claimed information gathered on political affiliations would be used solely for internal purposes.
Observers and the opposition, however, expressed concern.
Koul Panha, the head of the independent election-monitoring body COMFREL, described the move as "unprecedented".
"It's something new this time -- it's a big project," he said, adding that he was concerned the CPP plan might compel some people to take part in ruling party activities against their will.
The main opposition Sam Rainsy Party said it was concerned that information gathered could be used to target its supporters.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said the CPP leadership told party officials to collate data to determine the party's strength.
"We don't blacklist people," Khieu Kanharith said.
A CPP deputy governor of Phnom Penh said people classed as "black", who had either left the party or did not support it should not be worried.
"When we highlight people as black, we don't regard them as enemies," Pa Socheatvong said. "The CPP and the opposition parties are not enemies."
The CPP won more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats at the 2008 general election, which allows it to pass legislation without support from other parties.
- dpa
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