Cambodia shuts off SMS ahead of elections

Staff Writer | April 02, 2007

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(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Cambodia switched off mobile phone text messaging services, a day ahead of elections to choose new local governing councils.

Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers packed buses and taxis and headed home to vote in their provinces, where Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party has had a loyal support base for almost three decades.

Ahead of Sunday's vote, cell phone text messaging services were switched off to keep voters from being flooded with campaign messages, and maintain what the government called a two-day 'tranquility period.'

The decision prompted protests from the opposition party and independent election monitoring groups, who denounced the SMS ban as unconstitutional.

'The present situation is calm enough and does not require such a ban, which might be suitable only in a situation of armed conflict or war,' Hang Puthea, executive director of the independent election monitoring group Nicfec, said.

Telecommunications Minister So Khun said that all three major phone companies in Cambodia had agreed to block text messages on Saturday and Sunday.

The government has said text messaging will be restored after polls close at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Kuol Panha, director of Comfrel, an independent election monitoring group, said that text message services are cheaper than telephone conversations and, therefore, are the most effective way for party agents and election monitors to report about the conduct of the polls.

The ban will curtail party agents' and monitors' ability to work effectively, he said.

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