PHNOM PENH: Over 600 international observers and guests from over 65 countries will come to Cambodia on the occasion of the upcoming 7th National Assembly election on Sunday. Many foreign observers have already arrived safely in Cambodia, and many more are on their way.

As of today, a delegation of foreign observers from various countries arrived including the Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, a delegation of international observers from the Maldives, a delegation from the ICAPP (International Conference of Asian Political Parties), and a delegation from the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, among others.

Noticeably absent from this year’s observers is the US, whose embassy released a statement in May saying that they would not be sending observers to the election which they called, “neither free nor fair.” Their decision was made after Cambodia’s National Election Committee denied the application of the major opposition Candlelight Party to participate in the election, citing insufficient paperwork.

In a Telegram message, Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked the Speaker of the Malaysian parliament and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, along with former heads of state, for taking the time to observe the election on Sunday. Besides foreign observers, the National Election Committee has so far accredited nearly 90,000 domestic observers.

The General Department of Information will host workshops for international observers over the next few days at Phnom Penh’s Sokha Hotel.