Illustrating a rapidly changing information network in Cambodia, social media played a major role yesterday, as images and videos that appeared to depict fraudulent election activity went viral on Facebook and Twitter.
Videos of voters washing off the supposedly indelible security ink used to identify those who have cast their ballots and alleged illegal Vietnamese voters being blocked at poll stations were two primary social media stories that surged across the internet.
In video footage uploaded by Facebook user Lin Chin that garnered more than 3,000 shares and a swath of online commentary, papers are ripped from the hands of a voter alleged to be Vietnamese and a crowd chants “get out, get out”.
In a second video posted on Facebook, voters are shown washing off the security ink used to identify those who have cast their ballots. Posted yesterday under the username “I Love Cambodia Hot News”, the video scored 300 shares in less than one hour. More than 450 Facebook users responded to the video, with some declaring the National Election Committee (NEC) a sham, levelling the committee with a public relations nightmare in lieu of the televised press conference held on Saturday, in which NEC chairman Im Suosdey claimed the election ink could not be removed after voters stepped outside and were exposed to sunlight.
“It is 100 per cent certain that the ink would not be able to be removed [after a vote], because when the ink is exposed to [sun]light, it is set at good quality,” Suosdey told reporters.
Both videos show multiple phones and cameras documenting the two incidents.
Social media platforms and more than 1.5 million first-time voters have merged to create a very different political landscape, according to analysts.
An estimated 9.6 million people were eligible to vote on July 28, with 3.5 million people between 18 and 30 years of age, making it the youngest Cambodian election in history.
For young voters like Ou Ritthy, a 26-year-old political science graduate and local organiser of informal political discussions in the capital, Facebook and Twitter create a forum for “spontaneous” political dialogue.
“Cambodian youth have to start discussing politics if we want to promote democracy,” Ritthy told the Post.
“Social media is our space to gather and spread information,” he said.
According to Koul Panha, executive director of election watchdog Comfrel, young voters using social media should keep seeking alternative news sources outside of party platforms.
“Social media has an optimum role for providing election information,” which in the context of Cambodia’s national elections, “has been historic”, Panha said. Raymond Leos, an independent media analyst and dean and professor of law and communications at Pannasastra University, also views the changes as positive.
“How political parties will deal with the youth vote in the future remains to be seen,” he added.
Despite increasing cellular penetration in rural provinces and the ameliorating role of social media in spreading information, the government retains strict controls on radio, television and most print outlets.
Still, the role played by social media in Cambodia’s changing political landscape was cause for hope for many.
“I think this is a turning a point for Cambodia,” Leos said.
Videos of voters washing off the supposedly indelible security ink used to identify those who have cast their ballots and alleged illegal Vietnamese voters being blocked at poll stations were two primary social media stories that surged across the internet.
In video footage uploaded by Facebook user Lin Chin that garnered more than 3,000 shares and a swath of online commentary, papers are ripped from the hands of a voter alleged to be Vietnamese and a crowd chants “get out, get out”.
In a second video posted on Facebook, voters are shown washing off the security ink used to identify those who have cast their ballots. Posted yesterday under the username “I Love Cambodia Hot News”, the video scored 300 shares in less than one hour. More than 450 Facebook users responded to the video, with some declaring the National Election Committee (NEC) a sham, levelling the committee with a public relations nightmare in lieu of the televised press conference held on Saturday, in which NEC chairman Im Suosdey claimed the election ink could not be removed after voters stepped outside and were exposed to sunlight.
“It is 100 per cent certain that the ink would not be able to be removed [after a vote], because when the ink is exposed to [sun]light, it is set at good quality,” Suosdey told reporters.
Both videos show multiple phones and cameras documenting the two incidents.
Social media platforms and more than 1.5 million first-time voters have merged to create a very different political landscape, according to analysts.
An estimated 9.6 million people were eligible to vote on July 28, with 3.5 million people between 18 and 30 years of age, making it the youngest Cambodian election in history.
For young voters like Ou Ritthy, a 26-year-old political science graduate and local organiser of informal political discussions in the capital, Facebook and Twitter create a forum for “spontaneous” political dialogue.
“Cambodian youth have to start discussing politics if we want to promote democracy,” Ritthy told the Post.
“Social media is our space to gather and spread information,” he said.
According to Koul Panha, executive director of election watchdog Comfrel, young voters using social media should keep seeking alternative news sources outside of party platforms.
“Social media has an optimum role for providing election information,” which in the context of Cambodia’s national elections, “has been historic”, Panha said. Raymond Leos, an independent media analyst and dean and professor of law and communications at Pannasastra University, also views the changes as positive.
“How political parties will deal with the youth vote in the future remains to be seen,” he added.
Despite increasing cellular penetration in rural provinces and the ameliorating role of social media in spreading information, the government retains strict controls on radio, television and most print outlets.
Still, the role played by social media in Cambodia’s changing political landscape was cause for hope for many.
“I think this is a turning a point for Cambodia,” Leos said.
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