PHNOM PENH, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warns on Monday to arrest any politicians who propagandize about the cancellation of debt for bank borrowers, saying they are cheating people out of ballots ahead of the upcoming elections.

The prime minister, speaking at the opening ceremony of a microfinance conference, said some politicians have been launching campaigns boasting cancel all debts that people owed the banks if they gain victory in upcoming elections.

"I'd like to call on politicians in political parties not to do such a cheap act that violates the financial regulation," he said.

"The arrest will be made on the spot, though (you are) lawmakers, because this is an act of committing a crime."

"It is unacceptable that they cheat people for their own political gain," he said, adding that such selfish campaigns are dragging people into worse debts.

Hun Sen did not specifically name any political parties in his remarks.

Cambodia is gearing up for the commune election in 2017 and the national election in 2018.

In the last national election in 2013, Hun Sen's ruling party won 68 seats against 55 seats for the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party in the 123-seat National Assembly.

source: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=323324

It's a fascinating country. The clouds of the Khmer Rouge still hang heavy over it.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-11/pol-pot-legacy-leaves-cambodian-riel-battling-dollar-s-supremacy?