Japan donates ballot boxes worth $7.5 million for Cambodia election

Japan's Ambassador to Cambodia Horinouchi Hidehisa (L) and Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn hold a ballot box at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Japan donated over 10,000 ballot boxes for Cambodia's 2018 election on Wednesday, the first international aid for the vote after European Union and the United States withdrew their support following the dissolution of the main opposition party.

Rights groups and members of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have urged foreign backers, including Japan, to halt funding for Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC)following a Supreme Court decision to dissolve the CNRP at the government's request.