Joint Statement of the League of Civil Society Organizations On Requesting an Increase in the Number of National Assembly Seats for the 4th Legislature of the National Assembly (2008 - 2013)
Phnom Penh, May 25, 2007
The league of below-mentioned civil society organizations would like to express its regret that the majority of the members of the Commission for the Determination of the National Assembly Seats have decided not to propose an increase in the number of parliamentary seats in the Royal Government of Cambodia. The league of the civil society organizations would like to recommend to the leaders of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the two national legislative bodies that they consider the possibility of raising the number of seats of the National Assembly for the 4th legislature (2008 - 2013) to 130. Based on the rate of population growth, and geographic, social and economic factors in some constituencies, there should be increase of at least seven seats at the National Assembly for: Battambang, Kampong Speu, Koh Kong, Otdar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Siem Reap and Sihanouk Ville.
The above request is based on the following requirements:
1. To increase the representativeness of the parliament in proportion to the population and in accordance with the law.
The population has increased by two million, from around 12 million in 2003 to an estimated 14.5 million in 2008. It should be noticed that the National Assembly has historically increased the number of seats from mandate to mandate. Additionally, the increase of seats is in compliance with Article 7 of the Law on the Election of the Members of the National Assembly: 'In the third year of every legislative term, the Council of Ministers shall form a Commission for the Determination of National Assembly Seats to modify the number of seats and allocate seats to each province/ municipality'. Actually, only around 112 MPs carry out all their duties, as at least 11 parliamentarians are also government officials, who are busy with government work and barely fulfill their responsibilities as MPs. There should be an amendment to the Constitution to distinguish between members of the legislative and of the executive body.
2. To increase the number of parliamentarians visiting and solving the problems of constituents.
According to reports collected from organizations’ public forums and COMFREL’s Parliamentary Watch Reports, people in each constituency need more parliamentarians to protect their interests. Although many MPs are very active in visiting citizens and intervening in and solving the problems of the people in their own constituencies, this number is not sufficient for the large proportion of people, in remote areas in particular, who need help from their representatives.
3. To balance the number of members of National Assembly commissions with the number of government institutions to be able to review the performance of ministries and government institutions.
The current number of parliamentarians is not appropriate for the work of National Assembly commissions. Since the 1st legislature of the National Assembly, the government has established more ministries and national authorities. Furthermore, the number of government members has doubled from mandate to mandate.
4. To strengthen review of income and expenditure in the national budget.
It is not reasonable to reject such a request on the basis of budgetary problems, as spending on public interest should be prioritized; an increase by at least seven parliamentarians is not going to take up much of the national budget given annual increases in the national budget. In addition, the government recently claimed high economic growth for Cambodia, using this as a reason for increasing salaries of the armed forces by 20% next year. Based on current Cambodian economic growth and the commitments of the government to increase national income from other potential national resources as well as fighting against corruption, the increase in the number of seats is not going to have any negative effect on national budget or economics.
Hence, as mentioned earlier, the league of civil society organizations insist that the government consider the possibility of increasing the number of seats in the National Assembly for the 4th and/or the next legislature of the National Assembly.
For further information, please contact:
The above request is based on the following requirements:
1. To increase the representativeness of the parliament in proportion to the population and in accordance with the law.
The population has increased by two million, from around 12 million in 2003 to an estimated 14.5 million in 2008. It should be noticed that the National Assembly has historically increased the number of seats from mandate to mandate. Additionally, the increase of seats is in compliance with Article 7 of the Law on the Election of the Members of the National Assembly: 'In the third year of every legislative term, the Council of Ministers shall form a Commission for the Determination of National Assembly Seats to modify the number of seats and allocate seats to each province/ municipality'. Actually, only around 112 MPs carry out all their duties, as at least 11 parliamentarians are also government officials, who are busy with government work and barely fulfill their responsibilities as MPs. There should be an amendment to the Constitution to distinguish between members of the legislative and of the executive body.
2. To increase the number of parliamentarians visiting and solving the problems of constituents.
According to reports collected from organizations’ public forums and COMFREL’s Parliamentary Watch Reports, people in each constituency need more parliamentarians to protect their interests. Although many MPs are very active in visiting citizens and intervening in and solving the problems of the people in their own constituencies, this number is not sufficient for the large proportion of people, in remote areas in particular, who need help from their representatives.
3. To balance the number of members of National Assembly commissions with the number of government institutions to be able to review the performance of ministries and government institutions.
The current number of parliamentarians is not appropriate for the work of National Assembly commissions. Since the 1st legislature of the National Assembly, the government has established more ministries and national authorities. Furthermore, the number of government members has doubled from mandate to mandate.
4. To strengthen review of income and expenditure in the national budget.
It is not reasonable to reject such a request on the basis of budgetary problems, as spending on public interest should be prioritized; an increase by at least seven parliamentarians is not going to take up much of the national budget given annual increases in the national budget. In addition, the government recently claimed high economic growth for Cambodia, using this as a reason for increasing salaries of the armed forces by 20% next year. Based on current Cambodian economic growth and the commitments of the government to increase national income from other potential national resources as well as fighting against corruption, the increase in the number of seats is not going to have any negative effect on national budget or economics.
Hence, as mentioned earlier, the league of civil society organizations insist that the government consider the possibility of increasing the number of seats in the National Assembly for the 4th and/or the next legislature of the National Assembly.
For further information, please contact:
- Mr. THUN Saray, First Representative of COMFREL and President of ADHOC, 016 880 509
- Dr. Kek GALABRU, Chairwoman of Board of Directors of NICFEC and President of LICHADO, 012 802 506
- Mr. KOUL Panha, Executive Director of COMFREL, 012 942 017
- Dr. Puthea HANG, Executive Director of NICFEC and Fine Art Association, 012 959 666
- Mr. MAK Sarath, Coordinator of YCC, 012 992 401
- Mrs. Oung Chanthol, Executive Director of Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, 012 840 507
- Ms. Nay Dina, Executive Director of Khmer Institute for Democracy, 011 924 286
- Mr. YENG Virak, Executive Director of Community Legal Education Center, 012 801 235
- Mr. NHEK Sarin, Executive Director of Star Kampuchea, 016 273 728
- Dr. SIN Somuny, Executive Director of Medicam, 012 579 062
- Mr. OU Virak, Executive Director of Cambodian Center for Human Rights, 012 875 353
- Mrs. PEUNG Yok Hiep, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Cambodia, 012 823 745
- Mr. YOUNG Kim Eng, President of People for Development and Peace Center, 016 828 211
- Mr. Chiv You Meng, President of Khmer Youth Association, 012 772 271
- Mr. MOM Sarin, Executive Director of Human Rights and Community Development Organization, 011 738 975
- Mr. SOUN Sareth, Executive Secretary of Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, 012 830 422
- Mrs. Thida KHUS, Executive Director of Silaka, 012 838 464
- Mrs. ROS Sopheap, Executive Director of Gender and Development for Cambodia, 012 627 857
- Mrs. POK Nanda, Executive Director of Women for Prosperity, 012 420 093
- Mrs. CHEA Vannath, Independent Consultant and former President of Center for Social Development, 016 831 905
- Mr. NGIN Sao Roth, Executive Director of Cambodia Disabled People’s Organization, 016 851 841
- Mr. YEANG Vanna, President of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization, 012 872 546
- Mr. CHEANG Sokha, Executive Director of Youth Resources Development Program, 012 360 464
- Mr. VA Moeun, Executive Director of Mlup Baitong, 012 782 536
- Mr. LIM Phai, President of Urban Sector Group, 012 859 226
- Mr. MAO Veasna, President of Students’ Movement for Democracy, 012 754 702
- Mr. HANG Sokmakara, President of Cambodian Youth Center, 012 799 588
- Mr. SREY Vanthon, President of Action on Disability and Development, 012 803 394
- Mrs. YIM Nimola, President of Khmer Women’s Voice Center, 012 911 099
- Mr. AT Thun, President of Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union, 012 998 906
- Mr. LY Koim, President of Union Federation of Tourism in Cambodia, 012 866 682
- Mr. CHHUN Borith, Coordinator of Khmer Youth and Social Development, 012 798 488
3 comments:
Let us stick to 125,000 people/MP
because we are not a rich country.
Plus, we need the money to fight
corruption, as indicated by
Transparency International.
Do you think the CPP give a damn of what you say. You need to have guns in order for them to listen to you.
Actually, I have lot in common with
the CPP, that is why we are great
pal.
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