Krapeu school located about 20 km from Angkor Wat (Photo: NUS Students' Science Club)Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
15 October 2007
Many of Cambodia's rural poor are in worse shape than they have been in the past, a human rights official said Monday.
Emerging political conflict, food and land shortages and a low standard of living continue to plague the rural population—about 80 percent of Cambodians, said Ou Vireak, director for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
Even 10 kilometers out of Siem Reap, the gem of the country's tourism sector, most people live in abject poverty, he said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."
The Center runs a public forum that has come under recent governmental interference.
The central government has done little so far to tackle the issues facing the rural poor, despite continuous documentation by the Center, Ou Vireak said.
Ruling party officials ignore such complaints because it could cost them their position and "grip on power," he said.
Emerging political conflict, food and land shortages and a low standard of living continue to plague the rural population—about 80 percent of Cambodians, said Ou Vireak, director for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
Even 10 kilometers out of Siem Reap, the gem of the country's tourism sector, most people live in abject poverty, he said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."
The Center runs a public forum that has come under recent governmental interference.
The central government has done little so far to tackle the issues facing the rural poor, despite continuous documentation by the Center, Ou Vireak said.
Ruling party officials ignore such complaints because it could cost them their position and "grip on power," he said.
7 comments:
We just started to work on the rural area for the last couple years. How can we be everywhere with only so many staffs? What is an idiot (Ou Vireak?)
Anti-corruption law is urgently needed!
to 6:06
5 years 5 million USD
over 200 public fora--more than 100,000 directly participated, aired on 3 different radio stations
over 200 community dialogues with average of 100 people per dialogues also aired on 3 radio stations
Investigating over 2000 cases
What have you done for Cambodia?
Who's the idiot?
12:39, you are out of luck. All parliamentarians are busy campaigning for the election.
3:32, you are the idiot. Instead of socializing, partying, bullshitting, or bickering with hundreds of thousands of people, if half of them just roll up their sleeves to do some works in the rural, then we would be much better off today. Wouldn't you think?
I am just very SAD to see Cambodia like this !!!
Me too, and it had tortured me for quite sometime now, but it is impossible to help everyone at the same time. Someone will always end up last to be served, but everyone will get their basic need ultimately, one way or another.
Post a Comment