Khmer Muslism women waiting in line to attend Nuon Chea's court hearing on 07 February 2008 (Photo: Reuters)By Kong Soth, VOA Khmer
Kampong Cham
11 February 2008
Hundreds of Cambodian Muslims faced three parliamentarians Saturday, calling on them to fix problems within their communities, including schools, health care and farmland.
The Chams, who participated in a public forum put on by the National Democratic Institute Saturday, told party representatives these would be important issues for them in July’s national elections.
About 420 Chams participated in the forum, which included a representative each from the Cambodian People’s Party, Funcinpec and the Sam Rainsy Party.
“There were some Khmer Muslim teachers at this school in the past, but they stopped teaching because they didn’t have any salary while their living conditions were so poor,” said El Vansa, a teacher who attended the forum.
El Mad, who lives in Sambo village, Kor commune, and wore a Muslim cap on his head, said people in his village were uneducated and easily tricked out of their land.
“They always suffer from cheating by corrupt people,” he said.
Others expressed concern about gambling, as the three parliamentarians present listened.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Cheam Chany said the opposition lacked the capability to solve everyone’s problems immediately.
Jerome Cheung, NDI’s Cambodia directory, said voters had a right to conversations with their elected officials.
The Chams, who participated in a public forum put on by the National Democratic Institute Saturday, told party representatives these would be important issues for them in July’s national elections.
About 420 Chams participated in the forum, which included a representative each from the Cambodian People’s Party, Funcinpec and the Sam Rainsy Party.
“There were some Khmer Muslim teachers at this school in the past, but they stopped teaching because they didn’t have any salary while their living conditions were so poor,” said El Vansa, a teacher who attended the forum.
El Mad, who lives in Sambo village, Kor commune, and wore a Muslim cap on his head, said people in his village were uneducated and easily tricked out of their land.
“They always suffer from cheating by corrupt people,” he said.
Others expressed concern about gambling, as the three parliamentarians present listened.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Cheam Chany said the opposition lacked the capability to solve everyone’s problems immediately.
Jerome Cheung, NDI’s Cambodia directory, said voters had a right to conversations with their elected officials.
2 comments:
Dear Lawmaker
"Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Cheam Chany said the opposition lacked the capability to solve everyone’s problems immediately".
This is really a poor choice of statement indeed.
Why admitted defeat far early before the election start?
Don't party have any well prepared concrete mandate to tackle issues and a bright vision for the future?
Do you think your statement would help your party and party vision for 2008 election?
problem solving in society takes time; just like democracy takes time. everything is not going to happen to change overnight. this is the problem when we rush things. everything takes time. for instance, it took america almost three hundred years to be the way american society is right now. this is what i mean when i say be realistic in one's view and expectation. cambodia will become better in a short time, but just don't be too rushy, too hasty and too pushy. this requires cooperation and dialogue with all parties in cambodia. please do it civilizedly. this is my opinion only.
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