Wednesday, 28 May 2008
By Touch Yuthea
The Mekong Times
Most Cambodians are happy with the way Cambodia is being run, an International Republican Institute (IRI) survey has claimed, with 77 percent of those asked responding that Cambodia is moving in the right direction and 20 percent saying it was moving in the wrong direction.
The survey, taken Jan 27-Feb 26, asked 2,000 eligible voters from across the Kingdom the simple question: “Is Cambodia generally headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?” said IRI Director John Willis during a press conference yesterday.
The IRI asked respondents to give reasons for their answer, he said.
Road building was the most popular reason for saying Cambodia is moving forward, with 77 percent of people seeing this as a major achievement. School construction came next, with 63 percent, 23 percent plumped for health clinic construction, 20 percent for pagoda construction, 17 percent for bridge building, 14 percent for irrigation and 10 percent for “other”. Better living conditions were a reason why Cambodia is generally headed in the right direction, thought 11 percent of those surveyed, while 7 percent cited peace. Just 9 percent said a good business environment was helping Cambodia develop.
Of reasons why Cambodia is moving in the wrong direction, high goods prices was the most popular at 32 percent, corruption at 30 percent, poverty at 22 percent, energy prices at 20 percent, “business poor” at 15 percent, nepotism at 13 percent, “low, low prices” at 12 percent, “land threat” at 12 percent, the environment at 9 percent and poor infrastructure at 9 percent.
Human Rights Party president Kem Sokha cast aspersions on the IRI’s report, saying that the sample size was too small to be reliable.
“Most Cambodians people do not like the [the present government’s] leadership because it is heading in the wrong direction in all sectors — politics, economy, and society,” he argued. “A more accurate figure would be around 20 percent saying [Cambodia is generally headed] in right direction and more than 70 percent saying the wrong way.”
The survey, taken Jan 27-Feb 26, asked 2,000 eligible voters from across the Kingdom the simple question: “Is Cambodia generally headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?” said IRI Director John Willis during a press conference yesterday.
The IRI asked respondents to give reasons for their answer, he said.
Road building was the most popular reason for saying Cambodia is moving forward, with 77 percent of people seeing this as a major achievement. School construction came next, with 63 percent, 23 percent plumped for health clinic construction, 20 percent for pagoda construction, 17 percent for bridge building, 14 percent for irrigation and 10 percent for “other”. Better living conditions were a reason why Cambodia is generally headed in the right direction, thought 11 percent of those surveyed, while 7 percent cited peace. Just 9 percent said a good business environment was helping Cambodia develop.
Of reasons why Cambodia is moving in the wrong direction, high goods prices was the most popular at 32 percent, corruption at 30 percent, poverty at 22 percent, energy prices at 20 percent, “business poor” at 15 percent, nepotism at 13 percent, “low, low prices” at 12 percent, “land threat” at 12 percent, the environment at 9 percent and poor infrastructure at 9 percent.
Human Rights Party president Kem Sokha cast aspersions on the IRI’s report, saying that the sample size was too small to be reliable.
“Most Cambodians people do not like the [the present government’s] leadership because it is heading in the wrong direction in all sectors — politics, economy, and society,” he argued. “A more accurate figure would be around 20 percent saying [Cambodia is generally headed] in right direction and more than 70 percent saying the wrong way.”
Wow, Wow, Wow! 77% rating is very high.
ReplyDeleteGood on you IRI to produce such a result of survey.
SRP and HRP would not be very happy with it at all.
Of course Ah Spam Rainxy will not be happy with it because he's an ignorant idiot.
ReplyDeleteHe is not ignorant but he just know nothing because of his extreme pride
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Cambodia is moving to right direction although there are some problems like corruption, and biased juridical system, conflict over land need to be solved.
We need Hun Sen and CPP for the sake of political stability. After that economic development development follow. Political rights is not important but social rights is.
ReplyDeleteWe can not eat democracy, but we eat rice.
Board of Directors of IRI
ReplyDeleteU.S. Senator John McCain, Chairman
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Armed Services
Peter T. Madigan, Vice Chairman
Principal, Johnson, Madigan and Peck
Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of State
J. William Middendorf, II, Secretary - Treasurer
Chairman, Middendorf & Associates, Inc.
Former Secretary of the Navy
Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Community, Organization of American States and the Netherlands
Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, III
Former Presidential Envoy to Iraq
Former Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands
Gahl Hodges Burt
Vice Chairman, American Academy in Berlin
Former White House Social Secretary
U.S. Representative David Dreier
Ranking Member, House Committee on the Rules
Lawrence S. Eagleburger
Former U.S. Secretary of State
Former U.S. Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Association
Former Chairman of the Republican Party
Alison B. Fortier
Vice President, Lockheed Martin Missile Defense Programs
Former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Mayor James A. Garner
Former Mayor, Incorporated Village of Hempstead, New York
Janet G. Mullins Grissom
Partner, Johnson, Madigan and Peck
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of State
U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel
Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion
Cheryl F. Halpern
Chairman, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Trustee, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Member of the Board of Directors, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
William J. Hybl
Chairman and Chief Executive Office, El Pomar Foundation
President Emeritus, U.S. Olympic Committee
Former Special Counsel to the President of the United States
The Honorable Jim Kolbe
U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona’s Eighth District 1985-2006
Michael Kostiw
Former Senior Advisor to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Stephan M. Minikes
Of Counsel to Xenophon Strategies
Former United States Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Constance Berry Newman
Special Counsel for African Affairs, Carmen Group
Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Former Assistant Administrator for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development
Alec L. Poitevint, II
Chairman, Southeastern Minerals, Inc.
National Committeeman, Georgia Republican National Committee
John F.W. Rogers
Managing Director and member of the Management Committee of Goldman Sachs
Randy Scheunemann
President and Owner, Orion Strategies LLC
Joseph R. Schmuckler
Senior Executive Officer, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co., Ltd.
Brent Scowcroft
President, The Scowcroft Group, Inc.
Former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force (retired)
Margaret Tutwiler
Senior Vice President and Head of Global Communications and Public Affairs, Merrill Lynch
Former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. State Department
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco
Olin L. Wethington
Chairman, AIG Companies in China
Former Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Richard S. Williamson
Presidential Envoy to Sudan
Partner, Winston & Straw LLP
Former State Representative for Special Political Affairs to the United Nations
Officers
Lorne W. Craner, President
Judy Van Rest, Executive Vice President
Georges A. Fauriol, Senior Vice President
Elizabeth Dugan, Vice President for Programs
Harold W. Collamer, Chief Operations Officer
Sonya Vekstein, Chief Financial Officer
Thomas M. Barba, General Counsel
Above are members of the Board of Directors of IRI [http://www.iri.org]
And the chairman is no one other than John MaCain - a close friend to SR.
“Most Cambodians people do not like the [the present government’s] leadership because it is heading in the wrong direction in all sectors — politics, economy, and society,” he argued. “A more accurate figure would be around 20 percent saying [Cambodia is generally headed] in right direction and more than 70 percent saying the wrong way.”
Mr. Kem where has you been lately?
Well said, 1:34!
ReplyDeleteHE HEEEE 1.34, on what kind of empirical ground on which the ideas you mention is valid. Shame on you
ReplyDeleteno i mean 1:37 not 1:34
ReplyDeleteWe want change!!!!!!!! HUN SEN will be defeated in this up coming election!!!!!!!!!! Go to hell HUN SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSam Rainsy is the man for Cambodia. He will bring Cambodia to be rich as the rest of the world. Not poor like HUN SHIT going around begging for money and then put in his own pockets and his clans. HUN SHIT you will be hang like Samdam Hunshit!!!!!
ReplyDeletethe ? is too generalize and vague!
ReplyDeleteAfter 30 years, you're still presenting that kind of ? to intimidate the innocent people.
what's a crock!
Never assume that the majority is always right. Sometimes the majority is completely wrong. According to the study of the human mind and according to reality, more people have the tendency to do whatever for their own benefits. In business, merchants like to cheat the government on taxation. In religions, some pastors, or monks are also corrupted for their own benefits or personal pleasure. If more people are straight honest, there would be more enlighted individuals.
ReplyDeletecorrection;
ReplyDeleteenlighted= enlightened
I wonder where do they take their survey? Will 2000 tell the whole story for Cambodia? Should this report be revealed at all is a question? Ask 85% of the Cambodian farmers, would they think the country is moving in the right direction?
ReplyDeleteIf one wants to test the people's mind to see if they are honest or not, one can just put some things that have just a little cost in one room with no attendant. One puts the notice on an empty box saying, "please pay this price if possible."
ReplyDeleteOne or two hours later one can come to check the box and the things, what one can find is that the things would be completely gone with NO money in the box.
HUN SHIT could win this election 100% or HUN SHIT could lost 100%. Never know, thing can be changed in a blink if the situation offerred.
ReplyDeleteThere are some people here who see the situation for what it is. People don't vote with their minds but with their stomachs. Despite widespread poverty there is no doubt the country has made great strides in the past, and it will continue to do so. The social ills, like corruption, abuse of human rights, will eventually be grappled with, no doubt. Only the ignorant and dreaming overseas-Khmer don't believe those realistic numbers. If they lived in Cambodia they would know what the feelings of the normal people are. Kem Sokha is not in a position to doubt those findings. The normal people don't care about Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy, nor for Ranariddh. The numbers clearly say there are only a few die-hard supporters of those. The opposition needs to find new leaders. The current ones are either inept or plainly removed from reality.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Cambodia, we crawling in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteBy year 3000 Cambodia will be corruption free.
No more corruption only korupxion.
Only YOUN doesn't know how to say and spell corruption right.
ReplyDeleteThey can only spell or say Korupxion???????????????????
This survey resulted is inaned, I don't buy it; Cambodians under this administration espacially civilians in general, are afraid to express their true feellings, most are negative feeling about the authorities. The villagers living infear, destitud conditions, and hungry. Though the (IRI),1- I beleave they have asked most of those who got benifit from HUN SEN GV, 2- Some of the poore they are feelling repression could not tell the true, 3- they do not have any assurance for safty from local authority, so they chose to say positive rather than negative thinking about this GV.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless Khmer all!..
"We can not eat democracy, but we eat rice." WTF?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree 1:37! Of the 20%, this is a total number of the CPP members.
ReplyDelete9:23, or they just vote among themselves. What you've wrote is true. The farmers/villagers is stricken (under duress) by the CPP to vote for them. Therefore, any negative vote will result in repercussions. It's not wise not to vote for a government who pointed a gun at your significant other. It's a rights/choice to vote in America, whereas Cambodia is the opposite.
ReplyDelete