Original report from Phnom Penh
22 July 2008
[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues 2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the first in a two-part series examining Cambodia's voters.]
For nearly a month, potential voters have been listening to the messages of political parties campaigning for 123 National Assembly seats. Their votes will be cast on Sunday, but many voters worry that by Monday, promises made will fade away.
In the course of the campaign, 11 parties made sweeping promises before voters, vowing to fight corruption, eliminate land-grabbing, curb inflation, reform the judiciary and protect the natural environment.
And while many of the countries 8 million voters likely heard these messages, they might not have been as convinced as parties hoped.
"I like all party platforms for the purpose of pushing Cambodian society to the rule of law, development and prosperity," Hav Cheng Sim, a 22-year-old civil engineering student said recently. "But I have little belief in those political promises."
Political observers say attitudes like these should be a reminder to political parties to remember promises they've made on the campaign trail.
"The voter's concern is a very important thing to remind the politicians and candidates, who made promises before the people, that they must respect their promises after winning the election," Ly Sothearayuth, a senior program officer for the National Democratic Institute, said.
Long Saroeun, 26, sitting with her infant on her lap outside a small wooden house in Phnom Penh, said recently she was skeptical of all political parties.
"The political promise is just a political trick and strategy by all parties to lobby voters," she said. "Politicians always break their promises, after winning.”
Views in the city and the countryside were similar among some voters.
"My family makes a very poor living, but no politician or party has come to help get my family and me out of poverty, so I do not believe in the promises by politicians or parties," Meach Phalla, a 45-year-old woman living in Kampong Cham town, said. "But I believe in myself to make a small business for supporting my family."
For nearly a month, potential voters have been listening to the messages of political parties campaigning for 123 National Assembly seats. Their votes will be cast on Sunday, but many voters worry that by Monday, promises made will fade away.
In the course of the campaign, 11 parties made sweeping promises before voters, vowing to fight corruption, eliminate land-grabbing, curb inflation, reform the judiciary and protect the natural environment.
And while many of the countries 8 million voters likely heard these messages, they might not have been as convinced as parties hoped.
"I like all party platforms for the purpose of pushing Cambodian society to the rule of law, development and prosperity," Hav Cheng Sim, a 22-year-old civil engineering student said recently. "But I have little belief in those political promises."
Political observers say attitudes like these should be a reminder to political parties to remember promises they've made on the campaign trail.
"The voter's concern is a very important thing to remind the politicians and candidates, who made promises before the people, that they must respect their promises after winning the election," Ly Sothearayuth, a senior program officer for the National Democratic Institute, said.
Long Saroeun, 26, sitting with her infant on her lap outside a small wooden house in Phnom Penh, said recently she was skeptical of all political parties.
"The political promise is just a political trick and strategy by all parties to lobby voters," she said. "Politicians always break their promises, after winning.”
Views in the city and the countryside were similar among some voters.
"My family makes a very poor living, but no politician or party has come to help get my family and me out of poverty, so I do not believe in the promises by politicians or parties," Meach Phalla, a 45-year-old woman living in Kampong Cham town, said. "But I believe in myself to make a small business for supporting my family."
6 comments:
On PM Hun Sen delivers all of the promises. No leader on this planet ever come close.
Vote CPP!
Land grabbing will not exist when Mr. Sam Ransy run the country.
So please vote for SRP.
This messages for ah Hun Sen and his gangster CPP.
Majority Cambodian are not vote for you, stop stealing
the votes from people. You are stolen the votes for many times.
You run the country for 29 years had nothing improved.
Only small group are wealthy but most of them are doing illegal business.
Cambodia lost many lands to neighboring countries.
The country very low in economy, but gaining in corruptions, drugs,
Gambling, prostitutions and land grabbing.
You must step down.
Mr. Sam Ransy can run the county much better then you.
You got no proof, fool. That is not what the recent IRI survey suggested. Everyone will vote for CPP to stop Ah Savage Infidel Scam Rainxy from stepping on people's back for political gain. They are tired of being used by the devil from Hell.
Le Parti des droits de l'homme a organisé une cérémonie bouddhique
22-07-2008
Dans le but de délivrer toute personne de serments donnés sous la contrainte, la direction du PDH a organisé mardi 22 juillet une cérémonie religieuse. Elle était également destinée à resserrer les liens entre les membres du PDH.
http://www.cambodgesoir.info/content.php?itemid=34275&p=
To comment 6.09AM
http://www.samrainsyparty.org
Support Sam Rainsy Party = fight for the survival of our beloved country
Appeal to SRP supporters and donors
I lived in France for 30 years and I knew his family in-law.
Sam Rainsy and his wife Saumura Tioulong were successful in business because of their remarkable intelligence.
They were already rich before they left France to help to re-establish the Khmer economy and aware that their life is constantly in danger.
They didn't need to steal money from our poor Khmers.
If they had stayed in France until now, they would have been multi-millionaires in Euros.
They are real patriots and everyone in France knows that.
Only the lackey YUONS pretend to ignore this worth.
AND HOW ABOUT YOUR STRONG MAN HUN XEN
I remember when he came out from the jungle, he had only one uniform khmer rouge.
Now he and his family are very rich. They live in the castle better than the king, surrounding by thousand of militairy and personals.
How is his salary? Can you tell me where is from his money?
Morever, why does he refuse to pass the anti-corruption law
Updated Sat May 17, 2008 9:57am AEST
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Cambodian NGOs concerned judiciary targeting opposition
Cambodian activists submitted an anti-corruption petition with over one million signatures to parliament on Friday.
Yong Kim Eng, president of the People's Centre For Development and Peace says a lawmaker came out to accept the petition but refused to to accept the boxes carrying all the signatures.
Mr Yong says activists criss-crossed the country for two years gathering signatures which symbolised the voice of the people.
The petition calls on parliament to pass a long-delayed anti-corruption law.
The government has repeatedly come under fire from international donors over its apparent unwillingness to tackle rampant corruption.
Cambodia is ranked 151 out of 163 countries in Transparency International's 2006 corruption index.
7:27, Sam Rainxy is not the only one who is rich in France and Cambodia. We got people that are 10 times richer than him and they are not qualified to run the country. Keep in mind that none of the good leader on the planet is the richest on the planet.
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