Preethi Nallu
Press TV, Siem Reap
Cambodia with its rich architecture and scenic terrain is every photographer's delight. Tourists clicking photos of vibrant streets scene is a common occurrence. With its magnificent remains of the khmer empire, Siem Reap has become a popular tourist destination drawing visitors from all over the world. Over 2 million tourists will have visited cambodia in 2010 alone.
Whilst the remnants of cambodia's ancient history leave a lasting impression, it is difficult to overlook the large number of street children in urban centers as well as rural areas. It is estimated that Cambodia with a total population of about 13 million is home to 5 million children under the age of 15 and 60 percent of the population is currently under the age of 18. Consequently, the disproportionate number of minors in the country has become its economic backbone, often bearing the burden of providing for their families at the expense of their education, their development and ultimately their futures.
Despite increased revenue from tourism, Cambodia with an annual GDP of a mere 300 us dollars per capita has one of the worst social indicators in the region. In Siem Reap at least 60 percent of the local population lives below the poverty line.
The most vulnerable victims of lack of social services are of course children.
This six year old wanders the streets every night looking for tourists claiming that his baby brother needs milk. He is joined by thousands of others who are seen roaming the streets during the day and late into the night thereby becoming easy targets for organized begging rings and sex trafficking.
Local organizations such as Anjali house that provide refuge and education to underprivileged children explain that sustainable progress in Cambodia cannot be achieved without investment in education.
Some of the children as young as 15 already have a clear idea of how they could help improve their community.
At The end of the Pol Pot years, during which schools were abolished, only around 300 cambodians with a higher education remained in the country. Cambodia was faced with re- starting an educational system from scratch. Given the proliferation of education and child poverty related NGOs, experts say there is a dire need for the government at national and local levels to collaborate and contribute towards securing the futures of their youth.
13 comments:
long live viet nam
Keep voting for Hun Sen soon the country is going to be like Vietnam or Burma...pick one!
Pissed off Khmer, people in Cambodia is like monkey in a zoo where tourist come and look at? poverty! CCP need to wake up?
GDP - per capita (PPP) 2010 Country Ranks, By Rank
http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_per_capita_2010_0.html
SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2010
http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_per_capita_2010_0.html
133 Sudan $2,300 2009 est.
133 Cameroon $2,300 2009 est.
134 Micronesia, Federated States of $2,200 2008 est.
135 Mauritania $2,100 2009 est.
135 Kyrgyzstan $2,100 2009 est.
135 Laos $2,100 2009 est.
136 Cambodia $1,900 2009 est.
137 Tajikistan $1,800 2009 est.
137 Korea, North $1,800 2008 est.
138 Senegal $1,700 2009 est.
138 Cote d'Ivoire $1,700 2009 est.
if this is the case, maybe it's the case of mismanagement. meaning cambodia must reform the way the country is doing management and business is doing management, etc..., especially reform the tax collection and tax allocation system so the people at the disadvantage can be helped and wealth can be put into good cause, etc... they should do more studies to learn more about ways to alleviate or keep poverty at the minimum. even poverty can create jobs, so look into making more jobs in all areas by training and education, etc... i mean the list is endless, really! start putting the right, qualified people at the jobs, etc...
It seems that the author of the article (Friday Dec 03, 2010
Preethi Nallu) has just emerged from the jungle. Please pardon him for not having time to check the statistics to provide readers with accurate information. And for Heng Soy, we understand that he just doing his job as opposition critic. Anything to make Cambodia look bad is good for him. It is not necessary to pay attention to his comments.
No, the article is very accurate. Just look closely to those homeless families at night near any market. Although some new buildings in PP, but living standard is far below poverty line. Unless you are CPP and have some connection, finding a job is hard.
To understand Hun Sen regime we have to understand who and why they installed Hun Sen regime in 1979.
Yuon installed Hun Sen regime in 1979 to put put Khmer and Lao under yuon yoke as part of Ho Chi Minh Indochina Federation.
Look at CPP high ranking members :
1. Heng Samrin ( Khmer Viet Minh, Khmer Rouge, CPP ),
2. Chea Sim ( Khmer Viet Minh, Khmer Rouge, CPP ).
3. Meas Sophea ( Yuon born in Vietnam, serving as Royal Army Chief in Hun Sen regime ).
4. Hor Namhong ( former prison chief of B 32 between 1975-1979 ).
5. Chan Si ( Khmer Viet Minh ) same as Ros Samai, Sai Bouthong.
6. Pen Sovan ( former Khmer Issarak, Khmer Viet Minh, former Prime Minister of CPP)
So if we look at CPP high ranking members they all are yuon and Khmer Viet Minh and Khmer Issarak.
Note: There were many different groups of Khmer Issarak . a group led by Son Ngoc Minh or better known as Ah Char Mean the real master of CPP ( formed by late Ho Chi Mih ) that why a picture of Son Ngoc Minh is printed on Hun Sen early money ( riel ) and Heng Sarim , Chea Sim still honor Son Ngoc Minh as a father of communism. Son Ngoc Minh left Cambodia after Geneva Conference in 1954 to Hanoi, North Vietnam and stayed there till 1972 , and was transferred from Hanoi in 1972 to Chinese hospital for high blood pressure treatment and died in that hospital in the same year ( 1972 ) .don not mistaken Son Ngoc Minh and Son Ngoc Tanh ( 2 different people ) the real reasons behind these were after Son Ngoc Tanh was arrested Ho Chi Minh took this rare good opportunity to propaganda that Son Ngoc Minh was a youger brother of Son Ngoc Tanh to gain more support from Khmer Kandal and Khmer Krom people, this is one of millions dirty tricks use by Ho Chi Minh, Yuon Viet Minh, Yuon Viet Cong.
If you really understand why late Ho Chi Minh , formed Khmer Issarak, Khmer Viet Minh, Khmer Rom Dos, Khmer Rouge ( Groupe 2 led by So Phim the former military commander of Heng Samrin, Chea Sim between 1975-179 ) .
Understanding Ho Chi Minh Indochina Federation , we will understand Hun Sen regime to kill innocent Khmer people and put Lao and Cambodia under yuon yoke.
So even Hun Sen want to uphold Khmer interests his master yuon will not allowed this to happen.
So Yuon installed Hun Sen regime in 1979 to kill Khmer and serve yuon interests.
All Khmers,
Hanoi is RAPING Cambodia andAngkor,
Hanoi is an INVADER,
And create a "man Made Poverty " to all Khmers, real owners of Cambodia,
Because of Hun Sen, Khmer traitor Mafia,
Cambodian people need a new way of thinking!
All Khmers,
With 2,400,000 tourist visiting Angkor Wat this year,
And a 20 dollars ticket to visit Angkor per day,
How much Hanoi had collected and stole from Cambodia,
By giving 2 millions dollars per year to Hun Sen,
And Hun Sen had contacted Angkor to Hanoi for 99 Years???
Hanoi is a REAL ROBBER of Cambodia
correction:
And Hun Sen had signed a contract of Angkor to Hanoi for 99 years.
Yes, so many children begging on the streets in Cambodia.
Many Foreign NGOs try to help them.
What do the Khmer People?
Nothing, because they do not help each other.
Chinese help Chinese in Cambodia.
Vietnamese help Vietnamese but Khmer do not help each other, do not care for the children on the street.
This is reality in Cambodia.
Begging for money from Foreign countries but do nothing by themself that Cambodia will become a better country.
What a shame!
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