Monday, 24 January 2011
Mary Kozlovski
The Phnom Penh Post
Thirty-six percent of Cambodians feel that border demarcation is the most important issue impacting Cambodia, according to a nationwide poll conducted by the International Republican Institute last year.
President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, Ou Virak, said that the government has learned it can benefit politically from border issues.
“In the past, the government has never mentioned border issues,” he said.
“After 2008, border issues have become a major issue with Thailand because of the Preah Vihear conflict.
“Even before 2008, a lot of border issues were raised by the opposition [Sam Rainsy] Party”.
IRI country director John Willis said that border demarcation polled highly as an issue in previous IRI surveys.
A 2008 IRI survey showed that, when asked about the three most important issues impacting on the country, the percentage of Cambodians who cited border issues and demarcation jumped from 5 percent to 59 percent between August 2007 and November 2008.
Ou Virak, however, said that while people care about border demarcation, they were unlikely to change their vote because of border issues. “It would be interesting to see whether the same people would be likely to vote because of that issue,” he said.
“My bet is no. The majority will vote on economic issues and things that affect them more directly like healthcare and employment”.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that he had not read the IRI poll, but that border demarcation is an important issue for Cambodians.
“We have a number of intrusions by the Thai people, so people pay attention,” he said.
“They want to protect their homeland. And the media reports on it a lot.”
Representatives from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party could not be reached for comment.
The IRI poll, which attempts to gauge Cambodian public opinion, surveyed 2,000 Cambodians from across the country over July and August last year.
According to the poll, 76 percent of people believe the country is heading in the right direction – down from 79 percent in 2009 and a peak of 82 percent in 2008 – with a majority citing an increase in roads, schools and health clinics.
The poll also showed that 23 percent of people believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, with a majority citing corruption.
10 comments:
i don't think any khmer person want to work in favor of youn/viet thugs nor siem thugs, maybe they just want to maintain good neighbor relations, that's all. question should be: do cambodia want animosity with neighboring countries? the same could be said about those neighboring countries as well with regards to cambodia, you know! they ought to establish a school branch in cambodia that focus on the studies of international conflict and resolution, etc. everyone of us can use good education in order to live side by side peaceful and friendly, etc...
khmer people from all walks of life usually don't take the border issues lightly since time memorial. cambodia has more to lose, just study history and understand why we, khmer people, think this way. we remembered too vividly koh tral case, mekong delta region, the many old khmer provinces that siem stole from cambodia, etc, etc... how can we not be hurt and affected by this kind of ivasion and stealing of our national treasure, lands, territories, etc, etc..., you know! so, that's why it is one of the very sensitive issue for all khmer people, really!
Hun Sen Government is listening to their population. That is why they are preparing to co-produce a newly drawn land border map.
This is democracy CPP!
AS A NEIGBORING COUNTRY WE SHOULD LEARN HOW TO GET ALONG:
A MUTUAL RESPECT:
-INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNITY TERRITORIAL
-DO NOT INTERFERE INTERNAL AFFAIR WETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY TAKING ADVANTAGE TO CONTROL OR INFLUENCE POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY
-RESPECT OUR CULTURE AND VALUE
-PHONY INTENTION TO CONQUER AND DIVIDE ANY NATION IN TROUBLE
-SHORT AND LONG TERM COLONIZATION OF ANY COUNTRY
-RESPECT LIBERTY, FREEDOM, AND DEMOCRACY OF ANY COUNTRY
-LESSER FAIRE ECONOMY TO HELP EACH OTHER IN COMPETION WORLD ECONOMY
-TRUST AND VERIFY
THERE ARE A LITTLE BASIC THAT EACH COUNTRY TO BE APPLIES IT NOT HARD TO DO IT..
OUR PAST HISTORY MADE US NOT TO TRUST OUR NEIGBBORS BUT IN FACT THE PAST IS THE PAST LET FIX THE PRESENT ARE THERE STILL THE SAME OR CHANGE ????
ANY MORE QUESTIONABLE TO ALL NATIONALISTS KHMER TO DOUBTS IN OUR NEIGHBORS GOOD INTENTION?
EXCEPTS THE PEOPLE IN POWER AND MONEYS THEY LOVE IT, I GUESS...
The polls is BS,
Its the other way around.
76% believe the government is currupted
26% is the country heading the right way.
Everything the government said, is twisted, and can't be trusted.
The problem with Cambodians is their lack of sympathy and empathy for fellow Khmers. Their leaders set that example for them. Just look at all the business people, the police, the rich in Phnom Penh- they live in gated villas, and drive Lexuses. They don't care if just outside of their gates mothers and babies sleep on concrete pavements, begging for the next meal. So, a few people on the border losing their livelihood are not going to affect the majority who live away from the border. Look at Heng Samrin. Reports say that his childhood home has now been swallowed by the Viets, and he does not care! Or perhaps he is told not to care. Either way, how cowardly is that? The majority of Khmers will only wake up to the border situation with the Viets once the border is at Phnom Penh itself. Even then, some will simply move to Battambang and carry on oppressing the remaining Khmers, trying to stop them from talking about it.
If Khmers are now more worried about their economic situation, worry about their wealth, then why not just let the Viets or Thais take over the entire country? After all, both are better than the current Khmer government in economic management! So open your eyes Koun Khmers, before your pockets will be filled with as much Dong or Baht as you want, but you find yourself having to speak Vietnamese or Thai. By then it will be too late!
Well said and totally agree with 6:36
cambodia lacks the welfare system that people took for granted in the western world. i think to help disadvantaged people, cambodia should consider creating a welfare system to help them get back on their feet. hopefully, people don't abuse the system, though!
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve alot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder cambodian K5,1997events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder cambodians? Why? and Why?
If you are so good why do about 90%cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionair and millinor? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good Why do you block KI from cambodians?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for ethernity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his belove Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
kon kmeng naek srae
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