Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Financing the front lines


Wednesday, 02 March 2011
Sun Narin and Kim Samath
The Phnom Penh Post
“I am not sure that this money can reach soldiers or not. I do not trust people collecting funds. Our society is difficult to trust for this kind of work.”
During our recent clashes with Thailand, just about everyone gave something to support Cambodian soldiers. Sun Narin and Kim Samath find out how it moved from you to the troops

Forty -six-year-old Chheng Sarann, an office official of Vocational Training at the Ministry of Education, has contributed money to support the military at Preah Vihear Temple four times now, at his home and workplace, and said the reason he gave money to the fund raising efforts was he just followed what his colleagues and neighbours did.

“No one forced me to give, but I had to because if I did not, I would have been considered strange and not like the other people who contributed money,” he said. He added that he was not worried about his contribution by explaining that if he did not give his money to the military it would be like committing a sin. As the Buddhist saying goes: “If you do something bad, you will receive something bad, if you do something good, you will receive something good.”


He said that the money could get lost and he did not know if the collectors were honest or not. However, he added: “I think the contribution can help the soldiers in terms of food and consumption materials.”

Since the simmering dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over the Preah Vihear Temple started in 2008, Cambodia’s government started the idea of nationalist fund raising to back the military at the border through some television stations as well as private and public institutions. Since the recent clash on February 4, the fund raising has increased because the foundation now reaches every province.

However, critics are skeptical about whether all the funds raised will end up in military hands. A small number of people also seem to be bored with the fund raising.

Under the Ministry of Interior, provincial governors set up fund raising groups in the provinces and each governor takes the money to buy food which is distributed directly to the military. When buy food for the military, the television stations always go to cover the event in order to inform the public.

However, one unnamed critic said it is true that money and food were distributed to the military, but not all the money was given to the military.

“There is no transparency for that. They may keep some money for their own pockets,” he said.

In Phnom Penh, some commune chiefs went to people’s houses with a piece of paper to raise funds to support the military. They asked people to contribute both money and food items.

Phan Raksmey, a resident in Orrusey commune, said he contributed some food items to the military because he thought this would actually reach the men in uniform.

“I do not want to contribute money since I am afraid that they just keep the money for themselves. I am a bit tired of the fund raising now,” he said.

The fund raising was also happening at some education institutions. Students were asked to contribute some money to support the military. The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) raised funds from students and Ponn Chhay, the office chief of academics of RUPP, said no members of the government told his school to raise money, but the lecturers themselves were behind the drive to raise funds.

“We are suffering from Thailand’s invasion of our territory,” he said. “I am sure that money will reach the military’s hands because we asked students to write their names and the amount of money they contributed. Students and other contributors will see their names on television screens, so they can trust it,” said Ponn Chhay.

He said all the money his school collected was sent to the Bayon Television Foundation and RUPP even sent some voluntary youths to help pack the presents for the military.

Two television stations, CTN and Bayon, played an important role in raising funds from the people. By February 24, Bayon television has collected about US$1.17 million.

Bayon TV station has gone to Preah Vihear province to distribute items to the military directly since February 7 and bought a variety of items for them, according to Tith Thavrith, Deputy Director General of Bayon Television.

Pol Vibo, the deputy general manager of CTN, said his working group distributed funds collected for the military since February 26, adding that he gave US$2,500 to each deceased soldier’s family and spent the rest of the money buying food items and other basic materials.

He said that people who wanted to contribute had to come directly to CTN and then CTN issued a receipt for them.

“This can guarantee the accuracy of collecting funds from the people,” he said, adding that they had a mixed working group giving out the funds and items to the military and handing money to the dead soldier’s families and military leaders in meetings which were broadcast on television.

“All of this shows the transparency of the distribution of money without disclosure. We are nationalists and aim to help our country,” he said.

Born Kanha, a sophomore student of sociology at RUPP, said he gave his own money for Preah Vihear Temple because the government was lacking a budget to support the soldiers.

However she added: “I am not sure that this money can reach soldiers or not. I do not trust people collecting funds. Our society is difficult to trust for this kind of work.”

23 comments:

sokbouy said...

the government should focus on this issue and motivate all the soldier at the front line.

Anonymous said...

I think all tv channel in cambodian are to bias.

Anonymous said...

I won't spend even one dollar to help those soldiers at the frontline because the government has its budget . There is no war right now and if the government can't take care of those soldiers, what if the war is starting today and it keeps going for months , are they going to die because the government can't support them ? If that's the case, Hun Sen need to break one of his Bank Accounts overseas to help those soldiers because that money Hun Sen took from the National budget , not from his salary .

Anonymous said...

6:06 PM

It doesn't matter if the government has enough money to support the soldiers or not. The bottom line is you are a fucking bitch, a cheap whore-ass bitch. What you do has nothing to do with anyone's else, ah cheap ass fucker.

Anonymous said...

Soldiers and armies are there only to serve the rich and the high ranking official and did not get anything from this not even a pair of boots??, how can they go to war??

The traitor Hun Sen, his family and his gangs get all the money. They sell the national assets, borrow money from other country such as China for their own personal use and the Khmer people will pay the debt that selling more land as a so call land concession.

What a dog they are, enjoy themselves while the Khmer people are suffered. What a bunch of fucking dick head .

Anonymous said...

Soldiers and armies are there only to serve the rich and the high ranking official and did not get anything from this not even a pair of boots??, how can they go to war??

The traitor Hun Sen, his family and his gangs get all the money. They sell the national assets, borrow money from other country such as China for their own personal use and the Khmer people will pay the debt, that is selling more land or other word they call it land concession.

What a dog they are, enjoy themselves while the Khmer people are suffered. What a bunch of fucking dick head .

Anonymous said...

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/176237.html

Anonymous said...

Not all of us can be at the front line, like myself and some of you here. But we love to support our Cambodian Armed forces for protecting our country again invade. This is the only way, we can help our country and the civilian Khmer people live on the border areas, by providing, moral, finance and material supports.
Why we have to say, this and that or not trust the people, who spent a lot of their free time to work and raise funds. All money of the raising Fund, sure will not go direct to our soldiers, because some part will have to be spending on management, organization, transport and etc...

Anonymous said...

Supporting the troops is a way to pay gratitude and sign of solidarity. It's great if the people of Cambodia can do that. Distributing the money and assistance is another matter. This why some people are reluctant to donate money, for they don't trust whether their contribution don't reach the receipants.

The government, on the other hand, has a full responsibility to support our troops and must not use any kind of assistance to pave the way for the ruling party's personal and political gain because all the funds and assistance distributed to the troups are from the national budget.

Anonymous said...

I do appreciate what we, Cambodian people, have done. A lot of donation for every corner show off our solidarity. I am so proud of Our great soldiers and thank you so much. Without you our country must be invaded by the crazy Thailand...I am ready to be a solider now to protect our beloved country. Hope that all Khmer youths have the same idea like me. We all need to support our great leader, SAMDECH HUN SEN.

Anonymous said...

10:16PM! since you can write good English, I suppose you will be an officer!

-Do not do ilegal loging!

-Do not grab land from poor people!

-Do not use national force anf weapond to serve the corruptors, fool riches to suppress our Cambodian!

_Do not order to kill people for your personasl gain!


May you be proper if did not do those bad thing above!

May ligthning strike you along with a Kwack family if you serve the eviv and commit sin against Cambodian!

-

Anonymous said...

I don't give the money the BTV or any local fundraiser groups but I gave it to their families and who are wounded at various hospitals directly.

No need to have my name called in on TV or listed.

Pardon me for being sarcastic and weird but I have no trust in Cambodian officials nowadays. 53 years of my life, I have seen them as only devil advocates. Growing in war and killing make me fed up these leaders. Hun Sen is better among them but still got only D or C- point average on GPA.

Anonymous said...

dun worry nguyen tan dung will supplys hun sen mls of young youn pussy to help the army.anyway i will do the same as 6:06 pm.

FU NIA BO AH NAM JENG HUN SEM!

DU MA AH HUN SEN YOU DOG !

Anonymous said...

Look t Libya today, that is no differences.

Anonymous said...

The Hun Sen behavior in Cambodia is the same as Gaddhafi in Libya.Both dictator failed in love
with POWER and MONEY not care about their

own people or soldiers.They are treating their people like dogs.
Hun Sen called his own people "DOGS".These were his words coming
out of his stinking mouth,"I close
the door and beat the "DOGS".

Anonymous said...

Does every one know that KI was funded by Thai, to separate us from youn, and to destroy Khmer, youn got khmer krom indeed franch cut it to youn, youn never fought with Khmer, Thai steale khmer land all time and fought with us over 700 years, doese any one know about this, all KI writer are Thai, they never show up real nam , they are thai.

Anonymous said...

Most of you are a fool..dont know what really happen in Cambodia. Government official will take 80% of that money and maybe 10% will go in to the military. You guys are so blind up the ass. Hun Sen and CCP ara clown. You will be sick if you really know the truth about ours Khmer government. Most of the rich and official will say or think that is not theirs problem. Look at Phnom Penh..same smelly shit.

Anonymous said...

Why are some people care about 5000 real=$1.00 We are all know that the soldier in the front line come from the poor families.If somebody who are stealling the money from the donation a god Bodhha will distroy their families.god bless Cambodia!!!

Anonymous said...

if fucking hun sen can't feed his sodliers . who can?. tell him to go hell. those who tried to raise the money has no fucking brain.

Anonymous said...

I never have good dealt with short guy Ah kateor, to all people never ever believe short guy, Ah kateor never said the true and fule of trick, includind Sihanouk and ranaith, now we have another one more Ah katoer what your nam! Ah Monghay thise boy got two young girl 1, her nam Srey mom, 2- neang Mao, Neang mao is under age, all rainsy team always crazy in somthings how much you cheat donator so far oun Kateor mong hay, you are stile young right, why don't you live in england, donn't fucking say you love or Khmer-compatriot, you and gay Ransy in combodia for your own business, now you got two young girls, in England you may go to jail, just say you have ignorance people give you house car and money to fuck young teen in cambodia, ok that is the only true to the true of your mission in cambodia

Anonymous said...

ខ្ញុំសែនអាណិតជនជាតិសៀមណាស់ចង់បានទឹកដីខែ្មរប៉ុនែ្តមិនឆ្លាតដូចយួនសោះ!យកដីមិនយកទៅយកដុំថ្មដែលគេស្គាល់
ពេញពិភពលោក!ឃើញទេ!យួនយកដីខែ្មរសើ្ទរតែអស់មួយនគរហ៊ុនសែនមិនទាំងហ៊ានថាអីយួនផង!គួរឲ្យអាណិតសៀមណាស់

Anonymous said...

long liver vietnam... soon cambodia will be our ..

good work HUn SEN and family... and CPP

Anonymous said...

I am sad to see the Khmer Soldier sitting next to Preah Vihear with poor equipments, no military boots, good uniform, sigh*

Fucking traitor Hun Sen who treats Khmer Soldier like this. This soldier is a Khmer hero who sacrifice his life doing this and protect the Khmer land.

I can't believe Hun Sen did not do anything support this solider and other soldiers like this one.

Oh man, I am very angry with a fucking traitor Hun Sen. Look at what this asshole Hun Sen has done to Khmer soldiers like him. It is not fair to our Khmer Soldiers who are our super heroes for the Khmer/Cambodian people. Khmer/Cambodian people should do more and more to support Khmer/Cambodian soldiers!

I wish Hun Sen and his Vietnamese/Youn would be out of Cambodia sooner. Khmer People is Uprising!!!