Farmers Face Shortage of Irrigation for Improved Rice Production

Cambodian farmers cut rice at a rice paddy farm during the harvest season at Sala Kumrou, Puresat province.

The low income made by many farmers in Battambang has forced young men to seek work as migrant labor in Thailand.

11 September 2012

Theara Khoun, VOA Khmer

BATTAMBANG - As Cambodia seeks to improve its production of rice, farmers in the fertile province of Battambang say they need more irrigation, more training and more equipment to boost their yields.

“I’ve never seen any local authorities or NGOs visit my rice field or teach me about farming techniques, not even once,” said Hun Pes, 84, as he pumped water into his rice field. “I just get information from other villagers or hear it on the radio.”

Hun Pes said he can cultivate rice up to three times a year, for up to 7 metric tons of rice per hectare. Like other villagers, he then sells his rice harvest to middlemen from Vietnam or Thailand, who buy directly from farmers in their fields. He sells his rice for about $330 per ton. “They normally offer the same price as local buyers,” he said.

ម្លប់​ដូង​ទី​១០

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ប្រវត្តិ​ដើម​

​ ​បទ​“​ម្លប់​ដូង​ទី​១០” បានចាប់កំណើត​ឡីង​នៅក្នុង​កំណត់ហេតុនិពន្ធ​របស់​លោកគ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន អំពី​ប្រវត្តិ​ស្នេហ៍​ឈឺចាប់​របស់លោក​ជាមួយ​នារី​ក្រមុំ​ជា​កូនស្រី​អ្នកជិតខាង​របស់​លោក​ម្នាក់​តាំងពី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៦៩​ម្ល៉េះ ។ ប៉ុន្តែ កំណត់ហេតុ​និពន្ធ​នេះ លោក​បាន​ត្រឹមតែ​តាក់តែង​ទុក​ចោល​នៅ​ក្នុង​សៀវភៅ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ លោក​មិន​ទាន់​បាន​បញ្ចោ​ញ​ឱ្យ អ្នកចម្រៀង​ណា​ម្នាក់​បកស្រាយ​នៅឡើយ ។ រហូតដល់​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៧២ ទើប​លោក​រៀបចំ​បទ​នេះ​ឡើងវិញ ដើម្បី​ថត ផ្សាយ ។​ ​ ​

ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង ជា​ទឹកដី​កំណើត​របស់​លោក​គ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន ដែល​បាន​ចិញ្ចឹម​រូបលោក​តាំង​ពី​តូច ដល់​ធំ ក្នុង​បរិយាកាស​មួយ​ដ៏​ស្រងេះស្រងោច​ពន់ប្រមាណ ។ ឯ​ស្ទឹង​សង្កែ ក៏​ជា​ស្ទឹង​ទឹកខ្មៅ​សម្រាប់​ជីវិត​កវីនិពន្ធ របស់លោក ដែល​លោក​ជ្រលក់​សរសេរ​មិនចេះ​រីងស្ងួត​ដែរ មិនតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ វា​ជា​កន្លែង​មួយ​បណ្តុះ​អនុស្សាវរីយ៍​រាប់​មិន អស់ នៅ​ក្នុង​ឆាកជីវិត​ស្នេហា​បឋមវ័យ​របស់លោក​ទៀតផង ។​ ​ ​

ក្នុងចំណោម​ដើម​ដូង​ទាំង​ជួរ​នៅ​ត្រើយ​ខាងលិច​ស្ទឹង​សង្កែ មាន​ដើម​ដូង​មួយ​ស្ថិត​នៅ​ចំ​ពីមុខ​កំពង់ វត្ត​វាល និង​មាន​កៅអី​ថ្ម​មួយ ដែល​លោក​គ​ង្គ ប៊ុនុ​ឈឿន​ធ្លាប់ទៅ​អង្គុយ​បណ្តែត​អារម្មណ៍នៅ​រាល់ពេ​លទឹក​ជន់ និង ទឹក​ស្រក ។​ ​ ​

កាលណោះ នៅ​ចំ​ពេល​ដែល​ដំណើរ​ជីវិត​របស់​លោក​គ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន បាន​ធ្លាក់ចុះ​ដុនដាប​មែន ទែន ។ ម្តាយ​របស់​លោក​បាន​ឈឺ​ស្លាប់​នៅ​ក្រោមផ្ទះ​របស់​គេ លោក​បាន​លះបង់​ការសិក្សា ហើយ​គ្មាន​ការងារ​ធ្វើ ទេ ។ កូនស្រី​អ្នកជិតខាង​របស់​លោក​ម្នាក់ ដែល​លោក​បាន​លួច​ស្រឡាញ់ ហើយ​ដែល​នាង​ធ្លាប់​បាន​សច្ចា​ស្បថស្បែ ថា​ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ ស្រឡាញ​តែ​លោក​ដែរ​នោះ បាន​ប្រែចិត្ត​បោះបង់​លោក​ចោល​ដោយ​គ្មាន​អាល័យ ។ លោក គ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន បាន​និយាយថា​“​ពេល​មួយ​ខ្ញុំ​បាន​ណាត់​ជួប​នាង​នៅ​មាត់​ស្ទឹង​សង្កែ ក្រោម​ម្លប់​ដើម​ដូង​ទី​១០ តែ​នាង មិន​មក ទោះ​ជា​ខ្ញុំ​បាន​ណាត់​សន្យា​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ហើយ​ក៏​ដោយ​” ។​ ​ ​

ទឹក​ជន់ ទឹក​ហូរ​កាច​ស្ទឹង បោះពួយ​នាំ​ព​ពុះ​សំណាត់​រសាត់​ទៅកាន់​បឹង​ទន្លេសាប ដោយ​គ្មាន​វិល ត្រឡប់ ពាំនាំ​ទាំង​ស្នេហា​អស់សង្ឃឹម​របស់​លោក​គ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន ទៅ​ជាមួយ​ផង ធ្វើ​ឱ្យ​បេះ​ដូង​លោក​មាន​របួស ...​។ រហូតមកដល់​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៧២ ទើប​លោក​គ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន រៀបចំ​បទ​ចម្រៀង​ដែល​លោក​បាន​តាក់តែង​ទុកចោល នៅក្នុង​សៀវភៅ​ឡើង ដើម្បី​ថត​ផ្សាយ ដោយ​ដាក់​ចំណងជើង​ថា​“​ម្លប់​ដូង​ទី​១០” ហើយ​លោក​ស៊ីន ស៊ី​សាមុត​ជា​អ្នក ច្រៀង ។​ ​

​ បទ​“​ម្លប់​ដូង​ទី​១០”​នេះ លោក​ស៊ីន ស៊ី​សាមុត​ច្រៀង​ផង ខ្សឹកខ្សួល​អួលដើមក​ផង ហាក់ដូចជា លោក​ជួយ​រួមចំណែក​កាន់ទុក្ខ​អតីត​ស្នេហា​របស់​លោក​គ​ង្គ ប៊ុន​ឈឿន ដែល​មាន​កំណើត​ឡើង​នៅ​មាត់​ស្ទឹង​សង្កែ ហើយ​ត្រូវ​រលាយ​ទៅវិញ​នៅ​មាត់​ស្ទឹង​សង្កែ​នោះ​ដែរ ។​

​
​បទ​នេះ ស្ថិតនៅ​ក្នុង​កម្រង​ចម្រៀង​“​កំលោះ​ហុងដា កញ្ញា​ប៉េសេ​” ដែល​មាន​ប្រជាប្រិយភាព​ចំពោះ អ្នក​ស្នេហា​តន្ត្រី រហូតមកដល់​ពេល​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​នេះ ឥត​មាន​ស្រកស្រុត​ឡើយ ។​

A Soccer Match Against Cluster Munitions and Landmines

08/20/2012
Katherine Marshall
Senior Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University
Huffington Post

The London Olympics were in full swing on Aug. 5, but in Battambang, Cambodia, on the other side of the world, the Oslo Cup pitted four soccer (or football, as it's called in Cambodia) teams against each other. The winners? Team Landmine and Cluster Munitions Survivors. It was an awesome match, worthy of the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect and friendship. The match finished in drenching rain, stretching into overtime. Among the heroes was one young man who used his head instead of the arms he had lost in a landmine accident to shoot a goal.

The tournament took place on the sprawling grounds of the Catholic Church in Battambang. Jesuit priest Father Enrique Figaredo (known as Father Kike) is the Apostolic Prefect there. He has worked in Cambodia almost non-stop since 1985. He works closely with the Jesuit Refugee Service, Cambodia, which has a long, distinguished track record. Jesuits were among the first foreigners to return to Cambodia from the refugee camps on the Thai border after the brutal years of killing under the Khmer Rouge and its aftermath. The Jesuit Service Cambodia has been and remains a leader in the International Campaign to ban landmines and cluster munitions. Indeed, the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to the Campaign lives at the Metta Karuna Reflection Center in Siem Reap.

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋថា​អាជ្ញាធរ និង ក្រុមនិសិ្សតវាស់រំលោ​ភលើដីពួកគា​ត់ឲ្យអ្នកដ​ទៃ

Source: CCHR

នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី២០ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ នេះ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋប្រមាណ ៦០ គ្រួសារ នៅភូមិសែសិប​ ឃុំបឹងប្រាំ​ស្រុកបាវិល ខេត្តបាត់ដំបង បានត្អូញត្អែរថា មានកម្លាំងចម្រុះប្រមាណជាង ១០០ នាក់ រួមមានអាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋានមន្រ្តីសុរិយោដីស្រុកបាវែល ក្រុមនិសិ្សត ប៉ូលីស និង​កងរាជ អាវុធហត្ថបានចុះមកវាស់វែងរំលោភយកដីរបស់ពួកគាត់ ។ តំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ គឺលោក ជា ជួងបានបញ្ញាក់ថា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី ១១ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ កន្លងទៅ អាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋាន និងក្រុមនិស្សិតដែលមានតួនាទីវាស់វែងដី បានសុំដកលិខិតបញ្ជាក់ការកាន់កាប់ដីរបស់ប្រជាពល រដ្ឋហើយយកតែលិខិតច្បាប់ដើម មិនយកលិខិតថតចម្លងទេ ដោយបានអះអាងប្រាប់ប្រជា ពលរដ្ឋថាយកលិខិតបញ្ជាក់ពីការកាន់កាប់ដីរបស់ពួកគាត់នោះ ដើម្បីជាឯកសារអំណះ អំណាងក្នុងចេញប្លង់រឹងឲ្យពួកគាត់ ហើយថែមទាំងបានវាស់វែងដីឲ្យពួកគាត់ផងដែរនៅពេល នោះ តែរហូតមកដល់ពេលនេះមិនទាន់ឃើញមានសញ្ញាពីក្រុមអាជ្ញាធរ ថានឹងធ្វើប្លង់រឹងឲ្យ ពួកគាត់តាមការសន្យានោះឡើយ។ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ស្រាប់តែថ្ងៃនេះ មានកម្លាំងចម្រុះ អាជ្ញាធរ និងក្រុមនិសិ្សតបានចុះមកវាស់វែងរំលោភយកដីរបស់ពួកគាត់ ឲ្យទៅអ្នកផ្សេងទៅវិញ ។​តំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនៅទីនោះ បានអះអាងថាពួកគាត់មានលិខិតបញ្ជាក់ពីការកាន់កាប់ដី​ដែលទទួលស្គាល់ពីអាជ្ញាធរភូមិ និងឃុំ ។

ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមសូមទាក់ទង៖

• លោក ជា ជួងតំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋភូមិសែសិប ឃុំបឹងប្រាំ ស្រុកបាវែល ទូរស័ព្ទលេខ ០១២​ ៤៣៨ ៨៧១
• លោក ឈន​ គឹមឡុងមន្រី្តសុរិយោដី ស្រុកបាវែល ទូរស័ព្ទលេខ ០១២ ៥២០ ៧០៨
• លាក វណ្ណ សុផាតមន្រ្តីសម្របសម្រួលគម្រោងកំណែទម្រង់ដីធ្លី នៃមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសិទ្ធិ មនុស្ស​កម្ពុជា ទូរស័ព្ទលេខ០១២​ ៩៤១​ ២០៦

Forest community and military loggers face off again

In an effort to claim rights to land in the community forest, a military official has allegedly built a home and planted corn nearby. Photograph: supplied

Thursday, 16 August 2012
David Boyle and Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

After a brief détente, a fight over the Prey Trolach community forest in Battambang province that has its citizen guardians and the Forestry Administration pitted against the military is back on, those working to protect the area from illegal logging said yesterday.

Since it was deemed a community forest in 2004, the 1,335-hectare area in Roka Kiri has been legally managed and protected by villagers living there.

But community representatives told the Post on August 1 that shortly after a national land-titling scheme was announced in June, soldiers, police and others had rushed into the area, seizing a final opportunity to clear forest and falsely claim it as their property.

John Macgregor, a project adviser for the livelihood group After the Flood, said the land grabbers had been pushed out by district authorities backed by police and the forestry cantonment on August 8 after the story was publicised – but not for long.

Interview with Sin Rozeth, SRP commune councilor in O'Cha commune, Battambang province

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbhXkDqY-sw

Land grab in B’bang

An area of community forest in Battambang province’s Roka Kiri district after it was allegedly cleared by district military and police officials. Photo Supplied

Thursday, 02 August 2012
David Boyle and May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

A community forest in Battambang is being snatched up by opportunistic military and police officials seizing on the national land titling scheme as a final chance to secure territory, its longtime custodians and the groups that support them have said.

The 1,335-hectare Prey Trolach commune community forest in Roka Kiri district was established with local officials in 2004 and has since gained national recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries.

But since July 2, using pesticides to kill grass and bushes which are then burned before trees are felled and bulldozers brought in to finish the job, officials have cleared and grabbed between 150 and 200 hectares of the area, according to two NGOs working in the area.

Nhov Nharn, Director of Ockenden Cambodia, said low-level provincial officials had arrived shortly after Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the land titling scheme on June 14 to meet the Community Forestry Management Committee.

Mrs. Mu Sochua's response to donor for poor O'Char students

Dear Savy,

O'Char is a commune in the city of Battambang. Please see Rozeth stories posted on my blog for more info. She is very dedicated and will surely look after the boy and other families who are in her constituency.

You are the first generous contributor.

With sincere thanks,

Sochua

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Currency: U.S. Dollars

Purpose:Mu Sochua Justice Fund

Contributor: Savy K Hang

Message: To Ms Sochua, This $50.00 is to help Sochea and his family to get foods, school, and clothes. Please use this fund for the education of O'Char's children through Ms Mu Sochua. Can someone tell me where O'Char is? In what province?

Thanks, Savy Kennedy Hang, Bridgewater, MASS, USA 02324

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2012/07/help-for-ochar-children-to-be.html#links

Elected women commune councilors from Battambang: SRP Commune Councilor Sin Rozeth, the youngest in Cambodia

(Photo posted on Facebook)

សា​លា​រៀន​វៀត​ណាម​...! - Viet school adorned by CPP protection signs

សា​លា​រៀន​បណ្តែត​ទឹក​នៅ​លើ​បឹង​ទន្លេ​សាប​ ​មាន​សរ​សេរ​​អក្ស​រវៀត​ណាម និង​​មាន​បិទ​រូប​ថត ​មេ​ដឹក​នាំ​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​គណ​បក្ស​ប្រជា​​ជន​កម្ពុជា​អម​សង​ខាង នៅ​សង្កាត់​ចុង​ឃ្នាស​ ក្រុង​សៀម​រាប ​កាល​ពី​ចុង​ខែ​មុន​។ មាន​សេច​ក្តី​រាយ​ការណ៍​ថា នៅ​ក្នុង​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ឃុំ​-សង្កាត់ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ៣ ខែ​មិថុនា​កន្លង​មក នៅ​សង្កាត់​ចុង​ឃ្នាស មាន​ជន​ជាតិ​វៀត​ណាម​រាប់​រយ​នាក់ បាន​ចូល​រួម​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​។ បញ្ហា​និគម​ជន​ជាតិ​វៀត​ណាម​គឺ​ជា​រឿង​រសើប​មួយ ហើយ​តែង​ជា​របៀប​វា​រៈ​សំខាន់​ សម្រាប់គណ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​​ ធ្វើ​ការ​វាយ​ប្រហារ​ ទៅ​លើ​គណ​បក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​។ រូប​ថត ជី​វ័ន
Floating Viet school on the Tonle Sap displaying sign in Vietnamese adorned by photos of CPP leaders. The school is located in Chong Khneas commune, Siem Reap city. Report had indicated that during the recent 03 June 2012 commune election, 100 Vietnamese citizens voted there. Problem with Vietnamese immigrants is a sensitive issue that generated attacks by the opposition on the ruling CPP party. (Photo: Heng Chivoan, The Phnom Penh Post)

ផ្ទះ​វៀត​ណាម​សង់​លើ​​ទន្លេ​ខ្មែរ​​? - Viet floating houses on Khmer lake

ផ្ទះ​បណ្តែត​ទឹក​ដែល​ត្រូវ​គេ​ប្រាប់​ថា មាន​​ប្រហែល​រាប់​ពាន់​ ​ភាគ​ច្រើន​ជា​ផ្ទះ​​និគម​ជន​ជាតិ​វៀត​ណាមនៅ​​ខាង​ចុង​នៃ​ស្ទឹង​សង្កែ ​ជាប់​​បឹង​​ទន្លេ​សាប​ក្នុង​​ភូមិ​ព្រែក​ទាល់ ឃុំ​កោះ​ជី​វាំងស្រុក​ឯក​ភ្នំ​ ខេត្ត​បាត់​ដំបង​។ រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជាត្រូវ​​គេ​ចោទ​ថា បាន​និងកំពុងធ្វើ​មិន​ដឹង​មិន​ឮ និ​ង​​បាន​​បណ្តែត​បណ្តោយ​​ឲ្យ​ជន​ជាតិ​វៀត​ណាម​ចូល​មក​តាំង​ទី​លំនៅ​យ៉ាង​ច្រើន​សម្បើម​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​ទាំង​លើ​ទឹក​ទាំង​លើ​គោក​។ រូប​ថត ជី​វ័ន
Thousands of Viet floating houses on the Sangker River, next to the Tonle Sap River, in Prek Toal village, Koh Chiveang commune, Ek Phnom district, Battambang province. The Phnom Penh regime is accused of ignoring and alloving Vietnamese to settle in large number in Cambodia, both on land and on waters. (Photo: Heng Chivoan, The Phnom Penh Post)

Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Mok Ra

18 June 2012

By Mu Sochua

This is another story of travesty of justice. Cambodia justice is justice for hire. This is a pure case of political persecution and as a revenge against a very principled local opposition member who refuses to sell his vote and he even won his case when SRP filed complaint against the CPP official who is a deputy secretary general at the Ministry of Interior.

I remember vividly when the Penal Code Bill was presented by the Ministry of Justice and how the Sam Rainsy Party MPs, pointed to the danger of keeping the article in the Code. We pointed out that this particular article is purely meant to prevent and discourage any type of recording or taking photographs of officials caught in a criminal act.

In this case, Mok Ra's only evidence to protect himself is to record the conversation he had with those who intended to buy his vote.

It should be pointed out that the courts are becoming active again during this post election period.

The courts have taken action against:

1. an elected SRP commune official in Kandal with arrest;
2. further questioning Mok ra;
3. summon MP, Mu Sochua for her "rehabilitation" case.

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Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Monday, 18 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The Battambang Provincial Court has summoned an opposition party council member to appear for questioning 10 days from now in connection with the secret and illegal recording of a Cambodian People’s Party official who was caught on tape offering hundreds of dollars in exchange for support in January’s Senate elections.

Click to read more...

Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Monday, 18 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The Battambang Provincial Court has summoned an opposition party council member to appear for questioning 10 days from now in connection with the secret and illegal recording of a Cambodian People’s Party official who was caught on tape offering hundreds of dollars in exchange for support in January’s Senate elections.

On January 20, before the election, CPP official Cheam Pe A summoned Mok Ra, a council member in Battambang town’s Tuol Ta Ek commune, to a meeting in a local hotel.

He then offered Mok Ra US$700 for his support in the upcoming elections, according to a taped version of the conversation that the SRP released.

Commune council members elect members of the Senate.

Citing the recording, the SRP filed a complaint with the Battambang Provincial Election Commission against Cheam Pe A, who shot back with a lawsuit against Mok Ra.

Emerging Leaders in Cambodia - Sin Roset video

Rozeth (R) visiting her constituents in O'Char commune (Photo: Mari Haraldson)

16 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Sin Rozet is elected as the youngest deputy commune councilor. She is continuing to mobilize the youth to provide social services to the poor in the commune of O Char, Battambang city.

Please continue to help her with your generous donation. Her promise to her community is the construction of a health center as the old one was sold by local leaders of the ruling party.

She continues to be active and visits the villages on a regular basis. Her commitment to her people is amazing. Her strength is truly the hallmark of Sam Rainsy Party.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nclM1-oIwG8

Never give up. Justice will prevail.

To donate, visit : sochua.wordpress.com

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Political Persecutio​n of SRP Elected Commune Councilor in Battambang

16 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Battambang Court summons Mok Ra, a newly elected commune councilor from Sam Rainsy Party for more questioning.

Mok Ra won his complaint against a CPP official who attempted to buy his vote at the past senatorial election in January 2012.

http://sochua.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/cambodian-peoples-party-fined-for-vote-buying/

Mok Ra is the second SRP commune councilor to be summoned by the court following the commune elections on 3June. A SRP Kandal commune councilor was arrested this week.

This shows a clear attempt by the ruling party to use the courts to threaten SRP local officials. It is a very disturbing sign for democracy.

A day with Rozeth, the newly elected SRP commune councilor in O'Char commune, Battambang province

Rozeth, a 26 year old woman who started working for SRP when she was 11, and I spent a morning traveling through her commune to tell her supporters that she has officially been announced as the 2nd Deputy Councilor of her commune. She ran as a candidate in the commune elections this year for the first time. She is one of 3 SRP (leading opposition party) representatives in her commune, joined by 8 CPP (ruling party) councilors.

Rozeth's friend's father.

A man with his children--all of whom are unable to attend school due to poverty.

A 13 year old handicapped boy who is extremely positive and vibrant. Rozeth has promised to do her best to help these children attend school.

The boy's mother and grandparents.

SRP commune election complaints in Battambang province

https://www.box.com/s/1855d4ca01857c34b1ce

SRP Youth making a Difference in Local Government

05 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Rozeth has a very important role to play in the commune council as 2nd deputy. She will be in charge of security and social issues.

She will continue to deliver what she promises to the voters: no corruption. We are very proud and owe to her for giving all she has to build democracy from the grassroots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nclM1-oIwG8

Charges of election irregularities abound

Voters search for their names on lists posted outside a polling station in Prey Veng province yesterday. Photograph: Derek Stout/Phnom Penh Post

Meun Vibol caught on film

Monday, 04 June 2012
The Phnom Penh Post Staff

Battambang, Phnom Penh

Allegations of intimidation, ghost voting and electoral-roll sabotage marred yesterday’s commune election as citizens flocked to schools, pagodas and tent-filled streets to cast their vote.

It wasn’t yet 9am when SRP legislator Son Chhay, preparing to vote at the capital’s Neakavoan Pagoda, claimed voters across Phnom Penh had arrived at polling stations to find their names missing from the electoral roll.

“I think their names have been deleted,” he said. “At each station, you’re talking about 40 or 50 people.

“[Some] have just walked back [home] – they just don’t bother. It is a concern that a lot of people cannot display their political decision.”

The SRP was also looking into allegations of vote-buying and intimidation in the capital, Son Chhay said.

Allegations of crookedness, however, weren’t confined to Phnom Penh.

In Battambang town, SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua and 25-year-old O’Char commune candidate Sin Chan Pov Rozeth accused Cambodian People’s Party officials of intimidation, accepting improper identification documents and planning to use ghost voters.

CPP election cheating as it happens - Video direct from O'Char commune, Battambang province

CPP election cheating - A woman shows illegal form 1018 issued by the CPP commune chief for her to vote even though she does not have the proper identification.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPff-eqpCwE