The following is an email exhange between KC and P. Virak posted on the Camdisc public bulletin board. Mr. P. Virak is currently in Phnom Penh, and he offers his point of view to his friend KC regarding the choice of the next prime minister in Cambodia.
Letter from KC to P. Virak:
Bong (Brother), but it sad that the majority poor voters seemed to listen to the need of their stomach rather than analyze educational background or political agenda of the candidates they are going to vote for, you can see this in every election.
KC
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Reply from P. Virak in Cambodia:
Street scene in Cambodia recently. (Photo: P. Virak, Posted online)
Hi KC,
It is an uphill battle to teach and encourage people to vote their conscience. At this time, not many people see things beyond the tip of their nose. People don't care much about territorial encroachment by our neighboring country because they are busy fighting to keep their own piece of land that has been/being/or will be stolen or grabbed from them every day. The issues of territorial encroachment and or the violations of the 1991 Paris peace treaty are things that are beyond their capacity to understand. Such important issues have not gotten their attention as much as their daily problems--- how to feed their family members and how to make or beg for a few dollars to survive.
I have met with hundreds of people from different walks of life and in different parts of Cambodia. It breaks my heart to see some mothers who can't even produce milk for their baby... to see many people still have no salt to eat... to see the aging [people] who are waiting to die without dignity... to see toddlers (who are supposed to be in school) roaming dirty ponds to catch insects...prawn...fish etc... to help feed the family... How are we going to tell the people about the big issues which have nothing to do with their immediate needs?
Somehow people are fearful and being purposely kept from proper schooling, from having enough food, and from exercising their rights... It seems that Cambodia is still under communistic rules in the most parts. We have more than enough money to make Cambodia a better place, but the money stays with the rich and the powerful ones.
We are racing against time--- which we don't have much left.
Thanks again for your exchange.
Virak
Letter from KC to P. Virak:
Bong (Brother), but it sad that the majority poor voters seemed to listen to the need of their stomach rather than analyze educational background or political agenda of the candidates they are going to vote for, you can see this in every election.
KC
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Reply from P. Virak in Cambodia:
Street scene in Cambodia recently. (Photo: P. Virak, Posted online)It is an uphill battle to teach and encourage people to vote their conscience. At this time, not many people see things beyond the tip of their nose. People don't care much about territorial encroachment by our neighboring country because they are busy fighting to keep their own piece of land that has been/being/or will be stolen or grabbed from them every day. The issues of territorial encroachment and or the violations of the 1991 Paris peace treaty are things that are beyond their capacity to understand. Such important issues have not gotten their attention as much as their daily problems--- how to feed their family members and how to make or beg for a few dollars to survive.
I have met with hundreds of people from different walks of life and in different parts of Cambodia. It breaks my heart to see some mothers who can't even produce milk for their baby... to see many people still have no salt to eat... to see the aging [people] who are waiting to die without dignity... to see toddlers (who are supposed to be in school) roaming dirty ponds to catch insects...prawn...fish etc... to help feed the family... How are we going to tell the people about the big issues which have nothing to do with their immediate needs?
Somehow people are fearful and being purposely kept from proper schooling, from having enough food, and from exercising their rights... It seems that Cambodia is still under communistic rules in the most parts. We have more than enough money to make Cambodia a better place, but the money stays with the rich and the powerful ones.
We are racing against time--- which we don't have much left.
Thanks again for your exchange.
Virak
