SR Youths seen collecting trash in Phnom Penh city along party leaders (Photo: SR Youth Movement)
Radio Free AsiaTranslated from Khmer by SocheataSRP leaders led almost 1,000 youths to pick up trash along the city streets to clean the city of Phnom Penh, and also to push these youths to be involved in social (volunteer) work.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, the organizer of the SR Youth Movement to pick up trash in the city of Phnom Penh, declared on 13 January that his party organized these youths to pick up trash so that they uphold the spirit of participation to serve the society for public benefit. He added that all these youths must face all work challenges in the society before that can become leaders.
Sam Rainsy said: “The youths serve the people’s needs when they can do it, this is a participation, a contribution from youths who have the spirit of responsibility, who think about the Nation, about the society which they live in.”
Poch Pak, a youth who participated in the trash pickup, said that he volunteered to pick trash today because he want to prevent the disorderly throw away of trash by people in the past, and this work also pushes the youths to maintain the spirit of serving the society based on one’s ability.
Poch Pak said: “I am calling on all the city youths, as well as all the people in the country to help maintain good hygiene in the city and in rural areas.”
Chiem Yeap, a high ranking CPP official, said that the CPP plans to organize 2,000 youths to pick up trash in Phnom Penh on 13 January also, but that the event was cancelled, and he does not know the reason for this cancellation. He told RFA to go ask officials at the city hall.
Chiem Yeap said: “2,000 (CPP) party youths should participate (in the pickup of trash) this Sunday also, but now, I don’t know what happens. The city hall must be consulted before they issue an authorization.”
On Sunday, RFA tried to call Kep Chuktema, the city governor, as well as a number of other deputy governors, however, none of them accepted the calls.
Koul Panha, director of Comfrel, said, regarding the trash pickup by the youths, that the participation of youths in public services is a good opportunity for the upcoming general election, and these youths should be smart to tell all the party leaders about what they want, and this is also a good opportunity for the party leaders to understand the needs of youths at the moment, so that they can bring them up in the future.
Koul Panha said: “They accept a number of political programs that answer to the needs of the youths.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy led a march by a group of youths to pick up trash from Wat Phnom park all the way to the Chrauy Changvar bridge, for a total distance of about half a kilometer.
SRP Youths with the widows who lost their homes in the fire. Mu Sochua, SRP Deputy Secretary-general is seen participating in this project also (All photos: SR Youth Movement)
Able SR youths are pushing back up the still usable wooden columns
Shoulder to shoulder, boys and girls are working in unison
Erecting the frame for the houses
