A Day on the SRP Campaign Trail: Kampot Province

Mu Sochua rainsing SRP party sign in Tani commune, Kampot province (All photos: SRP)

Mu Sochua talking to villagers who have gathered for the occasion
Mu Sochua talking to villagers
Dialogue between Mu Sochua and villagers

16-May-2010
Cambodia

At the Tani commune in the Kontrong village, Mu Sochua, deputy Kosal Chin, and commune supporters engaged in putting up an SRP sign. The gathering brought many people from other parties, a product of the SRP's ability to create and restore a democratic and transparent leadership, even at the grassroots level. The new SRP sign is an important symbolic change within the community, signifying that the area is now a place which puts its trust into the Sam Rainsy Party

Kosal Chin, Mu Sochua, and others had a conversation with the commune. Here they spoke about the relationship between the government and the people, stressing that it is the role of the government to listen to the needs of the people and the role of the people is to report problems as well as commentate on progress made within the community.

After the Tani commune, we moved to the Trapaing Rou village for a women's work shop. Here, Mu Sochua talked about important issues concerning the lives of Cambodian women today. She discussed three issues which are themes among Mu Sochua's speeches. She talked about health care and gender, especially concerning reproductive rights and the dangers of pregnancy during delivery. She also brought up matters of education and women while encouraging the women to be a part of the change they wish to see, calling the newly trained women diffuse their ideas to those unable to go to the work shop.

In the Sboundet village, Mu Sochua again had a dialogue expressing the role she has as a representative, stressing that development and freedom is their right, that she is working on their behalf. Here, youth voters discussed how they wanted to vote because they want to have an education and a future. Farmers also discussed corruption in government, as well as poverty and land rights, expressing that farmers have been stuck with the same life inside the village.

Although all of the settings were different in nature, there was one thread pulling them together- a dedication and passion to establishing a just and fair democratic society through a dialogue relationship between and among the people.
-----
By Nicholas Walker-Craig.

About the author: I am currently a Sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Sociology in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am interning under Mu Sochua and will be mostly working with the Youth Wing of the SRP, and will be in Cambodia until August. I'm very excited and honored to be working with the SRP and Mu Sochua!

Campaign for Anti-Corruption Law Nearly Complete

By Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
21 April 2008

Eleven non-governmental agencies have joined together in seeking a million signatures to push for an anti-corruption law that meets international standards.

The Million Signature Campaign is expected to be finished by the end of April, and organizers say they only lack 95,000 names.

The Cambodian government has continually failed to pass the anti-corruption law, which has been in a draft stage for a decade.

The National Assembly ended its final term ahead of general elections in July without passing the law.

Yong Kim Eng, director of the Citizens for Peace and Development organization, said he expected the campaign to reach its goal without obstacles, in an effort to express the desire of the population to have the law.

The campaign has been conducted throughout 19 provinces since December 2007.

Sek Borisotha, a program officer of the group Pact, one of the campaign sponsors, said the effort was important in displaying the will of the people.

Chiem Yeap, a lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, said he welcomed the campaign.

The law has so far been delayed by the complexity of the law, the need to establish an anti-corruption committee and secretariat, difficulties in the declaration of property and discussions on proper punishment, he said.

Groups participating in the campaign hope to hand the signatures over to the National Assembly in May.

AIDS/HIV Campaign in Kampot province's Chhouk district

Choun Net (R), who is infected with HIV, offers condoms with her friends to a taxi driver at Chuk district during an AIDS /HIV campaign in Kamport province 146 km (91 miles) west of Phnom Penh March 5, 2007. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodian volunteers sing at Chuk district during an AIDS / HIV campaign in Kamport province 146 km (91 miles) west of Phnom Penh March 5, 2007. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

A volunteer offers condoms to a housewife at Chuk district during an AIDS / HIV campaign in Kamport province 146 km (91 miles) west of Phnom Penh March 5, 2007. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Choun Net (R), who is infected with HIV, offers condoms to taxi drivers at Chuk district during an AIDS /HIV campaign in Kamport province 146 km (91 miles) west of Phnom Penh March 5, 2007. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

NEC: Parties to start media election campaign on March 16-30, except for the CPP which can campaign anytime it wants on state-run media

February 09, 2007
Parties allowed to start media campaign for Cambodia's local election

The National Election Committee (NEC) said Thursday that the 12 political parties registered for the April commune councils election can campaign on radio, television and newspapers from March 16 until March 30, said a NEC press released received here on Friday.

Speaking to public and private media representatives in the country during a meeting on Thursday, NEC director general Tep Nytha confirmed that any parties that fielded more than 1,000 candidates can spend six minutes each day advertising policies on state-run radio and television stations, while the parties with smaller number of candidates are to be given five minutes, it said.

The parties can also use private media, but must follow the NEC 's principles, it said.

Meanwhile, Tep Nytha called on private and public media outlets to treat the political parties fairly in line with the NEC's guidelines and avoid unfair coverage.

The 2007 commune councils election started on Sept. 21, 2006, and will end on May 23, 2007. Results are to be published on April 1, 2007.

Source: Xinhua