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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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 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

Justice for Suong Sophaon

Thursday, September 22, 2011
By Mu Sochua

Last week Sam Rainsy Party youth leader Suong Sophaon was brutally attacked by riot police at Boueng Kak Lake. Sophoan went to the lake community when he received desperate calls from the villagers that police were there to demolish the people's homes.

Today Mu Sochua MP accompanied Sophaon to the Phnom Penh court where he filed a complaint against the riot police for this brutal beating. The attack that left him unconscious in a pool of blood was caught on video and watched on Youtube and Facebook by at least 10,000 viewers across the world.

Sophaon survived the same attack when he wanted to present a petition to the UN Secretary-general during his visit to Cambodia early this year. No justice was ever provided to Sophoan despite severe beating by the police at that time.

Outside the court Sochua explained that Sophaon proved that the youth will not be silenced by intimidation, by fear, by violence. The youth will continue to fight for justice, for Cambodia. 

Suong Sophorn's Interview in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 22 Sept 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE0xMDj2zis

Youth denied their constitutional rights in Phnom Penh

Register to Vote: Newsletter Two

Monday 12 September 2011

Youth denied their constitutional rights in Phnom Penh

Every capable Cambodian citizen 18 years or older has the right to vote in elections. This is ensured in our constitution.

However, Cambodian youth have a challenge when taking voter registration information door-to-door to their peers, in the city of Phnom Penh on the 2nd week of the registration period. Local commune chiefs, district officials trailed by police prevented the youth and Mu Sochua of the Sam Rainsy party, an elected MP from providing information to voters, accusing them of unlawful activities and disturbing peace and security in the commune.

SRP youth president Soung Sophoan handing out voter information cards at the pagoda.

Sophoan and MP Mu Sochua confronted by local authorities minutes later for their actions.

Voter information cards were snatched and confiscated by the local authorities who went door to door, creating an atmosphere of fear. Such a violation of voters' rights, including right to information and political rights is part of the fear tactics of the ruling party through the use of local officials.

The Cambodia Daily newspaper reported on the 13th September 2011, “There were almost as many authorities as SRP members, which came in handy when the information card distribution began because it meant the authorities could grab back the cards as quickly as they were distributed to the public”.

A fan?  No, a member of the local authority taking pictures in an act of intimidation and harassment. He was part of the authority convoy trailing the party youth.

Voter registration is the first step to guaranty protection of voters' right to vote. The EU Electoral Observation Mission noted in its 2008 general election report that 19 per cent of polling stations reported voters complaints due to errors on the register on election-day. Domestic observers concurred with this finding, stating in their reports that incorrect voter registration was one of the key problems of the 2008 election process.

The Sam Rainsy Party is taking no chances by waiting for electoral reforms to take place. During the 45-day registration period, the SRP youth and all the party machinery is being used nationwide to ensure that the newly illegible voters have their right to vote.

The youth will not be intimidated and they continue to exercise their constitutional right to hand out the voter information cards

Training youth to go door-to-door is a must and a good exercise to train our youth to enter the field of politics and to defend our people's political rights. Any form of threat and intimidation must be stopped in order to ensure free and fair elections.

Another 28 days to go!

Youth take to the streets of Battambang

Youth take to the streets of Battambang

Sunday 4 September 2011

Sunday is a day of rest – however only for some, especially in Cambodia. The supporting youths of the Sam Rainsy Party in Battambang take this as an advantage, take to the streets the message they would like to share; “Youth – register to vote for a bright future”.

The head of youth movement at the provincial level for SRP Battambang is Suon Chamroeun; he has been involved with the party since 2005. When asked what he studied at University he replies, “a completely different field from politics – marketing, it’s complicated why I got involved, [partly] because I could not see the logic of using my potential for the gains of the businessman in a [corporate job]”. I ask what constitutes a youth; his reply is anyone between 16 years old to 30 years old. Youth involvement within the party increases during the one month campaign period however diminishes once this is over; Chamroeun says there must be a strategy to keep them involved for the long run. Chamroeun reveals to me research that has shown youths within Cambodia to have significantly lower interests in politics than across other countries; just 4% and less than half of these are actively involved.

Youths have the power to make a change, to voice their opinions on political issues in order to secure their future wellbeing. The Sam Rainsy Party defend the rights of freedom of speech and strongly support youth involvement.

On Sunday morning, 29 SRP youth supporters gathered at a house in Toul Ta Ek, Battambang where they joyfully received their shirts displaying the message – youth register to vote for a bright future. They are extremely happy to be here, to be part of something they believe in. They understand that they have the right to make choices, to be involved in making a change; and the efforts of walking the streets door-to-door allow us to spread awareness to others about voter registration.

Youths were extremely happy when the shirts were being distributed.

Message: Youths – register to vote for a bright future.

Cambodia's 'unfair' election - 26 Jul 08

Cambodians head to the polls this weekend, however, Human Rights Watch says conditions are not in place for free and fair elections.

Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister, is widely expected to retain power. But the watchdog group says his party's grip on the media, and use of harrassment and intimidation undermine the credibility of the poll.

Nationalist sentiment is running high over a border dispute with Thailand. However, many Cambodians also want to see an end to rampant corruption and solutions to rising living costs.

Eleven parties are competing, including the new "Human Rights Party".

Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) continues to dominate. He has effectively been in power since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.

But many of Cambodia's younger voters may be looking for a change of rule, as Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Phnom Penh.

Youth vote could prove decisive in Cambodian elections

SRP Youth helping to pick up trash in Maung Russey (Photo: SRP Youth Movement)

Wednesday July 02, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

The youth vote could prove decisive in this month's election in Cambodia. In March, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen slapped down his main rival Sam Rainsy - accusing him of pointlessly "dragging in a youth movement" in an attempt to topple the Prime Minister. But while Sam Rainsy is banking on a mood for change among the young - it's far from clear whether Cambodia's youth will be able to mobilise their numbers to impact the result.

Presenter: Bill Bainbridge
Speaker: Sann Seakkin, Sam Rainsy Party Youth Member delegate; Koul Panha, Executive Director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections

(CAMBODIAN SONG): BAINBRIDGE: The song calls for political change in Cambodia and is aimed squarely at the country's huge cohort of under 30s. A post Khmer Rouge era baby boom means that more than half of Cambodia's eligible voters are aged between 18 and 30. Most of them have no recollection of the time when Hun Sen wasn't the Prime Minister. Youth discontent with the man who's been at the helm of Cambodian life in one way or another for 23 years is something the Sam Rainsy Party is trying to tap, not just with songs but with a push to promote young members of the party.

Sann Seakkin is the Rainsy Party's newly elected Youth delegate.

SEAKKIN: In the political platform of Rainsy Party one of the three political messages when Sam Rainsy takes the power Rainsy Party will provide appropriate jobs to the youths by fighting corruption first.

BAINBRIDGE: The 28-year old university lecturer says many of Cambodia's young are disenfranchised by unemployment and land grabbing, and he hopes to persuade them to choose Rainsy on polling day.

SEAKKIN: Some young Cambodian people come to join Sam Rainsy youth movement because they are part of ... land grabbing, because it is difficult to jobs.

BAINBRIDGE: At this western style hamburger restaurant in Phnom Penh there is some excitement about the opportunity to vote among this group of young graduates.

MALE GRADUATE: I'm 23 years old, I'm going to vote and it is my first time that I'm going to vote at a national election.

FEMALE GRADUATE: No it's not the same case, even now if you don't go to vote no one comes to your house and forces you or you are fined by any institution of the government. But you vote because you want to see a change, you want a better government, you want a better environment to live in. So you yourself have a voice.

ANOTHER MALE GRADUATE: I do hope that the new leader or yes maybe a new leader of the country and educate ...

ANOTHER FEMALE GRADUATE: Many young people feel disappointed with the political situation nowadays, and they may not go to vote because they think that political parties are similar, like same kind of policies and who play the game.

MALE GRADUATE: They always invite the SRP leader to celebrate the graduate ceremony, so I think SRP care more about popularity than the other party.

BAINBRIDGE: But the sentiments of this group aside the evidence suggests most young people feel remote from the political process.

Koul Panha is the Executive Director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections. His organisation conducted a survey into young voters last year. He says while young voters form a potentially decisive block, most feel disenfranchised from politics.

PANHA: They feel that they have no power to influence the politics and they don't know how to organise themselves. They understand about the importance of democracy but they don't know how to use the politics to get democracy.

BAINBRIDGE: Panha says he expects most young people come election day to be directed by the parents as to who to vote for, but he also says a smart campaign could attract a large swag of young voters.

PANHA: Youth is ready to change their decision to vote, that's why we see that youth most not have a decision yet on the voting. The party who are responding to the needs and the solution of the youth they will benefit from the youth vote.

BAINBRIDGE: Do you see any of the parties attempting to do that at the moment?

PANHA: Some parties they try to talk about the youth for example employment like SRP they talk about employment. Human Rights Party they talk about education and CPP they talk about new generation leadership. So I hope youth will decide which one is really the long term benefit to them also.

Political Cartoon: Youth Movement

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Click here to read related article

Youth vote can't stop Hun Sen, says CPP

Friday, 21 March 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng and Gemma Deavin
The Phnom Penh Post

With more than 55 percent of the Cambodian population aged 18-30, a mobilized youth vote could sway the upcoming national elections in July, democracy watchers like to point out.

But although one of the major parties is actively wooing youth voters into its party, the ruling CPP dismissed the idea that young voters want to oust Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Hun Sen this month accused the Sam Rainsy Party of bringing youths into the political fray in order to fight him. “They are dragging in a youth movement to topple Hun Sen from the position,” he said in a March 5 speech following the SRP’s national youth congress.

Hun Sen added he would leave it to the voters to “fight back in the upcoming elections.”

But Cheam Yeap, a member of the CPP’s Central Standing Committee, went further, telling the Post on March 19 that he thought it would be impossible for a youth vote to oust Hun Sen this year.

The voter registration process is already closed. National Elections Committee Secretary General Tep Nytha estimated 300,000 new young voters registered in 2007. He said the number increases every year.

“I don’t really know how many youth members there are within the CPP, but the CPP has five million members and many youths within the university and graduates are supporters of Hun Sen,” Nytha said.

He added that Hun Sen often gives speeches to graduating classes.

“I think that even if the SRP has more than 100,000 youths as members it is still not enough of a voice to topple Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he said.

In launching its national youth congress, the SRP said it had about 52,000 youth members from 17 provinces.

The party also elected a youth representative March 2 to sit at its executive committee.

The representative, 28-year-old San Seak Kin of Phnom Penh, will be able to contribute directly to the party’s political platform, said SRP parliamentarian Tioulong Saumura, Sam Rainsy’s wife.

Saumura admitted that until recently many older Cambodians had no idea that the youth contribution could be so important.

“Young people are surprisingly determined, committed, active and politically minded.

“People who have never received political training show such a high level of maturity,” she said. “There is a freshness and spontaneity in people who have not suffered from intimidation.

“Young are more daring and audacious because they have not had the bad experience of suffering.”

Although many elections observers said youths in Cambodia want change, none could point to any strong evidence that young people were likely to affect the upcoming elections.

“Most young people understand the importance of politics but they just stay under the control of older politicians,” said Khmer Students Association program coordinator Saro Sovudhi.

“Maybe in ten years young people will have some real power,” he said.

Figures derived from official results of the 2007 commune council elections show there are of the 11,353 elected commune councilors nationwide. However, only 163, or 1.6 percent, are youths. There are no parliamentarians under the age of 30 despite the minimum permissible age being 25.

Nevertheless, some education campaigns are gearing up to encourage participation in politics.

A 2007 survey conducted by the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) found young peoples’ grasp of the voting registration process was patchy.

Since then COMFREL has signed a contract with United Nations Development Program to help run a forum before the elections to train youth from major political parties and youth associations on the importance of networking and cooperation in politics.

“This election is just the beginning for youth to increase their voices,” said COMFREL executive director Koul Panha.

But Panha said the parties don’t let young people do much. “They have used youth movements to support them but they don’t give them any influence or power in decision making,” he said.

The idea of the UNDP program is to promote the idea that “if they all have a common agenda, they should come together,” he added.

“After the election we will bring them together again and talk about the political platforms of different parties and how they can respond.”

The forum covers ten of Cambodia’s 185 districts but plans to expand.

The Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC) is training youth in monitoring and advocacy.

The Youth Council of Cambodia is also running some education programs in 12 target provinces for 13- to 17-year-olds and for 18- to 23-year-olds. The older group looks at democracy, the election process and good governance.

First SRP National Youth Congress Video

March 2, 2008: SRP held its First National Youth Congress at the SRP party headquarters in Phnom Penh. The congress gathered more than 2,600 party youths coming from 17 provinces from all over Cambodia.

Political Cartoon: 2 Trees

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

SRP selected the leader of its youth movement

San Seak Kin, newly elected delegate general of the SRP Youth Movement

SRP Youth Movement Congress (Photo: SRP)

Monday, March 03, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

During its first congress of the SRP Youth Movement, held on Sunday, with the participation of more than 2,000 youths, the SRP selected its general delegate for the SRP youth movement. The youth movement general delegate holds a rank equivalent to that of the party deputy secretary-general. The Samner Thmei newspaper reported that 4 candidates applied for this position: 3 coming from various provinces, and one from Phnom Penh city. The results of the election for this position showed that San Seak Kin, the candidate from Phnom Penh city, received the most vote to become the youth movement general delegate, and he will be in charge of the party youth movement. Sam Rainsy declared that the Congress for the Youth Movement is a historical event for the SRP in the selection of a leader for its youth movement. Sam Rainsy said that, his party is the only one in Cambodia which selected a youth movement leader democratically, starting from the local levels, and all the way up to the national level.

SRP National Youth Congress

February 27, 2008
PRESS RELEASE

SRP to Hold National Youth Congress

“As a young person, I have a vision that change in our political system is possible. I wish that one day we would have a leader who will truly help our youth to gain decent employment, with decent wages and protection. I have great hope that the Sam Rainsy Youth Movement will help me to fulfill this dream”

- Prak Vy, 24 year-old high school drops out, Dang Toung commune, Kampot province, Cambodia.

Following substantial democratic reforms which strengthened party structure at all levels, the Sam Rainsy Party took another major step to bring the voice of the youth into the formulation of its policies and into its decision-making process. From December 2007 to February 2008, the party held youth elections in 1,321 communes, 137 districts in 17 provinces. 51,910 youth members were involved in these reforms.

To further provide youth with a voice and opportunity to be engaged in politics and building democracy, the SRP will hold a National Youth Congress, including the election of a Youth Delegate for the party. The elected youth will represent the voice of the SR Youth throughout the country and will hold a position of Party Deputy Secretary-General. 17 youth members, elected by their constituency will be added to SRP current Steering Committee. Over 3,000 youth members are expected to attend the event.

A new initiative put forward during the National Youth Congress is the youth debate among candidates who will run for the position of Youth Delegate. This debate is a demonstration of SRP's central democratic principles that increase citizen participation in democratic processes and provide a venue to act on the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

The National Youth Congress will be held on the following:

Date : Sunday March 2, 2008
Time : 8AM - 4PM
Location : SRP Headquarters-Phnom Penh

The Sam Rainsy Youth Movement has the following as its goals:

The Sam Rainsy Youth Movement strives for national conscience to rebuild Cambodia with participation and opportunities for all, in particular for youth. Reforms in the political and social systems must have space for the youth to take their own actions for change.

The Sam Rainsy Youth Movement has the following objectives:

• increase youth participation in political, social and economic development;
• increase youth participation in electoral process;
• youth actions for youth

SRP General Secretariat

Contact persons:
Mr. Keo Phirum, Phone: 012 175 7079
Mr. Hul Thul, Phone: 012 758 516

Photos from First National Congress of SRP Youth Movement

March 2, 2008: SRP held its First National Youth Congress at the SRP party headquarters in Phnom Penh. The congress gathered more than 2,600 party youths coming from 17 provinces from all over Cambodia.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy greeting the SRP Youths (Photo: SRP)

Youth members from Kandal province
Youth members from Sihanoukville and Siem Reap provinces
Youth members from Battambang and Prey Veng provinces
Sam Rainsy addressing the Youth Congress
Party members applaud the youth members
The congress was participated by several foreign guests
Youth members from Banteay Meanchey and Prey Veng provinces

First National Congress of Sam Rainsy Party Youth Movement to take place on 02 March

Sam Rainsy with members of the SRP Youth Movement (Photo: SRP Youth Movement)

Sam Rainsy's appeal for donation to help defray the cost for the First Congress of the SRP Youth Movement, please click on the appeal to zoom in

Friday, February 29, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Sam Rainsy Party will hold its First National Congress for the SRP Youth Movement on Sunday 02 March, with the participation of 2,500 youths. Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper that this is the First National Congress for the SRP Youth Movement, and this congress is organized as part of the reform to prevent the defection of party members which took place not long ago. Eng Chhai Eang indicated that this congress will be scheduled for one full day, starting from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PM. The congress will vote to select the Youth Movement delegate, and the Youth Movement general inspector for the party. Those who will be voted in to these positions will represent the voice of the SRP Youth Movement for the entire country, and will also occupy the position of deputy Secretary-general of the party. In response to the question as to whether the SRP will be affected in the upcoming election if important party members keep on defecting, Eng Chhai Eang said that the party will not be affected because the number of defectors is small in comparison to the number of new members joining the party which is so much more.

SRP Youth Movement provides a good role model to the community: Clean up of Maung Russey City by SRP Youth Movement

Source: SRP Youth Movement

At 8:00 AM on 20 February 2008, about 300 youths of the SRP Youth Movement in Maung Russey district, led by Suon Chamroeun, the director of the SRP Youth movement from Battambang province, Chea Chiv, the candidate for the steering committee of the Battambang province Youth Movement, and Kieng Saran, the deputy director of the SRP provincial committee, took the initiative to clean up Maung Russey city as shown in the photos below.

Additional photos are available by clicking here

Rally talk prior to the cleanup operation (Photos: SRP Youth Movement)

SRP Youths spead out to start the cleanup
Everybody pitched in to clean up the city of Maung Russey
Boys and girls are working shoulder to shoulder to clean up public places
A well earned lunch break
A group photo at the end of the cleanup

Volunteering to pick up public trash requires an authorization from the authority: Hun Sen's Cambodia

Click on the letter to zoom in

SRP Youth threatened by authorities for volunteering to pick up trash in Sisophon

06 January 2008
[Translation into English]
Source: SRP

In response to the information given on 4 January 2008 by SRP Banteay Meanchey Yi Saray about a group of 200 members of the SRP Youth Movement volunteering to pick-up trash in Sisophon City on 7 January, Sisophon District Governor Om Reatrei gives instruction to police and military police forces to prevent this activity from taking place on the grounds that SRP Banteay Meanchey had not requested his authorization.

Article 35 of Cambodia’s Constitution states that “Cambodian citizens of both sexes have the right to actively participate in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the country” and does not mention any prior authorization.

Thioulong Saumura
Member of Parliament

SRP Litter Collection Is a Positive Thing

Boys and girls of the SRP Youth are working diligently to collect public trash and contributing to cleaning up the environment. (Photo: SRP)

Friday, January 04, 2008

Battambang provincial authorities should not be worried by SRP youth supporters running a campaign to collect litter in Battambang town.

This action will not have a negative effect on society. It helps clean the environment and improves sanitation and hygiene, both of which help Cambodia's Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Environment.

Even if they were wearing SRP insignia, the litter collectors still helped raise awareness about the environment. We should welcome all youth from any political party—CPP, Funcinpec, SRP, NRP, and HRP—or NGOs who want to contribute to social work.

In the past the Cambodian Red Cross youth and Cambodian Scouts have helped in a lot of social work, such as being traffic guides on weekends. Social work in Cambodia is badly needed regardless of political affiliation, religion, or whether they are from the public or private sector, in order to improve society.

Nhem Cheabunly,
Phnom Penh