Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Group Monitors More Than Just Elections

By Pin Sisovann, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
01 September 2009

With voter turnout falling from 85 percent in 1993 to 60 percent in general elections last year, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections has expanded its scope, moving beyond elections and choosing to monitor promises made by politicians in campaigns.
Koul Panha, executive director of Comfrel, recently expressed his worries that politicians have been breaking their promises, such as gender equity, attacking drug abuse, deforestation, land grabbing and theft, or improving fisheries rights, good governance, education, development or poverty reduction.
To ensure voters feel their ballots have value, Comfrel has been organizing public forums, including discussions and question and answer sessions among citizens and council members for communes, districts and cities or provinces.

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