Muslims Outline Political Needs
By Kong Soth, VOA Khmer
Kampong Cham
11 February 2008
Hundreds of Cambodian Muslims faced three parliamentarians Saturday,
calling on them to fix problems within their communities, including
schools, health care and farmland.
The Chams, who participated in a public forum put on by the National
Democratic Institute Saturday, told party representatives these would
be im****tant issues for them in July's national elections.
About 420 Chams participated in the forum, which included a
representative each from the Cambodian People's Party, Funcinpec and
the Sam Rainsy Party.
"There were some Khmer Muslim teachers at this school in the past, but
they stopped teaching because they didn't have any salary while their
living conditions were so poor," said El Vansa, a teacher who attended
the forum.
El Mad, who lives in Sambo village, Kor commune, and wore a Muslim cap
on his head, said people in his village were uneducated and easily
tricked out of their land.
"They always suffer from cheating by corrupt people," he said.
Others expressed concern about gambling, as the three parliamentarians
present listened.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Cheam Chany said the opposition lacked the
capability to solve everyone's problems immediately.
Jerome Cheung, NDI's Cambodia directory, said voters had a right to
conversations with their elected officials.
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