ABC, Radio Australia
21/02/2008
Cambodia goes to the polls in July in an election that most observers expect will merely consolidate the power of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party.
One man who hopes that is not the case is the leader of Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy, who is currently visiting Australia.
He has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program that while there has been some progress in Cambodia, it has not been equitable.
"A group of people get richer and richer, whereas the majority of the people remain poor," he said.
Mr Rainsy says given the huge amount of international assistance the country has received, progress should be coming much faster to Cambodia.
He believes corruption is to blame.
"Corruption is rampant," he said.
"Corruption has caused so much destruction of the natural resources, and has allowed government officials to sell state assets and to grab land from poor farmers.
"Mr Rainsy says, despite the perceived power that Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party holds, he believes social, economic and technological trends will lead to change in Cambodia.
He says Cambodians, particularly the younger generation, are developing a sense of political awareness.
"Half of the Cambodian population is under 20 and two-thirds of the population are under 30, and those young people are relatively more educated, their expectations are higher, so therefore they will push for a change," he said.
"Over half of these young group of people cannot find jobs and living conditions and those of their parents are not improving, and they want to live in a more just society, so they will push for democratic change.
"Cambodia goes to the polls in July and Mr Rainsy is remaining optimistic.
21/02/2008
Cambodia goes to the polls in July in an election that most observers expect will merely consolidate the power of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party.
One man who hopes that is not the case is the leader of Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy, who is currently visiting Australia.
He has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program that while there has been some progress in Cambodia, it has not been equitable.
"A group of people get richer and richer, whereas the majority of the people remain poor," he said.
Mr Rainsy says given the huge amount of international assistance the country has received, progress should be coming much faster to Cambodia.
He believes corruption is to blame.
"Corruption is rampant," he said.
"Corruption has caused so much destruction of the natural resources, and has allowed government officials to sell state assets and to grab land from poor farmers.
"Mr Rainsy says, despite the perceived power that Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party holds, he believes social, economic and technological trends will lead to change in Cambodia.
He says Cambodians, particularly the younger generation, are developing a sense of political awareness.
"Half of the Cambodian population is under 20 and two-thirds of the population are under 30, and those young people are relatively more educated, their expectations are higher, so therefore they will push for a change," he said.
"Over half of these young group of people cannot find jobs and living conditions and those of their parents are not improving, and they want to live in a more just society, so they will push for democratic change.
"Cambodia goes to the polls in July and Mr Rainsy is remaining optimistic.
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