End Corruption and Culture of Impunity in Cambodia

“In Cambodia, corruption is not only through on-the-table or under-the-table but includes the table.” Kem Ley

By Sim Socheata - Event Observer 

Transparency International Cambodia today celebrated the International day under the theme “iMove against Corruption and Impunity for Poverty Reduction”.  The event is open to the public through registration via online application. Majority of the participants are youths from university, students who are trained to be teachers, monks, community affected by land grabbing, and NGOs workers.

 

Mr. Preap Kol, Executive Director of Transparency International gave an opening remark which highlighted the grave needs for Cambodia to end the culture of corruption and impunity. He urged every citizen to exercise their rights be speaking up on behalf of and for the victims of the past, victims of the present, and victims of the future of any kind of injustice acts in order to demand for justice for them. It is the obligation of every citizen to speak about it, he stressed. Recent study of Transparency International found that corruption has been strongly embedded in every system and practices in Cambodia which the most severe one being the judicial system; this needs to be tackled first and urgently.

The other remark was delivered by Mr. Kem Ley who was commissioned to conduct the study for Transparency International on the issue of corruption and the culture of impunity. This later remark centered around facts related to government corrupt practices and impunity. The case of Chhuk Bandith who fired at factory workers and kills a few of them was highlighted and this criminal is still remained outside jails. There are other cases where victims are labour activists, unionist, land rights activists, environmental activists who have been murdered because they spoke out against the injustices experiences by the poor. However, where the government targeted the activists, the arrest and jailed happened instantly including the court hearing and sentences such as the case of Yorm Bopha and the recent arrest of land and human rights activists currently in jails.

What is interesting to me in taking part in this event is to witness the talent and creativity of young people in sending the key message about corruption, impunity and the demand for change through various songs. They sang these songs beautifully and passionately.

One participant, a female student who is studying to become a teacher gave an interesting remark where she publicly committed to share the knowledge she learned from the event with her future students and she is committed not to practice any corrupt practices with her students.

Youth is riding the wave of change in Cambodia. It is very strategic that Transparency International taps into youth to engage them in such event, raise their awareness so that the hope for change in Cambodia could shed light on the Kingdom of Wonder. This similar event has been conducted in four provinces throughout Cambodia. The greater the number of youth reached through this campaign the more change the roots of corruption could be cut and the culture of impunity in Cambodia could come to an end.