Land Issues Are Dominating Talks Between Citizens, Lawmakers

Land conflicts, discrimination, corruption and inequality dominated discussions between citizens and lawmakers at forums across the country this year, according to the U.S.-based organization the National Democratic Institute (NDI). In its annual report, obtained yesterday, the NDI noted “significant consistencies in the concerns facing Cambodians across various provinces and compared to previous year of the program- struggles with land, corruption and discrimination, and poverty.” These issues were raised by almost 7,500 people who attended the forums in eight provinces between November 2011 and September. The forums, which were organized by NDI, were also attended by 25 lawmakers, who were informed of a plethora of issues faced by voters in their constituencies. …