Cambodia

In Cambodia, the International Republican Institute (IRI) works with all of the political parties represented in parliament to help them increase accountability and be more responsive to voter concerns. IRI also works with Cambodia’s youth as they learn to be stronger leaders and active informed members of political parties.

Political Party Organization

Since 1992, IRI has worked with political parties in Cambodia on internal democracy and strengthening youth wings. Today, IRI supports the decentralization of internal party structures to make political parties more responsive to their members.

In September 2007, with IRI’s support, the Sam Rainsy Party completed an internal reform initiative that culminated in Cambodia’s first-ever internal democratic election to choose national party leaders. IRI has since begun working with other parties to encourage the implementation of similar structural changes that decentralize power and decision-making to grassroots leaders and activists.

In advance of the 2008 national assembly elections, IRI sponsored five public debates in which the party’s youth wings were invited to participate on the condition that the representative be elected by their peers. Six parties participated in the Youth Wing debates, most of them holding their first internal elections in party history to qualify.

The final debate, in Phnom Penh, was broadcast for two hours on the most popular television station in the country. One youth debate participant was subsequently appointed Deputy Secretary of State of an important government ministry.

Public Opinion Research

Since January 2004, IRI has sponsored national surveys of Cambodian public opinion, measuring attitudes toward democracy and identify the most pressing issues facing Cambodia according to citizens.

Political parties used results from the February 2008, poll to develop party platforms and messages in advance of the July national assembly elections.

Youth Leadership Development

IRI created and produces the groundbreaking Youth Leadership Challenge, a reality-TV show which teaches young people how to be strong leaders in a democratic society through an entertaining format. The show is one of the most popular on Cambodian television.

IRI also supports the Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), whose goal is to educate and encourage responsible civic action and to equip young people with the skills to be active participants in civil society. YCC has trained tens of thousands of young people in civic engagement.

Twice each year, IRI organizes a youth festival in a provincial town to motivate and teach young people about the impact they can have on their government and society. IRI’s first festival in Battambang, highlighted the success of youth in drawing attention to the arrest of human rights activists, resulting in their eventual release. Subsequent youth festivals were held in Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Pursat and Prey Veng provinces. More than 30,000 youth have attended IRI’s youth festivals.

Past Programming

Commune Council Governance

The 2002 commune council elections were the first opportunity for Cambodians to elect their local leadership. These elections, though marred by violence, proved a starting point for the decentralization of Cambodia's government.

In 2004, IRI launched the Commune Councils: A Democratic Approach to Local Governance program which brought together newly elected leaders for trainings on principles of transparency, decentralization, participatory government and accountability.

Independent Media

With IRI support, Voice of Democracy radio (VoD) was established in 2003 as part of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR). As the only locally-run and completely independent source of news on Cambodian radio, VoD provides daily news updates and a other programming that explores current issues in-depth. In May 2007, VoD was spun off from CCHR into a separate organization.

Blogging Seminars

As a creative way to reach youth in Cambodia, IRI conducted trainings on blogging. Each session focused on using simple and existing technology to exchange ideas, report on provincial government activities and track the success of the YCC Youth Network. While access to the Internet is still limited in Cambodia, the training also involved discussions on how to increase awareness about blogs through newspaper coverage and radio.

IRI’s blogging program was featured in an edition of Wired Magazine, Blogs Taking Off in Cambodia.

Human Rights Advocacy

In October 2002, IRI supported the launch of the CCHR. Led by Kem Sokha, former head of the National Assembly Human Rights Commission, CCHR helped to build a democratic and tolerant society by empowering citizens through human rights education and democracy promotion. CCHR’s programs broadly support participation in political life and uncensored political expression.

At the request of communities, CCHR arranged public forums throughout Cambodia to give all citizens the opportunity to address their elected local and national officials. Topics frequently discussed include local issues, corruption and political intimidation.

Now led by Ou Virak, CCHR continues to be a distinctive and aggressive advocate for human rights in Cambodia.

To help victims of illegal land grabs in the rural northeast and southwest Cambodia, IRI worked with the Cambodian Legal Education Center (CLEC), a local nongovernmental organization with a strong record promoting legal reform and freedom of expression. IRI’s work with CLEC helped victims effectively exercise their free speech rights and stand-up against unlawful evictions.

In May 1993, the United Nations sponsored Cambodia’s first parliamentary elections, after 18 years of communism including the Khmer Rouge regime. The royalist Funcinpec party (FCP) received a plurality of votes, but ultimately formed a coalition with the Cambodian Peoples’ Party (CPP) under threats of renewed national upheaval. Power sharing was lopsided, as the CPP maintained total control of provincial governments and key ministries. In 1997, CPP leader Hun Sen seized control of the government and continued his rule of the country.

In the 1998 parliamentary elections none of the parties garnered the required two-thirds majority needed to form a government. With the intervention of King Norodom Sihanouk and the international community, the post-election stalemate was broken with a coalition between CPP and FCP. The coalition placed Hun Sen solely in charge of the government. Sam Rainsy, former FCP finance minister under the 1993 government, who had been removed from office by Hun Sen, led the sole opposition party, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP).

A key domestic political development in recent years has been the implementation of commune elections in February 2002. Despite high hopes for the elections, they were characterized by violence and implemented under a deeply flawed election framework.

In 2003, Governor Christine Todd Whitman led IRI’s election observation team for the third parliamentary elections. IRI’s delegation observed the final day of campaigning, voting and the vote count. The long-ruling CPP won a plurality of votes, but failed to reach a majority.

In the summer of 2004, Funcinpec assisted CPP in amending the constitution to install a new government. The controversial move was criticized by SRP leader Sam Rainsy and human rights activist Kem Sokha. Both were later accused of defaming Prince Ranariddh. In retaliation for his criticism, the National Assembly voted to remove Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity forcing him to flee the country. Kem Sokha, Pa Nguon Teang, Yeng Virak with CLEC and two other human rights activists were arrested on spurious defamation charges. Following an international lobbying effort, the five were freed in early 2006, and Sam Rainsy was able to return to his home.

As Cambodians move forward, IRI’s work will continue to make political parties more representative, political rights more respected and youth more involved. As the country opens to democratic practices the expectation of ordinary Cambodians are increasing and they are demanding their voices be heard.

Political Overview

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodian Peoples’ Party

Type of Government: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Suffrage: universal, age 18

Elections Calendar

Program Overview

Focus of Program: political party development, public opinion research, youth leadership development, independent media

Funding Source: United States Agency for International Development