The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 509
“The League of Civil Society Organizations regrets that most members of the committee responsible for deciding on the number of seats decided not request an increase in the number of parliamentary seats to the Royal Government. However, the League of Civil Society Organizations insists on requesting the leaders of the Royal Government and the National Assembly to check the possibility to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Term 4 (2008 to 2013 [of the National Assembly from 123]) to 130. Based on the increase of the population, the social geography, and the economy of some population centers, the number of parliamentary seats should be increased at least by seven additional seats, each one for Battambang, Kompong Speu, Koh Kong, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville.
“The request mentioned above responds to the following reasons:
“1. To increase the representation of the parliamentarians in response to the population appropriately and legally.
“The population increased by approximately 2 million – i.e. from more than 12 million in 2003 to approximately 14.5 million in 2008. It should be noticed that the National Assembly has increased the number of seats from one term to another, and the increase is in harmony with Article 7 of the parliamentary election law, which states: ‘Every third year of a National Assembly term, the Council of Ministers must set up a commission to decide on the number of parliamentary seats, in order to adjust the number of seats and the allocation of seats to provinces and towns.’ In fact, the number of parliamentarians who play a role as parliamentarians properly is about 112 only, because at least 11 parliamentarians are members of the Royal Government, so they are very busy with the Royal Government’s work, and they seldom play a role as parliamentarians properly. There should be an amendment of the Constitution to regulate the relation more clearly between the members of the legislative body and the members of the executive body.
“2. To increase the number of parliamentarians, so that the parliamentarians can appropriately visit and help solve the problems of the people and the centers [of the towns or provinces where they were elected.
“The reports from public forums of some non-government organizations and reports of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia [COMFREL] about the National Assembly, find that the people in each population center [the provinces or towns] really need many parliamentarians to help protect the people’s interests and welfare. Though many parliamentarians visit and help solve the problems of the people in their centers actively, the number of parliamentarians is still not sufficient for the big range of people’s needs, especially in remote areas, where parliamentarians are needed to help solve the problems of the people.
“3. To make a balance between the number of members of the National Assembly committees, and the number of members of the institutions of the Royal Government, in order to inspect the implementation of work of the ministries and other state institutions.
“The current number of parliamentarians is not sufficient for the scope of work of the committees. From Term 1 up to now, the Royal Government has created many ministries and committees, and the number of members of the Royal Government has doubled compared to of what it was before.
“4. To strengthen the inspection of income and expenses of the national budget.
“Raising the issue of funding is not an appropriate reason to oppose the increase of the number of parliamentarians, because spending additional funds for the people’s benefits should be a priority to be considered, and the increase of the number of parliamentarians by at least seven persons does not cause much increase in the spendings from the national budget, compared to the increase of the national budget each year. In addition, the Royal Government has recently expressed satisfaction about the general economic growth, and declared to also increase the salaries for the armed forces by 20% next year. Therefore, the increase of the number of seats will not cause any negative impact to the economy and the national budget, based on the Cambodian economic growth at the present time, and the vow of the Royal Government to increase the income for the national budget, as well as taking action against corruption, and to increase the collection of funds from potential natural resources.
“Thus, in view of the reasons stated above, the League of Civil Society Organizations still insists on its request to the Royal Government to check the possibility to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Term 4 and for the following terms.” Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3045, 26.5.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 26 May 2007
Chakraval, Vol.15, #2683, 26.5.2007
- Phnom Penh Residents Want Government to Close Slot Gambling Machines
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1349, 26.5.2007
- Officials of Ministry of Public Works and Transport Criticize Bus Drivers [because some drivers transport wood and wildlife illegally]
Khmer Amatak, Vol.8, #477, 26.5.2007
- Chief Trader Yeay Phou [Chheung Sopheap, Director of Pheapimex] Conducts Gold Mining Illegally at Phnom Chi, Kompong Thom
- International Human Rights Organization [based in Hong Kong – name not mentioned] Calls for Release of Duch [chief of Tuol Sleng Prison]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6049, 26-27.5.2007
- Plan to Discuss Draft Anti-Terrorist Law in June
- Young Woman Bitten by Snake, Dies Two Days before Her Scheduled Marriage Day; Her Fiancé Asks for Living in Her Room with Her Remains for One Year [Baribour, Kompong Chhnang]
- Prince [Azim] of Brunei Gives Michael Jackson $10 Million for Attending His Birthday Ceremony
- Russian Pickpocket Snatched [former Thai Prime Minister] Mr. Thaksin’s Wallet While He Visited Moscow [on 24 May]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3168, 26-27.5.2007
- Prince Ranariddh Gives One-Month Deadline for Funcinpec to Remove His Title as Historical Guide
- Prime Minister Warns about Chaktomuk River Water Level [that it may go up to 10.45 m – then Phnom Penh would be flooded]
- Court Officials’ Corruption Causes More Impunity
- The More Weapons Destroyed the More Illegal Use of Guns Exists Mostly by High Ranking Officials’ Bodyguards
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4294, 26.5.2007
- French Ambassador Is Concerned that [three year’s] Time for Khmer Rouge Tribunal May Not Be Enough
- Government Considers Issuing of Land Titles to Foreigners
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3045, 26.5.2007
- League of Civil Society Organizations Requests Increase of Parliamentary Seats
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #410, 26.5.2007
- Prince Ranariddh and Sou Phirin [Siem Reap Governor] Are Better Than Other Excellencies and Samdechs of Teenage Attitudes [whose mistresses were killed or wounded by shooting or attacked by acid, but Ranariddh just divorces his wife and Sou Phirin jails his wife]
