Accountability Cambodia – Promotion of Democracy and Integrity
By Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following my
interview Mears Samnang von Accountability in Cambodia. I asked him about the
objectives of his organization and about the things which must change in
Cambodia.
interview Mears Samnang von Accountability in Cambodia. I asked him about the
objectives of his organization and about the things which must change in
Cambodia.
Milena Rampoldi: Which is the main objective of
Accountability International?
Accountability International?
Mears Samnang: The objective of Accountability International is to introduce greater accountability within the public and private sectors, as well as in society as a whole, in order to enhance public service delivery, reduce and eradicate corruption, reduce poverty and bring-about harmonization.
Mission: AIs
mission is to enhance global accountability, integrity and transparency through
the use of technologies; to underpin bottom-up empowerment by linking this with
a top-down approach.
Values: Accountability, Integrity, Transparency,
Democracy, The rule of law, Justice, Gender empowerment, An inclusive society
Democracy, The rule of law, Justice, Gender empowerment, An inclusive society
What
is the main objective in Cambodia?
Accountability Cambodia is a
non-partisan, non-government organization (NGO) based in Cambodia.
We join together to create social capital; to accountability in Cambodia.
How to improve democracy in Cambodia?
To achieve this, we have to strengthen the National
Election Committee, we have to promote Free and Fair Elections, encourage
citizens to votes and set up mobile offices in foreign countries.
Election Committee, we have to promote Free and Fair Elections, encourage
citizens to votes and set up mobile offices in foreign countries.
Recently, AC
initiates a project on Voluntarily Income and Asset Declaration Online (VIADO)
against corruption especially in NGOs. There are more than 30 NGO leaders,
students and private employees individually support this project including Mr.
Chhang Youk, the Executive Director of Documentation Center of Cambodia, who
received the Truman-Reagan Freedom Award from the Victims of Communism Memorial
Foundation in Washington, DC in 2000, named one of TIME magazine’s “60 Asian heroes” in 2006, and one of
the “Time 100” most influential people in the world in 2007 for his stand against
impunity in Cambodia and elsewhere. Here is our new initiative http://www.accountabilityinternational.org.au/?page_id=1166
initiates a project on Voluntarily Income and Asset Declaration Online (VIADO)
against corruption especially in NGOs. There are more than 30 NGO leaders,
students and private employees individually support this project including Mr.
Chhang Youk, the Executive Director of Documentation Center of Cambodia, who
received the Truman-Reagan Freedom Award from the Victims of Communism Memorial
Foundation in Washington, DC in 2000, named one of TIME magazine’s “60 Asian heroes” in 2006, and one of
the “Time 100” most influential people in the world in 2007 for his stand against
impunity in Cambodia and elsewhere. Here is our new initiative http://www.accountabilityinternational.org.au/?page_id=1166
These
leaders volunteer to declare their personal income and assets online to show
their integrity in their leadership. We want to encourage a bottom up reform by
initiating an asset declaration online by NGO leaders as a model of political
parties, and public sector. The main idea of this initiative is that civil
society organizations (CSOs) play an important role in the process of
development, observing and criticizing the government; however, they often lack
integrity, transparency, and accountability themselves. They are accountable to
donors rather than public. Moreover, their level of integrity system was a bit
higher than the public sector, 48 per cent and 36 per cent respectively
(Transparency Cambodia 2014). Therefore, it is crucial for reform to start by
enhancing the integrity, transparency and accountability of CSOs as a model for
political parties and the government.
leaders volunteer to declare their personal income and assets online to show
their integrity in their leadership. We want to encourage a bottom up reform by
initiating an asset declaration online by NGO leaders as a model of political
parties, and public sector. The main idea of this initiative is that civil
society organizations (CSOs) play an important role in the process of
development, observing and criticizing the government; however, they often lack
integrity, transparency, and accountability themselves. They are accountable to
donors rather than public. Moreover, their level of integrity system was a bit
higher than the public sector, 48 per cent and 36 per cent respectively
(Transparency Cambodia 2014). Therefore, it is crucial for reform to start by
enhancing the integrity, transparency and accountability of CSOs as a model for
political parties and the government.
Which are the main obstacles to democracy in Cambodia?
-Politicize in public institutions
-Corruption and nepotism
-High level of illiteracy
-Poverty
ProMosaik thinks that
democracy is a movement from the bottom to the top and can be implemented by
awareness and education. What do you think about it?
democracy is a movement from the bottom to the top and can be implemented by
awareness and education. What do you think about it?
I think it is a
good approach to raise awareness from bottom to the top because it can increase
level of knowledge and participation of people throughout the country. It can
be promoted via social media, volunteers, and public institutions.
good approach to raise awareness from bottom to the top because it can increase
level of knowledge and participation of people throughout the country. It can
be promoted via social media, volunteers, and public institutions.
What has your organization
reached until now and what is your dream for the social and political future of
Cambodia?
reached until now and what is your dream for the social and political future of
Cambodia?
AC has been networking with NGO leaders, political
parties, public institutions, and students to raise awareness of corruption
undermine democracy, rule of law, and human rights. My dream is that to bring
politicians and NGO leaders to have accountability to the people through
practicing voluntarily income and asset declaration online. I want to see
politicians practice VIADO before they win the election, and they have to step
down if they cannot fulfil their promise.
parties, public institutions, and students to raise awareness of corruption
undermine democracy, rule of law, and human rights. My dream is that to bring
politicians and NGO leaders to have accountability to the people through
practicing voluntarily income and asset declaration online. I want to see
politicians practice VIADO before they win the election, and they have to step
down if they cannot fulfil their promise.
