Kon BambooSchoot

Ministry to open net cafe for journalists and Comfrel holds governance forums
THE Ministry of Information has announced plans to build an internet cafe at it offices next year, with the aim of giving journalists access to information and resources related to their work.

"Some media institutions do not have the ability to connect to the internet for their staff to do research," Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said Monday. "We will put 20 computers in the internet cafe and make available many important [government] documents for reporters."

Journalists would be required to pay the ministry a small fee to use the resources, but Khieu Kanharith said it would be cheaper than commercial cafes.

Wealth of information
Seng Thai, a journalist for Radio Voice of Democracy, welcomed the idea, saying that it would open up a wealth of information previously unobtainable to journalists.

"Currently, I search for information on the internet at my workplace, but some documents are still not available," he said. "The Ministry of Information is the best source for all reporters, so it will be wonderful if this plan goes ahead."

But he was hesitant about paying to use a publicly-owned service. "If reporters have to pay, they will go to other internet shops that are better rather than spending time at the Ministry of Information."


Comfrel holds governance forums
THE Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) has organised five local public forums to facilitate discussion between commune councils and their constituents in Svay Rieng, Kratie, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Kampong Chhnang provinces to be held from today through September 25.

Net Kimchorn, Comfrel's provincial secretary in Svay Rieng, who will be presiding over the first forum in the Romdoul district, said that the forum's goal is to enhance people's participation in community development.

"The aim is to give people the chance to raise their concerns, needs, suggestion and solutions and also to keep the commune councils accountable to their voters when it comes to good governance and local decentralisation," she said.
"Comfrel wants this local forum to give voters the chance to meet with their commune councils," said Net Kimchorn, adding that people are now more aware of their rights and "dare to make requests" from their commune councils such as to build roads, wells, schools and clinics.

But Nouth Sa An, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior, said that the public forum between commune councils and the people is unnecessary.

"I agree that our government has never organised a public forum, but [with our decentralisation and de-concentration policy] the commune councils and their relationships with the people are very good and open in the whole region," he said, referring to the government's ongoing decentralisation project, which seeks to devolve greater administrative power to the provinces and make local government more responsive.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay said that he welcomes Comfrel's contribution in organising the public forum and urged other NGOs to also get involved to help hold commune council members accountable and to clarify their function.

"The commune councils do not have the authority to make any development decisions even though this is specified under the law because development is under the control of the Cambodian People's Party and [Interior Ministry]," Son Chhay said.

"The decision makers are not worried about the people, they are afraid of the CPP and [ministry]," he said, adding that SRP officials will attend the forums.