The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has promised that their commune councillors will have strong work ethics to ensure public services are carried out with “cleanliness and integrity”.

Severe action will be taken against commune and village chiefs who abused their powers, CPP said in its 22-page manifesto that, among others, focuses on transparency, expresses a desire for corrupt-free governance, the measures to be corrupt free and expresses a resolute stance against abuse of power.

The manifesto, obtained by Khmer Times, was derived in part from CPP’s strategy of “Commune Development Policy 2022-2027” which detailed a five-year plan to improve people’s livelihoods, better public service and grassroots development.

The CPP promised to strengthen the work ethic of commune councillors and public officials to ensure public services are provided to the people with transparency and integrity.

The manifesto said the party will promote transparency in the performance of commune councillors by providing open and clear information to enable better monitoring of budget utilisation and project implementation.

The CPP said the “five approaches” would continue to be strictly used against newly-elected commune councillors, village leaders and public officials who “commit corruption or abuse of power” to ensure administrative discipline and compliance with laws.

The CPP has applied the popular “five approaches” for better governance through sweeping reforms – “mirroring, bathing, scrubbing, treating and operating” – to avoid wrongdoings that affects the people’s interests in its governance of the country.

Since the 2013 National Elections, when the ruling party lost 22 National Assembly seats to the court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Prime Minister Hun Sen had carried out a series of reforms, including tackling corruption, increasing public servants’ wages and reforming the education sector.

The “fifth approach” had also been used by Mr Hun Sen to dismiss provincial governors, military officers and heads of provincial departments after they were found to have abused their power or involved in corruption.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan has said the party central leadership had warned members in the military, police and civil administration against abusing their powers, saying the move “affects the institutions’ image and reputation” of the party and country.

Ou Chanrath, vice-president of the Cambodia Reform Party (CRP), said yesterday that each political party will have its own manifesto but carrying out the policies remains a challenge.

“The policy is good, but what matters is the implementation and whether the officials at the grassroots level understand it,” he said. “At some point, local officials will not be able to carry it out.”

“I see implementation as a problem. Even the head of the government has advised against discrimination, to provide protection or to facilitate the opposition (to meet their supporters) as well as other parties, the problems still remained,” he said.

“The policies on issues like social injustice, corruption and security that have been put in place have not been effective,” he added.

According to Chanrath, discrimination against grassroots leaders and political parties remained the sore point.

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, and a CPP vice-president, had last month instructed the party’s grassroots officials to focus on providing “justice” to local people and not rely on providing “gifts” to win their support in the Commune Election.

Kheng acknowledged that some officials may have abused the people but pointed out that the ruling CPP and the government under the leadership of Mr Hun Sen have worked to ensure justice for the people.

Kong Monika, president of Khmer Will Party (KWP), said yesterday that in general, the policies of the political parties, as well as the CPP, are good, but in practice, they do not respond to the problems of the people.

“In the past, the ‘Five Approaches’ were used only on low-ranking officials. I understand that all law enforcement must be implemented from top to bottom, meaning that the punishment of high-ranking officials who commit wrongdoing will send an important message in eradicating corruption and abuse of power by lower-level officials,” he added.

Kong Soeun, Phnom village chief in Mongkul Borei district’s Banteay Neang commune of Banteay Meanchey province, said yesterday that he strongly supports CPP’s manifesto on curbing corruption and abuse of power.

“I don’t like those who commit corruption,” he said. “The corruption and abuse of power are like social diseases.”

Soeun said he does not demand a fee from the villagers who came to him for assistance.

“But if the people give me 5,000 ($1.25) or 10,000 ($2.5) riel for the public service, I will accept, but I will not coerce them to give,” he said.

CPP commune chief in Dambe district’s Trapaing Pring commune of Tboung Khmum province, Mom Sabun, said yesterday that he was committed in fighting corruption in his commune.

“We strongly support the party’s policy against corruption and abuse of power,” he said, adding that commune officials strictly implemented government procedures.

CPP’s “11-point” manifesto also touches on education, agriculture, public health and employment, considered as core subjects in helping the public. It has also pledged to continue promoting democracy at the grassroots level and strengthen the promotion of people’s rights and freedom so that they continue accessing good public services and reaping the benefits of socio-economic development.

Mr Hun Sen announced recently that he would not be campaigning for the June 5 Commune Election and will leave the job to national and sub-national officials.

He said he would be busy organising the upcoming Asean-US Special Meeting.

He also urged all political parties to abide by the election law and to avoid the use of violence against each other.

• Tags: abuse of power, corruption, CPP