Editors:
Speaking on behalf of many in Battambang, I would like to raise several questions
in regard to the role of UNTAC and the SNC in Cambodia.
The people in Battambang are very happy with UNTAC and believe strongly in UNTAC.
However, we would like to suggest that UNTAC further expand its mandate in order
to make the people feel even more confident so they can dare to reveal those who
have been corrupt, who have stolen state property, and secretly sold public buildings
to enrich themselves.
The State of Cambodia should review all state property. UNTAC has to thoroughly inspect
and control the public resources of the state. For instance, in some places, the
State of Cambodia has driven the people out and kept areas as state properties, but
later sold the land to private companies.
The poor people have to live in misery, or as the saying goes, "the Chinese
drive out the Khmers, and the Khmers drive out the ghosts." We know that the
Khmer Rouge have been selling forests and precious stones to Thailand. But why does
the State of Cambodia follow the Khmer Rouge's bad model-or are there people working
for SOC who used to work in the Khmer Rouge units?
On UNTAC's budget and expenditures: we would like the Phnom Penh Post to clarify
this matter so that the people will not feel suspicious and they can understand how
U.N. money is being used to help Cambodia.
The third question is about the SNC. Is the SNC monitoring expenses by the different
political parties, or is it looking the other way and allowing parties to operate
in corrupt ways? Some parties have been selling our natural resources while others
have been selling public buildings to overseas business people.
If the SNC lets some parties operate this way, consequences will come to the Cambodian
people and it will only create favorable conditions for the corrupt people to gain
power. If the money is really used to help parties to arrange elections, it would
be good.
But how about other parties that have neither the private property to sell nor the
natural resources: what can they do? We need an answer from the SNC.
-"Zero Five" Battambang
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