NDI looks for ways to improve next year's general elections

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer Original reports from Washington
24 December 2007

National Democratic Institute (NDI) says it is looking to improve the 2008 general election process with 5 main projects.
"In general NDI wants to strengthen democracy and wants to give every people their full rights." NDI program officer Ly Sothearayuth told VOA audience as the guest of Monday Hello VOA.
Sothearayuth outlined the 5 main activities as 1) conducting debates among candidates, 2) monitoring funds of NGOs such as COMFREL and Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (NICFEC), 3) deploying more election observors to help audit the 2nd voter list in March 2008 before the July 2008 election, 4) training political activists, and 5) promoting women in politics.
Sothearayuth says people are generally brave to ask questions and express their concerns because "people are now smarter and understand the issues well."
"People are disappointed in the politicians who have made empty promises. We are hoping that in this coming election, politicians will fullfill their pledges and people will no longer be disappointed."
Cambodian people will go to the polls in July 2008 to elect members of parliaments. The party that wins the majority of the seats will select the next prime minister.