Three effigies of headless men in business suits were set on fire in Phnom Penh on Friday as part of a symbolic act to stamp out corruption, organized by the Cambodian Independent Anti-Corruption Committee.
Khmer Front Party leader Sun Sokunmelea, Licadho President Kek Galabru and Sam Rainsy Senator Thach Setha torched the gasoline-soaked images in the park opposite the National Assembly to mark UN International Anti-Corruption Day.
The Center for Social Development also held a more formal anti-corruption meeting in the park, where CSD Director Heav Veasna spoke about Cambodia’s culture of bribery and corruption.
“I attended the CSD Forum which I thought was very good,” said Municipal Deputy Governor Mam Bun Neng.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said there was now a serious debate focused on corruption, but the government has dragged its feet on the long-awaited Anti-Corruption Law which was supposed to have been ratified in 2005.
He also welcomed the authorities allowing the anti-corruption meetings to take place.
“But we are still disappointed with other types of government bans [on protests] and slowness in getting the anti-corruption law passed as expected,” he said.
Leng Peng Long, secretary of state at the Ministry of National Assembly and Senate Relations and Inspection, said that his working group has finished a final draft of the anti-corruption law to send to the Council of Ministers.
