The father was drunk again, and the children fled for help to get him to stop. But the village elder they brought back came with more than help for the family. He had a recipe for peace for the whole country.
“Only the election can help the country in achieving peace and development,” the neighbor told them. “Registration for elections is important for the whole family and the whole country.”
This scene from a sometimes-comedic play performed Sunday had a serious message: Cambodians must register with the local Communal Election Commission if they want to vote in this year’s national elections.
Fifteen student actors from the School of Fine Arts have been performing the play since Saturday as part of a European Union-sponsored voter education program.
In the play, entitled “The Sky Clears Over Our Village,” the helpful villager goes on to tell the family how they can register to vote, who is eligible and that they will not be asked to commit to any political party during registration.
For student Chheang Chardapheak, 21, the play is a chance not only to hone his acting skills, but to do some good, too.
“Besides the experience performing, it is good to talk about registration and voter education. It is a very important thing,” he said.
“Only through education can people learn how to judge for themselves which political party is good.”
The European Union funds the project, paying each performer $5 per day.
The EU is sponsoring various other education campaigns as part of its contribution to the elections.
The 50 or so people who gathered at the stage in the park outside Wat Botum seemed to appreciate the play, which featured Apsara-style dancers at the beginning and portrayed various aspects of Khmer culture.
Tuy Han, 52, a visitor from Prey Veng province, said he learned much from the performance.
“It is important for the people to know how many people will want to vote. This registration only wants to know how many people, not who we will vote for,” he said. “They say the registration is for justice, not cheating, bribing or political tricks.”
On the other hand, Tuy Han’s interpretation of the assurance that “all Khmer citizens” were eligible to vote shows that education efforts still have a ways to go.
“Vietnamese cannot register for the vote. Only Cambodians,” he said, nodding his approval.
