In preparations for the upcoming commune elections, the Ministry of Interior is encouraging Cambodians who can read and write to apply for the more than 1,600 commune clerk positions in Cambodia.
A 15-member central committee set up recently by the ministry is assigned to oversee the nationwide examination in selecting clerks. Applicants can sign up to take the exam until March 7.
Sak Setha, deputy general director of the Interior Ministry’s administration department, said the ministry will select about 1,900 candidates. All applicants will be tested and those not chosen as clerks will be alternates, he said.
“We will make the exam to select good test-takers because we need persons with good knowledge on administration and general issues,” Sak Setha said.
Sak Setha, deputy chief of the examination committee, said those eligible for the test must have eight years of working experience, a high school diploma or a middle school certificate with five years of working experience. Essays and mathematics will be part of the exam.
Officials said exams will start early this year because candidates will need training soon. The elections are tentatively scheduled for early 2002.
“The selection of clerks is very important to better keep the records and receive the complaints from people,” Sak Setha said. “Nowadays, all records are being kept at commune chiefs’ homes because there are no proper offices to work in.”
Interior officials downplayed the concerns of human rights workers that the appointed clerks may have more influence than the elected council and that the central government will continue to play a key role in communes.
“The clerks will never have power to control the local administration, despite being appointed by the Interior Ministry,” Sak Setha said. “According to law, they are not allowed [to influence councils] and they can be removed if they abuse their power.”
The Ministry of Interior plans to build offices for the new commune councils. Only Phnom Penh has proper offices for commune administration.
