The Sam Rainsy Party will mobilize its youth wing today with some 200 young party supporters taking to the streets of Battambang town for a one-day city clean-up operation, SRP Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang said.
The members of the SRP’s Youth Movement will collect trash and sweep Battambang’s streets in an effort to set a good example for other young people to shun drugs and gambling and instead act responsibly and respect the environment, Eng Chhay Eang said.
“The SRP is making young people think about their future. The SRP wants to be involved in these activities,” he said. “Battambang will set an example,” he added.
SRP Youth Movement members will also assist farmers during the harvesting period, Eng Chhay Eang said, adding that members of the movement have other events organized around the country.
Chea Poch, SRP lawmaker for Prey Veng province, said that he had 6,000 youth movement members who will assist farmers during the forthcoming rice harvest.
Helping farmers in the cultivation of rice goes hand-in-hand with building a democracy, Chea Poch said.
“We teach the young to understand democracy, now we want them to help cultivate rice,” he said.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said political parties should not simply “use” youth to gain votes, but should implement policies that serve young people. Young people want education and jobs, Koul Panha said, adding, “political parties are not places to train young people.”
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the SRP was simply emulating the CPP’s longstanding youth associations, which have millions of members.
“The SRP has only done this for one month. They are doing it to get their pictures in the newspapers,” he added.
