A visiting lawmaker from the US state of Texas House of Representatives told a group of Cambodian parliamentarians and NGO workers Wednesday that public access to facts is vital to building a new democracy.
Domingo Garcia said his constituents can even check his personal budget and calendar. “We are not supermen,” he said, explaining why he thought it was important to share such information with his fellow citizens.
Monh Saphan, chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Commission, said he understood the importance of public participation in government.
“In legislation making, we very much need the public to help contribute to it,” he said. “Otherwise, we sometimes have dissatisfaction from the public.”
Chea Vannath, president of the Center for Social Development, said public forums are important because it gives officials a chance to listen to the needs of the people.
She said her group has organized 40 such forums on topics ranging from Khmer Rouge trial issues to laws for sea fishing.
She also took the opportunity to criticize the government for failing to create a National Congress, as dictated by the Constitution.
The National Congress is supposed to be a venue where citizens could make their views known to lawmakers.
