Editorial by Khmer Circle:
The Opposition will need to reach out to those traditional
CPP strongholds in the provinces where people still give their votes to the
ruling party. It needs to train party activists whose task it is to undertake
facts finding missions regarding these localities and villages by immersing
themselves among local people and studying the relevant social, economic
circumstances and dynamics governing their lives; noting down their daily
concerns and priorities etc. Once enough primary statistical information and
data have been gathered this way, the next step is to evaluate and analyse the
research materials or facts collected in order to enable the party to draw
appropriate measures [policies] and slogans or campaign messages that are
powerful, pertinent and remedial to people's existing hardships and demands.
CPP strongholds in the provinces where people still give their votes to the
ruling party. It needs to train party activists whose task it is to undertake
facts finding missions regarding these localities and villages by immersing
themselves among local people and studying the relevant social, economic
circumstances and dynamics governing their lives; noting down their daily
concerns and priorities etc. Once enough primary statistical information and
data have been gathered this way, the next step is to evaluate and analyse the
research materials or facts collected in order to enable the party to draw
appropriate measures [policies] and slogans or campaign messages that are
powerful, pertinent and remedial to people's existing hardships and demands.
To do this, it is essential for the investigator to step
into the shoes of the person being studied: find out what their habits and day
to day routines are; listen to their conversations; what information is being
transmitted to them and from which sources etc. It's not surprising that the
Opposition's main and clear gains at this recent commune election are most
pronounced in regions like Siem Reap, Kg Cham as well as the capital of Phnom
Penh; places characterised by high population density and higher exposure to
information from sources other than the regime-controlled TV channels. Far and
beyond these regions, there remains millions of illiterate and semi-literate
voters who are still strangers to smart phones and Facebook. In fact, for older
generations living everywhere in Cambodia today, accessing and using such
technologies remains something of a challenge and a handicap, and to say these
are modern “conveniences”, is somewhat an understatement!
into the shoes of the person being studied: find out what their habits and day
to day routines are; listen to their conversations; what information is being
transmitted to them and from which sources etc. It's not surprising that the
Opposition's main and clear gains at this recent commune election are most
pronounced in regions like Siem Reap, Kg Cham as well as the capital of Phnom
Penh; places characterised by high population density and higher exposure to
information from sources other than the regime-controlled TV channels. Far and
beyond these regions, there remains millions of illiterate and semi-literate
voters who are still strangers to smart phones and Facebook. In fact, for older
generations living everywhere in Cambodia today, accessing and using such
technologies remains something of a challenge and a handicap, and to say these
are modern “conveniences”, is somewhat an understatement!
The ruling party will enjoy unfair advantages by virtue of
its decades-long social patronage system as well as a range of inbuilt
instruments of domination and influence, from local armed elements to financial
muscle. But, the challenge will be all the more important to reassure people as
to the overriding need for 'change' and the benefits it brings by means of
education aimed at uprooting and dispelling those fears, myths and assumptions
that have so long been ruling forces in their hearts and minds.
its decades-long social patronage system as well as a range of inbuilt
instruments of domination and influence, from local armed elements to financial
muscle. But, the challenge will be all the more important to reassure people as
to the overriding need for 'change' and the benefits it brings by means of
education aimed at uprooting and dispelling those fears, myths and assumptions
that have so long been ruling forces in their hearts and minds.
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