NDI Trains Political Party Women for the Upcoming General Election

By Soy Sophea

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Wednesday last week launched its one-day seminar for women leaders from three political parties. The seminars were arranged
to enhance communication with voters during the campaign period for the upcoming 2008 national elections.

At the opening seminar held at the Cambodiana Hotel, Chit C. Asis, an NDI political trainer said training was aimed at strengthening participation by political parties by enhancing the skills of women party trainers in political campaign communication skills. She added that 36 women trainers from the Cambodia People’s Party, the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia, (Funcinpec), and the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) have been trained in campaign communication.

Ky Lum Ang, Funcinpec parliamentarian, said at the workshop that it would enable the three main political parties to broadcast better focused political messages. “Women are
the development partners for our society,” she said. “We have to educate them as much as we can, especially in the areas such as political theory and the democratic process.” In addition,

Ke Sovannroth, SRP parliamentarian, said that experience in elections was important for Cambodia’s democratic society.

“We have to have them trained to make sure they are strong enough to take part in forthcoming political campaign,” Sovannroth said.

Nin Saphon, from Cambodia People’s Party, said that the seminar was a good way to bring the different political organizations together where they were able to sit and learn together as one great Khmer family. Cambodia is scheduled to hold its forth national election in July 27, 2008.