On January 15, 2007, King Norodom Sihamony granted an audience to 25 youth/student NGOs so that they provided him their anxieties and other issues that Khmer young people have been confronting.
On the occasion, the representatives of youth/student NGOs told the king about activities that they got fruitful result relevant with various fields such as health, education, democracy, corruption, environment and network and advocacy…etc.
The anxieties and issues, they told the king, focused on five major points:
1. Education issue: – High rate of truants and scholarship supported by government is minor level…
2. Employment issue: – Non-students and students have faced unemployment caused by corruption, nepotism, and non-quality of education…
3. Health issue: – Some youth use drug because of unemployment and health service are not enough for poor people…
4. Conscription law: – Royal armed forces are not neutral yet and our young people need to study in peaceful situation
Cambodia…
5. Corruption and Land conflict: – Young people don’t have self-confidence and lose educated opportunities. Land conflicts have been happening cover the country…
The reply back to 25 youth/student NGOs, the King Norodom Sihamony appreciated and supported with participation of the 25 in national development and asked them to go on their activities.
The 25 youth/student NGOs submitted their recommendations to the royal government through H.E. Samdech Kong Sam Ol in order to effectively resolve. Students’ Movement for Democracy (SMD) was one of 25 youth/student NGOs that SMD President Mao Veasna participated in the event.
