Youth Speak Out on Election

Letter to editor
The Cambodia Daily
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2003

Youth Speak Out on Election

Vannak Huy,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia


I recently read a magazine, Save the Children Norway's Bamboo Shoots, about Children's opinions on the upcoming election. I am interested in their suggestions to the Cambodian politicians. Although they are unable to vote to elect the country's leaders, they do have a right to express their opinions regarding the characteristics of leaders they want to see elected in Cambodia.

A 14-year-old girl, a student at Lycée Descartes in Phnom Penh, said, “Cambodian politicians should not promise more than what they can do.” A 15-year-old boy, a student at Sisowath High School, said, “I want to have a good leader who loves the nation like Hitler, is serious like Stalin, is friendly like Churchill, respects ideal like Lincoln and is brave like Napoleon.”

Furthermore, I wish that the politicians respect children's opinions and the voters and will not lie to themselves, as well.

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