Leadership in Local Politics of Cambodia: A Study of ... - CDRI

Chapter 5:
ACTIVITIES AND CONSTRAINTS OF LOCAL LEADERS
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This chapter looks closely at the activities of different types of commune and village leaders
and the problems they face, in order to understand the local leadership environment after
recent political, economic and social changes. It starts by discussing the roles and activities
of administrative leaders, followed by other types of leaders, to see how local administrative
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development and/or mediating between local authorities and the people. Activities found to
hamper decentralisation and development are also laid out. Also explored are the constraints
that different leaders encounter in their daily activities.
5.1. Activities
5.1.1. Administrative Leaders
Understanding administrative leaders’ roles in their formal mandate is a prerequisite to a sensible
discussion of their activities. This section examines the two types of local administrative
leaders—village committees and commune councillors. Discussion of each will begin with a
look at their institutional mandate. Activities of these leaders can fall under a broad discussion
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collection and mobilisation of villagers to participate in development planning.
Village Committees
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for various needs. Villagers view the role of village chiefs as mainly related to mobilising
villagers for meetings and collecting contributions for commune projects.
The interviews in this study showed that village and commune are not two separate bodies
even though villagers know there are two levels and that they need to approach the village
before going to the commune. Many villagers are not convinced that their village leaders can
really bring and defend their needs to the commune. This is to be expected since the current
institutional structure and mandate are not based on a decentralised vision. Also, because
village leaders are elected by commune councils and paid from councils’ funds, they need to be
accountable and responsive to the commune rather than directly to the villagers. Furthermore,
village leaders do not have the arm’s length relationship with councils or councillors that could
allow them to challenge commune decisions. They are rather old friends of or even related to
councillors. Village leaders act as extra eyes and arms assisting the communes.
Village functions and mandates were delineated in MoI decision #004 on 17 March 2006. The
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�� ensuring safety and security;
�� being part of development activities of the village;
�� monitoring the activities of the village;
�� assisting commune councils to gather people, to collect commune data, to raise contribution
and in other affairs;
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meeting with villagers weekly at the village meeting place.
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