For One Woman, a Journey Into Politics
Women still make a small percentage of local and national politicians. (01 July 2008)
Chhan Samnang came to PhnomPenh in 1979 as a vendor of fried banana cakes,following the collapse of the Khmer Rogue. Now 51 years old, Chhan Samnang is acommune council member in Phnom Penh'sRussei Keo district. If possible, she plans to do even more, by enteringnational politics one day. Chhan Samnang is one example of the few women in localpolitics, where only 15 percent of commune council members are women. Even so,she one day hopes to be a representative at the national level, where 22 of the123 members of the National Assembly are women. Chhan Samnang became interested in politics when she metopposition leader Sam Rainsy at a market, in 1996. After speaking to him, shedecided to join his party, then called the Khmer National Party, the precursorto Sam Rainsy's eponymous party. She became an activist and won a seat as afirst deputy council member in 2002, winning again in commune elections in 2007. Her leg has been disfigured, by polio, since she was a younggirl, and she is sometimes criticized for her disability. But she does not carewhat people say, she told VOA Khmer in an interview. She prefers to show herabilities, rather than dwell on her disability. One day, Chhan Samnang hopes to run as a member of parliament, but forthis year's general election, she is campaigning for her party and remaining alocal representative of her commune. If she has the ability to go further, she said, she will.