Balang Primary School in Banteay Meanchey province faced criticism online for allegedly violating children’s rights after posting a video of students “expressing their support” for the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area (CLV-DTA) project.
The incident in Balang Primary School in Malai District, Banteay Meanchey Province, sparked public outrage after the school posted a video on August 17 showing young students publicly endorsing the agreement.
Critics argued that children involved in political issues constituted a violation of their rights. In the video, the students were led by a young girl who read a statement, while other young students echoed in support. The video, which zooms in on the children’s faces, has been condemned by many as “exploitative and inappropriate” given the students’ age and understanding.
“We, the students of Balang Primary School, Takong commune, Malai district, Banteay Meanchey province, fully support the joining of the development zone called CLV-DTA. We strongly believe in the government led by Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet,” a young girl read, followed by cheers from other students. “Cheer! Kingdom of Cambodia! Cheer! Samdech Hun Sen! Cheer, Samdech Bovor Hun Manet!”
Two days after the video was posted, it had one million views and was shared 5,600 times, garnering 3,000 likes and 2,100 comments. Many comments condemned the video as “wrong” and “unacceptable”, with several saying that the children’s rights were violated.
They also pointed out that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport instructs students to avoid political discussions, but the CLV-DTA activity contradicts their own guidelines by engaging primary students in government-supported development projects.
“It’s too much,” Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, remarked. “Asking primary students to read a statement that was prepared by old people. It’s absurd. Let them [students] consider it themselves.”
“Please stop abusing children. That’s too much, young people don’t know what the CLV-DTA is yet,” another person commented.
Pa Chanroeun, head of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID), told CamboJA News that expressing support or opposition to the CLV-DTA project is a citizen’s right in a democratic society. However, he stressed that young students should not be involved in political matters.
Chanroeun expressed surprise at the Balang Primary School video where primary students were filmed in an assembly to announce their support for the project.
“Bringing children into politics, whether in support of or against something, is not right,” he said. “It’s wrong because children do not think deeply and it deviates from the principles of children’s rights.”
A CamboJA News reporter contacted the phone number listed on Balang Primary School’s Facebook page but the person who answered said he was not a teacher or school principal but a brother of the teacher in that school.
The reporter also reached out to a phone number listed on the Facebook page of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Department of Education. The person who picked up the call referred the reporter to an administrative officer. However, the officer said he was unaware of the video.
Ministry spokesperson Khuon Vichheka did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, several videos on Prime Minister Hun Manet’s YouTube channel showed teachers and students assembling in the school yard to declare their support for the CLV-DTA project. One of them was Chea Sim Samaki High School in Phnom Penh which saw teachers and students gather around the Cambodian flag pole to support the project.
When contacted, the school principal said he cannot give media interviews without the permission of the Phnom Penh Department of Education. However, he clarified that the declaration was “not made under duress” and it was organized after the teachers and students completed the flag-raising ceremony.
Ouk Chhayavy, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), told CamboJA News that young students have yet to make a decision about politics, and the school should not make students say what they do not know.
“This is a serious violation of children’s rights because they don’t understand what they are doing,” she said. “The ministry always says that we should not talk about politics in schools. But what is this? This is not a political picture, is it?” she added.
Chhayavy opined that it was a “political threat” against students at every level, noting that not only students, but every citizen has the right to make their own decision.
In addition to seeking support from schools across Cambodia, there were online campaigns promoting the CLV-DTA, including a Facebook photo frame initiative.
Two prominent campaigns have gained significant traction. One featured 337,000 supporters, while the other attracted 30,000 supporters within five days.
In the days leading up to a planned rally opposing the CLV-DTA agreement on August 18, authorities arrested about 30 political and human rights activists, and youths. Strict checks were also conducted on travelers entering the capital.
