Why?

“Corruption is the greatest threat to governance and development. If unchecked, it can spread like cancer and destroy society. It weakens governance, slows economic growth, discourages investment, reduces citizens’ trust in government and public institutions, and increases inequality.”

With these words starts an article in Cambodianess on 1^st Mach 2026,

I had ended my previous blog on 13 February 2026 about “Two Basic Concerns, Illegal Scam Operations, and Corruption” with my surprise: “While there are two deep problems in the country – one is daily present in the media for weeks and months, and the other remains surrounded by silence.”

The highly placed Director-General of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia within the Royal Academy, Kin Phea, had urged the government in a large argumentative article to reform and eradicate corruption to strengthen the nation – but the article had soon disappeared from the usual Internet resources.

Again a surprise: Now an undergraduate journalist, working for a bachelor’s degree in international relations, published an equally strong article: Corruption and “Silent Trap” in Cambodia.

“…corruption in Cambodia is not solely the result of weak governance, ineffective law enforcement, or corrupt actors; citizens’ behavior also plays a crucial role. This is reflected in the ‘silent trap,’ in which citizens who witness corruption choose not to report it.”

Her full very long article is available here at the end, but I had her descriptions lifted up about major problems of corruption in Cambodia, and necessary actions for solutions for the sake of the future of Cambodia.

Major problems of corruption in Cambodia

• Weak Governance and Enforcement
  • Despite the Anti-Corruption Law (2010) and the Anti-Corruption Unit, corruption remains pervasive.
• The “Silent Trap”
  • Citizens often witness corruption but remain silent due to fear of retaliation or punishment.
  • Article 41 of the Anti-Corruption Law threatens imprisonment and fines for reports deemed “false,” discouraging whistleblowers.
• Fear of Retaliation
  • High-profile cases show activists and journalists punished for exposing corruption (e.g., arrests of journalist Mech Dara and Mother Nature activists). – Actually Cambodia’s Supreme Court rejected on 2 March 2026 an appeal for early release of five Mother Nature environmental activists, who were jailed in 2024 for up to eight years, accused of plotting against the government.
• Culture of Impunity
  • Citizens believe reporting corruption will not lead to meaningful consequences, further entrenching silence.

Necessary Actions for Solutions

• Legal Reform
  • Revision of Article 41 of the Anti-Corruption Law to protect citizens who report corruption in good faith, punishing only malicious intent.
  • Align laws with international best practices, ensuring reports made on reasonable grounds are immune from liability.
• Whistleblower Protection
  • Establish a comprehensive protection framework, guaranteeing confidentiality and safety for whistleblowers.
  • Learn from South Korea’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which safeguards whistleblowers and encourages reporting.
• Reward-Based System
  • Introduce financial incentives for citizens whose reports lead to recovered funds or exposed corruption.
• Public Education and Awareness
  • Launch nationwide campaigns to educate citizens on identifying corruption and reporting procedures.
• Strengthening Institutions
  • Ensure independence of the Anti-Corruption Unit.
  • Demonstrate consistent enforcement against corrupt officials, regardless of status.

After having seen the disappearance of the urgent appeal by a highly placed person at the Royal Academy, urging the government to reform and eradicate corruption, we will see how this new description is taken up – or not – in the public media world.

Of course the described situation of corruption in Cambodia – not just about officials taking bribes – but the systemic silence that traps ordinary citizens for speaking up when they see corruption, does not allow to hope for fast solutions.

The list of suggested specific necessary actions will allow the public to make comparisons: what is being done, and what is not being taken up, and by whom.

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The source of the text had been at Cambodianess.

The full text by You Somanith is now also here: Docs