Minister of Interior Sar Kheng issued a decision on the formation of 24 groups from the 25 first-order administrative divisions for the implementation of the “Safe Village-Commune Policy” at the sub-national level, the ministry announced on February 1.

Eight articles have been set out for each assigned team to follow for dividing their roles and responsibilities.

The decision clarifies the composition of the working groups, the Secretariat of the Competition Council and the roles and responsibilities for the implementation of the ministry’s “Safe Village-Commune-Sangkat” policy at sub-national level, in collaboration with the municipal and provincial administrations.

In addition to collaborating with the municipal and provincial administrations to prepare the policies, measures and implementation plans for each stage, the decision outlines instructions for municipalities, districts and communes to prepare concrete measures for executing the action plan.

Yong Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace (PCDP), said it was a positive step to strengthen capacity at the sub-national level.

“As there are commune and police chiefs who have worked well in implementing this policy, the authorities should learn from their experiences in order to implement the policy more effectively.

“If we want this safe village-commune policy to be implemented most effectively, we should provide the means to strengthen capacity at the sub-national level,” he said.

The president of the PCDP added that the authorities should also look into the issue of alcohol and not only drugs in the “Safe Village-Commune policy” because alcohol abuse also caused social insecurity and violence in communities.

Sek Socheat, the CEO of the Mindset Development Organisation, said it was good that the Ministry of Interior was forming working groups to implement the policy and to provide clear structures for cooperation between national and sub-national authorities, which he believed would provide positive results.